Posted by George on May 26, 2000 at 15:29:00:
My Savage has been leaking since new. Recently, it emerged from its fourth visit to the repair shop. In the past, the shop had tightened bolts, resealed gaskets, and replaced the rubber plug inside the motor. This time, after a wait of six weeks while the part was on backorder, they replaced one of the valve observation covers on top of the cylinder on the theory that the original one was warped. I noticed that they also removed some oil, so that the level is just above the low line in the window.
Maybe their theory was correct: with the new observation cover in place, the leak is almost completely gone. After a run of thirty miles at 65 mph, I found only a tiny amount of oil that apparently came out of the top of the cylinder. Before the repair, a ride like that would have produced enough oil that it would have run down onto the cooling fins and even blown back onto the side cover. Now, I have to get close to the motor and look hard for oil. Of course, the lower oil level may have something to do with the motor's new dryness as well. In any event, having a motor not covered in oil is a good feeling. I'm hoping that the leak I still have remains a tiny one.