Hitchcocks Forum

got a 2007 bullet as a project bike. it wasn't running when I got it. speedometer was at 1400miles. got it fired up and it is weeping oil at the junction of the exhaust pipe at the head. plug is a bit black as well. doesn't seem to be pushing blue out the exhaust. what would this oil leak likely be the result of?

Porous cylinder heads, while rare, have been heard of. This can allow oil from the rocker boxes to leak into the combustion chamber. However, I'd suggest that the head gasket is more likely, allowing oil from the pushrod tunnels into the head.
REgards, Mark

At 1400 miles the motor is barely broken in, i wonder if the head was retorqued during this time as it should have been..

You could check head torque as it does sound like head gasket forward of the push rod tunnel.

Failing that off with its head and check the gasket and surfaces for blowby witness marks..
Anneal a new copper gasket before fitting, or use composite dry..

If it's been standing for a while it could just be wet-sumping, or it could be leaking from the front rocker cover or the oil feed banjo at the front of the head.
Just because the oil collects around the exhaust doesn't necessarily mean it's coming out of the exhaust port. Could be worth a couple of washers for the banjo and a new rocker cover gasket.

must have been wet sumping because it stopped. however the motor is running rough and when it warms up there is a rather loud ticking coming from the top end (much louder than the tappets, which I checked) should I open it up - what could this be?

Quite a number of things but id definitely pull the head and barrel off for a look. Doesn't take that long and can save a lot of needless expense.

With wet sumping or sticky rings i would of expected blue smoke for a minute or two after starting, but you say none present. Hmm, mystery..

Could be exhaust valve sticking in guide, that would run rough and clatter..

Hi Dean. I had very similar symptoms to this. Took of rocker cover to find loose head nut inside. Retorqueing head nuts removed noise but head gasket failed shortly after. Found washers under nuts had split. Hope this helps. terry

Unless I missed it you do not state the exact model 350 or 500 Iron barrel bullet Electra X or EFI as this could make a big difference too reply's and cause. Because the Electra has that silly valve lifter instead of a decompresser and the later models have an auto decompresser and hydrolic valves and so on.

Paul - the bike is a 2004 500 Bullet iron barrel
Gwilly - come to think of it there was a puff of blue out of the exhaust when I first fired it up, but that hasn't continued.
will check head for appropriate torque
the bike won't hold an idle either.