If you have a relatively dry Vincent, do not adjust, fiddle, investigate or tamper with it in any way, it will not forgive you. My Rapide may be particularly bad because it spent about twenty years in Oz and has learned Oz ways. By that I mean it is a tough little bike but doesn't like to be screwed with and hates change.
I was pretty aggressive with it, removed it's engine, built an oddball frame around it and made it run around in that guise for a year. Now it is back in it's old clothes and getting even
It has mostly been a dry bike (for a Vincent) and once travelled 2500 miles round trip to California, only needing 8 ounces of oil added at home. Lately it has been somewhat more incontinent.
I recall that the previous owner also had good luck with oil leaks " I'll tell you what mate, you can paawk it on a white cawpet" where his words.
After putting the engine back in the Vincent parts and changing out various seals & gaskets for the V3 stop leak type, I though it would be drier than ever.
Not so easy Glen, with all of your changes you have made me go insane and now I'm taking you with me!
I found one of the leaks, it was a cracked valve cap that used to sit other way up (the V3 seals let you put the logo where you want it)When it sat the other way up it didn't leak , at least not much, but positioned the new proper way, it gushes. It only took me a day and a half to find the cracked cap, but it was abig Aha!?When I replaced the cap with a spare that had been given me, I knew the head would be dry as toast. Not so! It was another hour or so before I realized that the replacement cap had a tiny pinhole in it And I had even tested the replacement by blowing on it prior to installation. Appaently I did not apply enough PSI. Yes, I did sanitize the cap before putting it on the bike, don't want my oral bacteria getting into the valve train. So that had to be it then. Not so.
It appears there is oil coming up around one or more head studs, must have disturbed them when I retorqued the heads prior to installtion back in the Rapide. Looks like the engine will need to come out again. Oh well, what did PEI say, it's only three bolts and can be done in less than fifteen minutes by a professional? God forbid I get that good at it!
Glen
I was pretty aggressive with it, removed it's engine, built an oddball frame around it and made it run around in that guise for a year. Now it is back in it's old clothes and getting even
It has mostly been a dry bike (for a Vincent) and once travelled 2500 miles round trip to California, only needing 8 ounces of oil added at home. Lately it has been somewhat more incontinent.
I recall that the previous owner also had good luck with oil leaks " I'll tell you what mate, you can paawk it on a white cawpet" where his words.
After putting the engine back in the Vincent parts and changing out various seals & gaskets for the V3 stop leak type, I though it would be drier than ever.
Not so easy Glen, with all of your changes you have made me go insane and now I'm taking you with me!
I found one of the leaks, it was a cracked valve cap that used to sit other way up (the V3 seals let you put the logo where you want it)When it sat the other way up it didn't leak , at least not much, but positioned the new proper way, it gushes. It only took me a day and a half to find the cracked cap, but it was abig Aha!?When I replaced the cap with a spare that had been given me, I knew the head would be dry as toast. Not so! It was another hour or so before I realized that the replacement cap had a tiny pinhole in it And I had even tested the replacement by blowing on it prior to installation. Appaently I did not apply enough PSI. Yes, I did sanitize the cap before putting it on the bike, don't want my oral bacteria getting into the valve train. So that had to be it then. Not so.
It appears there is oil coming up around one or more head studs, must have disturbed them when I retorqued the heads prior to installtion back in the Rapide. Looks like the engine will need to come out again. Oh well, what did PEI say, it's only three bolts and can be done in less than fifteen minutes by a professional? God forbid I get that good at it!
Glen
Last edited:
