Cam plugs leaking

phred · 07-10-2010, 09:13 AM

I've got a slight oil leak near the top of each cylinder, I'm pretty sure its the cam plugs (the black half circle looking things, right?). Looking for advice on how to stop the leak.

jd01 · 07-10-2010, 09:55 AM

Mine were seeping a little too. Per others advise, I cleaned the area with some degreaser (brake cleaner spray), let dry good and coated all over and around the cam plugs with black Permatex RTV oil resistant silicone. I cut a piece of stiff cardboard about a 1/2 inch wide, bent it a little to get up under the head cover and used it to kinda trowel and smooth the silicone out. Been holding up for about 6 months now since I did it. Other alternative is to remove engine in order to replace cam plugs.

**ringadingh** · 07-10-2010, 11:22 AM

jd01 gave you the good easy fix that should work if you clean things well. If you plan on replacing them you have to remove the valve covers, to remove them you have to drop the motor since its a tight fit at the top, thats a lot of work.
Id certainly try the first suggestion.

phred · 07-10-2010, 11:25 AM

I'm going to try the permatex. I'm assuming I need to silicone to the top of the plug, up under the chrome cover?

audiogooroo · 07-10-2010, 01:10 PM

High temp permatex has been holding for me for over two years. You do have to push it up under the chrome cover, and if you have any plastering skills, you can make it look pretty discreet.

AlabamaNomadRider · 07-10-2010, 11:05 PM

Option one sounds like what I would be doing. I can't imagine having to drop the engine to get to that stuff. Engineers that design all these things that are so difficult to get to should have to work on some of the things. They might change designs then.

ndbigfish · 07-11-2010, 02:14 PM

If the engine comes out, replace the rocker cover gaskets and cam plugs. I would take a good look at the HLA filters also. With the engine out it is a good time to replace rubber parts like the hoses, etc and the cam chain tensioners. I had my 99' apart in 09. It is not a bad job. The bike was down a couple weeks waiting for parts.

07-10-2010, 09:13 AM	#1
phred Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 567	Cam plugs leaking I've got a slight oil leak near the top of each cylinder, I'm pretty sure its the cam plugs (the black half circle looking things, right?). Looking for advice on how to stop the leak. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-10-2010, 09:55 AM	#2
jd01 Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canton,Georgia Posts: 851	Cam plugs leaking Mine were seeping a little too. Per others advise, I cleaned the area with some degreaser (brake cleaner spray), let dry good and coated all over and around the cam plugs with black Permatex RTV oil resistant silicone. I cut a piece of stiff cardboard about a 1/2 inch wide, bent it a little to get up under the head cover and used it to kinda trowel and smooth the silicone out. Been holding up for about 6 months now since I did it. Other alternative is to remove engine in order to replace cam plugs. __________________ Don Denman "JD" 2001 Luminous Vintage Red carbed 1500 Nomad VBA #376 VROC #6195
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07-10-2010, 11:22 AM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Cam plugs leaking jd01 gave you the good easy fix that should work if you clean things well. If you plan on replacing them you have to remove the valve covers, to remove them you have to drop the motor since its a tight fit at the top, thats a lot of work. Id certainly try the first suggestion. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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07-10-2010, 11:25 AM	#4
phred Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 567	Cam plugs leaking I'm going to try the permatex. I'm assuming I need to silicone to the top of the plug, up under the chrome cover?
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07-10-2010, 01:10 PM	#5
audiogooroo Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado/Las Vegas, NV Posts: 3,390	Cam plugs leaking High temp permatex has been holding for me for over two years. You do have to push it up under the chrome cover, and if you have any plastering skills, you can make it look pretty discreet. __________________ Audiogooroo - Daryl Porter Colorado Springs, CO VBA #248 VROC #17261 1999 Grn/Grn Nomad Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-10-2010, 11:05 PM	#6
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Cam plugs leaking Option one sounds like what I would be doing. I can't imagine having to drop the engine to get to that stuff. Engineers that design all these things that are so difficult to get to should have to work on some of the things. They might change designs then. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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07-11-2010, 02:14 PM	#7
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	Cam plugs leaking If the engine comes out, replace the rocker cover gaskets and cam plugs. I would take a good look at the HLA filters also. With the engine out it is a good time to replace rubber parts like the hoses, etc and the cam chain tensioners. I had my 99' apart in 09. It is not a bad job. The bike was down a couple weeks waiting for parts. __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
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