52 Harley Panhead Has a Pretty Severe Oil Leak

The oil on the bottom side of this bike is a mess. But, we'll find out where it's coming from and fix it. And, if we fix everything on the way, we'll have Babydoll going in no time.

[@dilo777]

I love the babydoll story! Those stories are what life is about! My bike is named Lucille. Because she’s red and loud!

[@pacificmike9501]

Yay!

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@48grizzly]

A Panhead with an oil leak ? You must be kidding ! 🤣 I rode a 65 Pan for 28 years . Still my all time favorite bike.

[@pacificmike9501]

I understand. They were designed and built at the same time we got our crosscountry roads built. It all worked out then and still great today.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@MicahBell_1860]

I loved hearing about your mom & pop & the 32 Plymouth coupe

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You. It's a great memory.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👍🙂

[@SPACEMAN_fkYT]

The book gets you in the neighborhood. The final adjustments gets you to the house.

[@pacificmike9501]

Well said.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👍🙂

[@ronetuley]

Great job Mike. I really enjoy watching your videos, you are awesome teacher and I have learned a lot from watching you work on Harley Knuckles,Pans and Shovelheads. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge of the older Harleys. Ride safe my friend.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You. Take care.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👍🙂

[@johnlambert-yu6rl]

I also love the old babydoll story, I wish you didn't cut it short. Being an old geezer I also have similar stories. That's what life is all about man!

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You. The stories just kinda come up on there own. The older we get, the more of them happen.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👍🙂

[@IamPinhead]

Didn't have a leak on my 1990 ultra classic until the cam chest cover gasket disintegrated. Your videos helped me through most of the fix.

[@pacificmike9501]

Cool.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👍🙂

[@KraeseRepairs]

Thanks for sharing that story about your Dad's car.

[@pacificmike9501]

Oh, that was just the first (secondary, just drive to work car), unit that was followed by a string of others.

[@mattmattes3913]

A few things on my "to do" list is to ride a tank shift/foot clutch Harley and ride my late uncles' 2018 Ural 2-WD sidecar rig. With both I want to experience the most memorable yet terrifying 45 MPH of my life.😃

[@pacificmike9501]

We all start at the beginning.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@tonycurtis6898]

Thank you

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@mikescanlon6439]

Please show us how Baby Doll’s crankcase is ventilated. Perhaps an obstruction in the ventilation system caused the oil seal to leak. All the best to Mike and Mike.

[@pacificmike9501]

Not the crankcase seal. We'll see.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👋🙂

[@thekid4698]

Dont stop telling stories about your life and moter cycles they are entertaining . you could sit infront of the camera and tell stories about your life as a motorcycle mechanic keep it up good stuff 👍

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👍🙏👍💯💯💯❗🙂

[@stanleyroberts4381]

It's always easier watching than doing.Thanks for showing!

[@pacificmike9501]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertjeffery6100]

In 1978- I worked at American cycles in Killeen Texas…. Great times … Anyways the head mechanic Panhead! Had the nicest running quiet Panhead and it was a real mile eater….

[@pacificmike9501]

Panheads are great dependable old road bikes, built when those new cross country highways were built, a "rise to the occasion."

[@darrell3368]

Hello Mike and cam Mike great to see you and enjoying your shows keep up the great work

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👋🙂

[@bytorz]

Mike thanks again for putting these together. I have been putting together my 52 using your videos. I bookmark them and when I am working on an area of the bike you are walking me through it.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You. You make it worth it.

[@Saveourfreedom]

It's a Pleasure to enioy your Videos. So much I can take with me. Best Wishes for you and the Cameraman Mike. It's a reallly good Channel.

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad you like them!

[@cameramanmike2072]

Thank you for watching 👍🙂

[@Theloudestguyyouknow]

Maaaaan, I wanna be just like pacific mike when I grow up 🤘🏻😂

[@pacificmike9501]

Quite a compliment. But the secret formula is; "You never grow up."

[@Theloudestguyyouknow]

@@pacificmike9501 yes sir!!! You hit the nail on the head!!! I’ve made it to 42 too so far, and I’m still living my teenage dreams with my garage full of Harley’s, and have no plans of growing up anytime soon!

[@2na-phish]

how does it feel? not how does it measure? those are the ones to own. you are a treasure Mike. the newest bike i have ever owned was a 59" and thats the way it was put together by an old timer. ran like a scalded dog.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@brianvandemortel6710]

You make it look so easy the right tools for the job thanks for the videos

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad you like them!

[@toddclark332]

Always good to see you Mike hope to see some new videos of your knucklehead yellow blike I love thanks for the updates on baby doll

[@pacificmike9501]

Go to our Home page on KZbin and click on the word videos. There's three hundred and some of them.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@glennstatham960]

Mike, I'm sure you've tried those headlights (for your head, not the bike) that free up both hands while your head holds the light. Invaluable at times, annoying at others but definitely 'perfect' now and then haha!

[@pacificmike9501]

You're right. I forget.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👍💯👍🙂

[@BadCo1999]

I have a 48 Panhead that has a pretty bad leak. This is great video for me to go by...I don't have the experience nor time on this bike my dad did. That said, I would be more worried if NO oil was coming out anywhere.

[@pacificmike9501]

I get it. Grow up together. There's no special time limits.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@Roo0ooD]

thanks mike i love it from OZ \

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@jakz700]

Fantastic appreciate your great work

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@ronniewilhite6254]

Hey Mike I am mocking up my Panhead just like you doing on Flathead ,,I had to mock up correct parts and stuff I like and fit what ever I have to do on my Pan Wishbone Rigid frame ,,,take me awhile to finish it all up just like you said life gets in the way,,yeah you are right LOL...i have to work ,do house work my family ,...anyway still can't wait get it done and yours too.. .thanks Mike ..wish I can show you my bikes in my garage I have 5 bikes LOL.....anyway cheers 🍻

[@pacificmike9501]

We'll get there. There are just things that are sometimes more important than ourselves.

[@ronniewilhite6254]

@pacificmike9501 yes its true,,you are right ....that's life ha !

[@cameramanmike2072]

🤞🙏👍🙂

[@goldenmom334]

Hello waiting for second half of the job . I have a friend who’s pan head is leaking oil pretty bad As well.

[@pacificmike9501]

Gotta finish this 65. But, on the 52, I replaced the pushrod seals and replaced the generator gasket. Everything looks pretty okay. I'll change the oil and make sure it's returning to the tank, which I think it is, and it will be done. Maybe do a couple other things to her. Is your friends bike leaking, or is it wetsumped and coming out of the breather?

[@goldenmom334]

His , is a 55 pan I will get more info on it Many thanks for your quick reply Great story on the bike

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You. 55 had some great improvements. Better intake manifold and 0-ring ports on the heads, and Timken bearings on the left side.

[@stevepotter6770]

I have found that a rear shock absorber collet fits in the pressure plate hole nicely and engages snugly, you just need a decent 5/16 washer to finish the job of taking the pressure off the clutch springs.

[@pacificmike9501]

Cool. Good idea.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@atlasfiresafety6718]

Pulling my primary Saturday haha.

[@pacificmike9501]

Okayfine.

[@brianmullen56]

Hello Mike, maybe you can show how you mount ypur saddle bags.I want to get a pair also ,but i"m not sure how to go about mounting them correctly. Your bikes are nice, I like how you treat them. Have a good day.

[@pacificmike9501]

My Panhead uses stock type brackets available from V-Twin in New York. They bolt to the rear fender. Most shops are dealers for that company. My Shovelhead has custom everything, The brackets were hand made by an old buddy of mine. They bolt through the fender and into internal fender struts made by another friend.

[@kurtruppenthal9506]

Thanks Mikes

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👋🙂

[@albinklein7680]

I hate those clutch basket snap rings. Even worse than the oil pump gear. Looks like I am not the only one who is fighting with those.

[@pacificmike9501]

Onnly when someone is watching.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@glennbellman1100]

Is Roger Ramjet related to a shop in Phx Az called Ramjet racing.?

[@pacificmike9501]

No. And, Roger has been gone for quite a while now.

[@GixxerRider1991]

I would commute in a '32 Plymouth all day.

[@pacificmike9501]

Yah, she was a real cutie.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@josephcivita1450]

Did Rodger make the one piece Aluminum Intake Manifold for the evolution engines? Which by the way also fits the twin cams. I'm running on on mine and I love it. no more leaky O-rings.

[@pacificmike9501]

Yes he did. Yes, it's a great part.

[@loddude5706]

And now, direct from an unhinged Sherwood jukebox nowhere near you - 'Oil seal blues' by Roy Orb-Uffalo. #'Golden oil, it will descend, my lips are worn around the bend, I just can't keep your oil in, anymore . . . It's over . . . it's over . . . it's OVER! . . .'# (Ba-ba-bum) (Wednesday - our first rain in 6 days, rich & heavy Springtime air, all the forest scents anew : )

[@pacificmike9501]

And you touched my heart again, Roy Orbison being one of my all-time favorites. Gotta have issues or got no videos. Oh, I miss the jukeboxes. Good thing they didn't leak oil.

[@cameramanmike2072]

❤❤❤❤😊

[@ukaszzabicki]

Did you know that if you set playback speed to 1.25 Mike doesn't sound so sleepy😅

[@pacificmike9501]

Funny.

[@cameramanmike2072]

🤔

[@georgejanz1313]

Good morning Mike, unsure on which thread to ask this question. Question. I am putting the rocker covers back on a '64 panhead. They are V-Twin gaskets, cork surrounding metal. Specs. Specs I have found specify up to 90 to 100 in pounds of torque. I am at 60 using a crisscross pattern and the gaskets are protruding from under the cover quite a bit. Also, the bottom of the screws that secure them are showing quite a bit, possibly an eighth of an inch. Wondering if I'm using the right approach? Thank you in advance for any advice.

[@pacificmike9501]

I think you're tightening those poor ittle screws to a footpound setting. Those are INCH POUNDS.

[@georgejanz1313]

Lol. Naa. I learned that difference quite some time ago. It's a small tekton trq-21101 inch pounds torque wrench. Quarter inch drive. I think the gasket quality is poor. I'm going to go and use the cork gasket. I took off the bike when I started the process of checking the head out. I only had a few hundred mi on that gasket and it looks to be in perfect shape. If that doesn't work, I will research decent synthetic gaskets. Trying to avoid that because it means I will have a mismatch between the front and rear head. And it will show when people look at it. I think the rocker covers are supposed to be tightened to about 70 in pounds. Is that a reasonable number? Thank you

[@pacificmike9501]

No. Read your service manual, section three.

[@atlasfiresafety6718]

Hey Mike. Another awesome Vid. I have a question. Just finished my 88 EVO chopper. I had a little fire where my Regulator plug goes into the stator plug. Voltages are good. I believe it wasn't a good connection. The plugs are not connecting good. can I hard wire the bad boy there is no aftermarket plug from the VR tat I can find. Any of your Awesome knowledge always helps. I was thinking of going through the VR plug that is still good just the one side of the terminals is short. then soldering the to the wires from the stator. Thanks Man. See you out on the road someday. Keep on trucking guys. You too CM MIKE!

[@pacificmike9501]

I get it. In a perfect world, you'd buy a new stator and regulator. Reality, however, is that we need to save this stuff. I don't recommend it. But, since I don't recommend it, I've done it. I've recoated the wires going into the stator from the plug. I've soldered stuff , then checked it out according to the specs in the factory service manual. Yes, you can get away with it. No, it is not recommended. Be sure you seal up for oil where the plug goes through the crankcase.

[@cameramanmike2072]

🙏🙂

[@Zekethedragon7777]

Hello Mike does indexing spark plugs help thank you enjoy your videos

[@pacificmike9501]

I've done it and played alot. I couldn't find much difference if any. If you find anything that matters on that, let us know.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@smiddlyrabone8900]

yea

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You.

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@michaelyarmie4858]

Hey Mike. Did you disconnect the battery before inspecting on Baby Doll?

[@pacificmike9501]

Yes I did.

[@waynemorgan3095]

Nice video, I need a oil seal and transmission seal for my 57 panhead, exactly what is the seal called on it ,crank seal, sprocket seal ,or main seal? For the motor . I've heard it referenced as all, just wanted to make sure I get correct thing when I order. Thanks very much

[@pacificmike9501]

A motor seal is the main seal on the left side of the motor where the sprocket shaft comes out. Or, you could call it a crank seal. Buy a service manual. Aftermarket suppliers carry them. The manual is a 48 to 65.

[@waynemorgan3095]

@@pacificmike9501 I have a service manual downloaded..I'll ask you no more questions

[@cameramanmike2072]

😊

[@JamanRooney]

It's ciol we have the same set I've had mine along time to

[@pacificmike9501]

Some things just go together.

[@cameramanmike2072]

Yes👍🙂

[@marvinreedjr.9416]

I tune in to listen to the master. NOT the camera person.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank You. Be nice.

[@cameramanmike2072]

And I Thank You Very Much For Doing So. I apologize for the interruptions .

[@JacquelineNelson-c4n]

Where have been up to good I now. Just thought I’d check in. Ha. How is camera. Man Mike doing. Looking forward to the show. I really miss riding. We have some. Great riding. Areas. Any way I like seeing Wrenching. You have a good day the bothe of you. Lemay Nelson. Vancouver Washington pacific north west.

[@pacificmike9501]

Take care.

[@cameramanmike2072]

👋👋👋🙂👍😎💯❗