I just bought a 02 Rancher 350 FM from private aprty sale and now notice a small oil leak from aroun the bolts on top of head near the spark plug (left side). Machine probably has 800-1000 miles on it. Anyone else had this problem?

-Point Man11

 

is it from the cylinder head, or the valve cover on top of the cylinder head? If it's the valve cover, just buy a new gasket. It's a piece of cake to put on, just remove the plastic and remove the gas tank, it's right there, 4 bolts. There's also an o-ring under that cover too, make sure you get that in the right spot.

 

Thanks Quicksilver. You may be right. I think it is the cover on top where you adjust the valves. Someone else on another forum stated the same thing. I'm having a check-up done by a mechanic this week on the machine, so i'll have him check that. Probably have the valves adjusted, too. From checking the 4 bolts, I can see that they have been turned in the past but they may need adjusting againe, since she smokes a little.

Anything else i should look into on this machine?

PM11

 

well if it's smoking it's not going to be the valve adjustment. The smoking will come from weak piston rings or worn valve guides or valve seals, both of which you'd simply have to replace. My buddy has a '02 rancher also and his smokes a little at times, but we beat the crap out of ours so much it's no wonder why.

But if you end up taking the valve cover off, better just adjust them anyways, get a manual if you want to do it yourself, otherwise the shop knows how to do it.

 

Thanks QS.


What you've said makes sense. I'm picking up a repair manual today.

Thanks again.

PM11

 

mine is leaking oil into the cylinder ive changed the head gasket and valve seals twice...any ideas on what to try next...all oem parts btw

 

Only two ways oil gets into the cylinder, unless the head is cracked, either the rings are letting oil past them, due to wear or seizure, or the valve seals are leaking. Nearly always it is the bore/rings. Take the cylinder off and check the rings and bore for wear when you have the head off.