Head gasket and intake leaks. Can I wait?

[wdglide]

I picked up the bike a couple weeks ago. I'm hoping to wait until winter to address the various problems.

I'm assuming the oil around the front head gasket is just seepage. My front head is also running very rich. Plug is black, dry and sooty. The rear is fair to lean. I haven't checked, but I am assuming a manifold leak. The idle mixture is adjusted less than 2 turns out.

I wanted a second opinion on whether I could wait a while. I plan to check plugs and oil after every ride. I've been swapping plugs each ride to keep the front from fouling. My rides usually run only about 30-60 miles.

[1962FLH]

Oil leak not a problem however I would not go anywhere on my bike if I suspected an intake leak. Intake leaks can cause damage to your top end.

[Huck]

Do a compression test.
Replace and test the manifold o rings. Get the brown ones.
Finish cleaning it, and then pinpoint where the oil is coming from, no need in guessing when a close inspection will prove it to you.
3 hrs work, you won’t miss a thing on TV.

[wdglide]

You guys are right. I needed the kick in the ass.

[wdglide]

compression was 65 lbs wet or dry, front and rear.

[Huck]

That’s easy, savvy the manifold, tune her up, and ride till it won’t start anymore.

[Panacea]

Looks like a loose exhaust guide, is oil coming out of the exhaust spigot?

[wdglide]

There was oil directly under the front exhaust. Thanks for the tip!

[58flh]

Wdglide---Not olny is a intake man.-leak bad---but a EX. leak the oil on the heads -just ran from the tins.It ld burn off & you will see if the oil is coming above the top fin somewhere where the lowsides are.Since your going to pull the heads for inspection,(Read K-BASE)-& olny use Sillycone on the EX.-head spigots.This is the olny place it works as a loose ex.-will soundoff like a 12-guage when its moist or humid out--(early-morning).That bang is the equivalent of beating that EX.-Valve with a ballpeen hammer!,& can bend a valve head & destroy the guide over time.Use the Black-HI-TEMP sillycone & put a heavy bead/-1/4-inch around the spigot OUTSIDE near start of head--Then put another HEAVY bead on inside of pipe.Slip iy on Tighten it all up you have 30-min. to work with this stuff in shade & make sure the EX. is perfectly attatched.Then take your finger or a Tooling knife-I find that your finger works better & tool all that goober that squeezed out ,all around the pipe!.Go in both directions to fill any divit that may have been near the CLAMP & BOLT!.Any excess just wipe off ,but leave enuff to dry overnight---Then take a razor & you can make it pretty if ya want!.I see no need for it if BLACK is used.GOOD-LUCK on your new toy & stay-safe,/Respectfully----Richie