Author Topic: Engine leaking oil.. (Read 3916 times)

messeduptriple · « **on:** June 08, 2012, 03:47:54 PM »

I finally got the 550 to run perfect. Idles well, and sounds great. I plugged the tach that was leaking oil with an aftermarket spike plug from ebay. That is no longer leaking but I still have a good amount of oil coming out somewhere from the upper front engine. When it idles it doesn't leak but when I hop on the highway it's leaking, I can't seem to see where though. I stopped and looked but seems to be in the front somewhere. I cant see any cracks major and have no idea where to go from here. How can I check now? Should I use some engine oil sealer from fleet farm?? Any help would be great.

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messeduptriple · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2012, 03:50:31 PM »

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messeduptriple · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2012, 03:54:22 PM »

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goldarrow · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2012, 04:18:37 PM »

I don't have whole lot of expertise on this but from what I have read from other posts : top end rubber seals and gaskets may need to be inspected or replaced, or live with it if the leaks are minimal. Check oil level regularly though. Someone please chime in if I'm wrong. Hope this helps.

bollingball · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2012, 04:45:16 PM »

Engine oil sealer. I wonder what that would do to your clutch want to take a guess?

Ken

messeduptriple · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2012, 04:49:01 PM »

I just cant seem to find out where all the oil is coming from.

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ekpent · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:04:01 PM »

Some guys will clean and degrease the engine and then when dry sprinke baby or talcum powder or such around on the engine.Start it up. When the oil first starts to leak the powder gets wet making the spot easier to identify. May be worth a shot.Won't work going down the highway though.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:05:22 PM »

Clean and degrease the engine. Cover the engine with talcum powder. Take it for a short spin. This should show up the leaks.
Don't forget to wear a funny hat.

ekpent beat me to it.

DJ_AX · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:08:40 PM »

foot powder in an aerosol can works great

matt mattison · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:15:37 PM »

Did you make sure all the bolts on top of the engine are tight? Don't over tighten them though, the cast aluminum could crack. Try to go by the torque specs in your manual. It's worth a shot.

messeduptriple · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:31:03 PM »

I looked after cleaning a bit and found this ...its chipped ..could this be the leak?

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LesterPiglet · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:38:28 PM »

If you are referring to the gap at the base gasket that is normal. From your previous pictures the leak looks higher up than that. I'd be looking up the top first. Do the talc test.

I just reread. Check your latest tach cap and also the tappet covers. I found one of mine leaking the other day.

messeduptriple · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:45:50 PM »

Nevermind ...cant get the bike to start anymore ... lol ... fml.

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goldarrow · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:46:52 PM »

That's the gap for screwdriver to pry off cylinder...not chipped

messeduptriple · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:49:49 PM »

I tried to idle it ..reving it and waiting for oil leak ..then decided to spin around the house and park and stopped the bike..couldn't get in neutral so stopped the bike and turned off ..hit neutral now doesn't want to start..sounds like its dead..getting that clickn noise.

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LesterPiglet · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:51:00 PM »

Put the battery on charge for a few hours and have some beer.

messeduptriple · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:51:52 PM »

* it was only smokn lightly from the right header ...any info on why? I used the heat gun ray and they were all in same temp ..not sure wtf is going on. Im mentally exhausted from this bike now...getting so frustrated ..if not one thing its another. Maybe I shouldn't have done this project.

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LesterPiglet · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:54:13 PM »

Burning oil, say from an oil leak, gives off smoke.

So is there oil in the exhaust port then?

messeduptriple · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2012, 06:42:56 PM »

Quote from: LesterPiglet on June 08, 2012, 05:54:13 PM

Burning oil, say from an oil leak, gives off smoke.

So is there oil in the exhaust port then?

I dont know ...should I pull the exhaust off?? I'm gonna try that powder deal tmrw.

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chickenman_26 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2012, 07:23:30 PM »

Quote from: messeduptriple on June 08, 2012, 03:47:54 PM

When it idles it doesn't leak but when I hop on the highway it's leaking, I can't seem to see where though. I stopped and looked but seems to be in the front somewhere.

If it's not seeping from the valve cover, then it's probably leaking past the rubber pucks that seal the head bolt holes under the valve cover. The oil leaks down and flows into the spark plug wells. From there, the wind distributes it all over the top end. Tightening won't stop it. You'll need to purchase 6 new pucks, and replace them. Make sure the recesses they seat in are clean and dry, and use no sealer of any kind on the pucks. As long as you'll have the valve cover off, you may as well re-torque the head. Don't neglect to replace the valve cover and breather cover seals.

Stu

fergie · « **Reply #20 on:** June 08, 2012, 07:47:47 PM »

Most likely the head gasket/ rubber pucks. If the bike is smoking from one of the pipes you probably have a ring job ahead of you. The head gasket /rubbers pucks commonly leak one old honda fours. sounds like you need to do a engine tear down.

messeduptriple · « **Reply #21 on:** June 09, 2012, 03:30:27 AM »

Oh

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messeduptriple · « **Reply #22 on:** June 09, 2012, 03:37:54 AM »

Quote from: chickenman_26 on June 08, 2012, 07:23:30 PM

Quote from: messeduptriple on June 08, 2012, 03:47:54 PM
When it idles it doesn't leak but when I hop on the highway it's leaking, I can't seem to see where though. I stopped and looked but seems to be in the front somewhere.
If it's not seeping from the valve cover, then it's probably leaking past the rubber pucks that seal the head bolt holes under the valve cover. The oil leaks down and flows into the spark plug wells. From there, the wind distributes it all over the top end. Tightening won't stop it. You'll need to purchase 6 new pucks, and replace them. Make sure the recesses they seat in are clean and dry, and use no sealer of any kind on the pucks. As long as you'll have the valve cover off, you may as well re-torque the head. Don't neglect to replace the valve cover and breather cover seals.

Stu

this may sound stupid but what are pucks? ??

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Mcwilliams570 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 09, 2012, 05:23:54 AM »

The round black things in the pic are pucks...

Matt

messeduptriple · « **Reply #24 on:** June 09, 2012, 05:38:41 AM »

Thanks. Do I need to yank the whole engine out? And how do these go bad? I bought it and it didn't do this ...now its doing this leaking.

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chickenman_26 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 09, 2012, 07:40:48 AM »

Quote from: messeduptriple on June 09, 2012, 05:38:41 AM

Thanks. Do I need to yank the whole engine out? And how do these go bad? I bought it and it didn't do this ...now its doing this leaking.

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You don't need to pull the engine. Just remove the valve cover. Age and lack of use contribute to these things leaking. It's common. Old rubber parts harden and shrink.

Stu

MCRider · « **Reply #26 on:** June 09, 2012, 08:18:03 AM »

Quote from: chickenman_26 on June 09, 2012, 07:40:48 AM

Quote from: messeduptriple on June 09, 2012, 05:38:41 AM
Thanks. Do I need to yank the whole engine out? And how do these go bad? I bought it and it didn't do this ...now its doing this leaking.

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You don't need to pull the engine. Just remove the valve cover. Age and lack of use contribute to these things leaking. It's common. Old rubber parts harden and shrink.

Stu

+1 25 years ago we could care about things like low mileage, how it was used or abused. Now those don't matter (as much) as the sheer age factor overwhelms everything. At 40 years+, all the rubber parts, inside and out, are likely shot, cables and chains that look great are corroded internally past redemption, electrical coonnections the same robbing power, etc.

DJ_AX · « **Reply #27 on:** June 09, 2012, 09:26:53 AM »

... and sometimes a fresh oil change or two in combination with usage will reveal leaks formerly blocked by gunk.

Gorwoc · « **Reply #28 on:** June 09, 2012, 10:39:00 AM »

Maybe sit back and have another beer, go outside and catch a smoke. Just don't get frustrated yet. The wind blows that oil everywhere so look for the simplest explanation first. I've tried the foot power spray and it worked but the engine has to be really really clean of oil before you put it on. I'm not sure if you really need to ride it to show up though. The wind will blow it around but it's oil pressure that puts it out there. I think that just the running and revving that you'll do while trying to work through the other problems will pump some oil out for you to see. I don't know about the "pucks" on the 550 but the 400f's leak spot is the rubber "doughnuts" that seal the oil passage around the head stud. There you need to pull the head so it may not be such a big problem for you with these pucks. I agree with you in wondering why it's started up now. I would expect that you would have seen a slight seepage first, not enough to drip yet. Might want to spray up the tach drive seal to just to be sure you didn't miss something there. Hey, at least it's not pouring out of the bottom of the engine... constantly... like something British.

Gorwoc

the man with no signature

messeduptriple · « **Reply #29 on:** June 10, 2012, 01:47:41 PM »

Seems like its coming from the left side of the engine in the fins. Any thought on what next?

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Author Topic: Engine leaking oil.. (Read 3916 times)

bollingball