Topic: 76 cb550 small leak around cylinder gasket above stator cover.. problem?

[kippstakes]

Finished up a top end rebuild a few months ago and there has been a persistent oil leak at the cyl. gasket above the stator cover. It's fairly small, just a damp area maybe two inches wide around  the flange, but it still concerns me.
Basically, I'm willing to accept it as a nuisance so long as it doesn't effect compression or performance.

What do you think?

Thanks

[underachiever]

If it is right above the stator then it would look like the base gasket is weeping. I dealt with this for a while, redid the topend gaskets and seals with OEM, torqued the head, ran it in then re-torqued the head.

My problem finally went away when I power-washed and thoroughly cleaned the motor. My leak was elsewhere and the oil was being slowly pushed to that location by the wind while riding. Though I did cure my head gasket leak in the process.

The hardest part is locating the source of the leak. I used tightly rolled paper towel stuffed between the lowest fins on the barrels to prevent oil flowing to the outside. Alternatively you could clean the motor well then apply talc/baby/foot powder then ride for a bit, stop to check and so on to find the location of your oil.

It has to come from somewhere.

[kippstakes]

Sorry, guys, I should have explained more clearly. It is definitely the base gasket, there is no doubt.
I have re-torqued the head and the problem persists unfortunately. I'm taking her in to have the carbs balanced, so as long as it's not hurting compression/vacuum I can deal with it, for now.
I guess one of these days I will have to rip the head off again and seal that area up. Sigh.

Thanks