Topic: Oil Leak location guess - 75 CB550

[todzilla220]

Hi Everyone.
So I finally got some new tires on this project bike of mine.  Been riding more and more now that I got some new treads. 
I did a 15 mile ride around the area and parked the bike. 

Next morning I found a good amount of oil leaking from under the bike.   

Just when I thought I was making progress! 

I started the bike and got it up to warm up temp and did a little 2 mile run, came back and parked to investigate.
Looking at the bike on the clutch side (left), at the very bottom where the chain goes into/out of the front sprocket area, appears to be the source/area where the oil is making it's presence 'felt'.  Actually drips at a pretty decent amount.    Enough so that I'm now 1/4th down on the dipstick. 

I'm still a newb, but I'm guessing there's a gasket on the bottom that I need to see about replacing? 
Is there a clutch gasket that could be leaking since it's on that side? 

I'm sure I'm not the first to ask, so I'll scourge the forums some more, but if anyone has and spot on advice, I'll take it! 
Thanks!

[becken]

Pull off the cover and remove the sprocket and clean the area well. You have the oil pump and sending unit as well as the output shaft seal and shift shaft seal under there, any of which could be the source of your leak. It should be much easier to find the leak when clean.

[todzilla220]

Before removing the cover, do I have to drain oil?  Or will having the bike on the center stand/level keep?  Sorry...total newb questions here.

Thanks,
Todd

[todzilla220]

Actually this all could tie into the other issue I discovered.  Having trouble shifting into neutral when the bike is running.  But as soon as I shut down, it clicks right in like a boss.   

[Deltarider]

Before removing the cover, do I have to drain oil?

Not at all.

[TwoTired]

Actually this all could tie into the other issue I discovered.  Having trouble shifting into neutral when the bike is running.  But as soon as I shut down, it clicks right in like a boss.   

Probably wishful thinking.

Old oil and/or an oil type unsuitable for motorcycles can cause the shift issues you describe.  So, can warped plates in the clutch and poor adjustment and improper assembly. (Someone's probably been inside there since 1975.)

The sprocket cover leaks can be from the oil pressure light sender, oil pump orings/seals, or the shifter shaft seal.  These are typical.  But, there is the odd occasion of a broken chain cracking the engine cases.  Won't know 'til you look at oil source.  Clean the oily area with solvent.  If the leak is slow, spray suspicious areas with foot powder.  It will discolor at the source of slow leaks (and be washed away by fast ones).

You can run, even drive, the bike without the sprocket cover.  Just keep away from the whirling chain and sprocket.

[todzilla220]

I only asked because I recall a time when I got my new impact driver, and wanted to test on those bolts.  As soon as I cracked loose, I recall some oil seeping out from the bottom.  Immediately clammed up  and tightened it back up.  I didnt want to cleanup a bunch of oil on the floor! 

Will crack open again tonight fellas and see what we find!

Thanks again everyone.

[kingrabbit]

A little oil from your leak will pool in there, no biggie. Put a rag down. Remove the gear shifter and pull the 4 bolts. Clean everything up around the sprocket area as noted above and the source of the leak will become apparent.
I have a 74 550. Dripping right now. Marking her territory.

[Tews19]

Remove the sprocket cover. This is my 550 I took off to check out the inside. 

[todzilla220]

Well, I think I got this one figured out! 

Removed the sprocket cover last night, and unlike pictured above, the right side was pretty much cobwebs, oil, grease, God knows what else...  Left side, perfectly clean like the day it came off the factory line.

So yeah...
The leak was coming out from the where the shifter linkage enters the case.   

I do some more investigating... 
I have the bike on the center stand I go to check the oil level again...  Hmm... interesting...  when I check the dipstick, its clear past the 2nd mark...I mean...by a good 1/4 inch!  Why is it when I checked the oil earlier it wasnt that high?  Because the bike was still warm with oil not settled yet?  Anyways...now I got WAY to much oil in the bike.  It's now higher than the shift linkage... hmmm.... 

Anwyays...
What I think I did...
I reviewed checking the oil procedures...  And I believe when I did the oil and spark plug change, I wasnt using the center stand, so bike was un-even.  I kept adding oil. 
But I'm still confused how I was getting an accurate oil measurement for 2 months, and now all of a sudden it's WAY over?

I left the cover off overnight and I opened the garage this AM to a borderline EPA disaster on the floor.  Gotta get some kitty litter after work.  It's still draining out.  I'm 1/2 expecting it to stop when the oil level is below the shift linkage.   

[todzilla220]

Confirmed.  Had too much oil in the bike.  Was leaking out of the area mentioned above.

So let that be a lesson to ya'll.  Dont over-fill your bike with oil!

Now i'm just cleaning it back up, but I'm curious if the bike will run a bit better now? 
Thanks everyone for your submissions.