Topic: Stupid question

[gbal06]

I developed a oil leak around the "round" part of the engine and want to know what area that is so I can replace the gasket.  Is it the generator cover? Do I need to drain the oil before replacing it and what type of oil does everyone recommend?  Thanks

[Stev-o]

Yes, that is the generator (or stator) cover. 

Spectro is the best oil, Greg uses it and his bike has over 150,000 miles without a rebuild!

[gbal06]

Do I need to drain the oil before replacing it?

[flatlander]

if i put a shop manual next to my bike, will it learn to maintain itself?

[That 70s Bike]

if i put a shop manual next to my bike, will it learn to maintain itself?

only after downloading the app on I-phone 6 or later 

[BomberMann650]

The 550 stator does not reside in an oil bath.

If you are in fact leaking oil out the stator cover, gasketing the round cover is not the solution!

Far more likely culprits are oil galley plug/bolt oring below the stator.  Or the oil pump orings under the chain case cover.

[flatlander]

if you take off the covers off the left engine side, clean everything well, put some baby powder on and let the engine run a bit until the first traces of wet show on the powder, you should be able to locate the culprit fairly easily.

if i put a shop manual next to my bike, will it learn to maintain itself?

only after downloading the app on I-phone 6 or later 

then there's no hope, i don't have such a fancy phone 

[Duanob]

Has any of the covers been off to see exactly where the oil leak is coming from? Try that first. As Bomber said there is no oil gasket around the Alt Cover. If it is leaking from the drive chain cover, which is way more likely, these are easy fixes. A shifter seal, a primary drive seal, and three oil pump o-rings are all common sources of oil leaks. Find out then get back to us.

[gbal06]

will do, thanks