Author Topic: Oil Leak Troubleshooting  (Read 612 times)

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Offline BrickWoll

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Oil Leak Troubleshooting
« on: September 19, 2020, 10:16:38 AM »
Hey all,

Finally got the bike together and had a dream 15 minute ride before it bogged down and died.  Looking down, my right shoe and lower leg were splattered with oil.  At that point, it wouldn't start and I could feel no compression in the kickstarter.  After about 5 min, I tried again and it started but required full choke.  Ran again for about 10 min, but would die immediately at idle.  Repeated that pattern a few times to hobble home.

Oil was collecting and dripping from two lower sections: where the pipes meet the muffler directly under the motor, and the stator cover.  I figure these are just natural low points, and not necessarily reflective of the source.  I noticed oil splattered up onto the underside of the tank (right-side sitting), and what appeared to be oil at the cylinder 3 header collar.

Any advice on sequence of troubleshooting is greatly appreciated.  My plan is to first top off oil, then clean the engine so I can better witness the source of the leak(s). 

Previous to this ride, I had often started it and let it run for periods of 5-10 min without ever seeing a drip of oil.  Clearly something during the ride caused the issue.  Higher revs maybe?

One more thing to add in case it helps solve the issue: I pulled the plugs after the incident and they look white. I've added a photo in case it points to a related issue.

Thanks for any thoughts on where to start looking.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2020, 02:41:37 PM by BrickWoll »
'77 CB550 K3

Offline bryanj

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Re: Oil Leak Troubleshooting
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2020, 10:23:53 AM »
For the god knows how manyth time

WHAT BIKE
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline BrickWoll

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Re: Oil Leak Troubleshooting
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2020, 10:43:31 AM »
It's in the sig.  '77 CB550K
'77 CB550 K3

Offline bryanj

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Re: Oil Leak Troubleshooting
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2020, 11:00:01 AM »
But i never read the sig its too small to see!

If its a 550 the most common oil leaks are the rubber pucks or the crush washers between the steel end brackets and cam cover
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline BrickWoll

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Re: Oil Leak Troubleshooting
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2020, 11:26:06 AM »
But i never read the sig its too small to see!

If its a 550 the most common oil leaks are the rubber pucks or the crush washers between the steel end brackets and cam cover

Thanks for the info.  I'll put those first on the list to check. 
'77 CB550 K3

Online newday777

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Re: Oil Leak Troubleshooting
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2020, 01:10:00 PM »
It's in the sig.  '77 CB550K


Many people have more than one toy.......
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A