Topic: OIl leak at left engine cover (gear shifter pedal cover)

[pbelanger]

Hi all,

I have a question that may sound a bit "obvious" to the most experienced of you. I replaced my front sprocket. I bought a new gasket for the cover, put everything back into place, and since then, I have a small oil leak.

To avoid some possible confusion, and since I don't know the exact name for this cover, I am talking about the one that has an opening for the gear shifter pedal and mechanism.

I do remember thinking that this gasket was very thin when I received it; I mean, it didn't look as if it would "compress" between the surfaces or anything.

Are you supposed to put silicone to help seal the cover against the engine on top of using the gasket? If so, what kind?

Thanks in advance for your answers,

Paul

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Hey Paul.

What year and model?  I'm not sure it matters too much as I don't think any of the SOHC's have a front sprocket cover that is oil tight.  It is common that the seal around the shifter shaft will leak.  You can prolly still get a new seal through Honda.  Pull the old one out with wood screws into the rubber and pry it out.  Clean and inspect the surfaces and install the new seal with a socket, PVC pipe or other similar "ring" slid over the shaft to tap it home.

[Johnie]

Yah, if you are talking about the shifter seal they are still available from Honda.  You must be talking about the tranny cover which is where the shifter seal is located.  You can see that shifter seal if you look at the area it goes into the tranny cover.  Easy to change and a cheap fix.  Just remove the bolt that holds the foot shifter.  Note I say remove the bolt as the shifter will not come off unless you take that bolt all the way out.

[Johnny5]

Also that grommet for the wires coming from the stator can cause weird mystery leaks too.

[pbelanger]

Sorry, I did not mention the bike's pedigree. She's a 1976, 750 K model.

The leak is not coming from the seal. It's coming from one of the cover bolts. The engine case and the cover might not be perfectly "matched" of flat at this place. Thus the idea of adding some silicon.

[Johnie]

Also that grommet for the wires coming from the stator can cause weird mystery leaks too.

Very good point here.  I had oil leaking off my bolts and changed the gasket a couple times to no avail.  Then I remembered this grommet on the stator.  It would leak down between the stator cover and tranny cover to the bolts.  Once I used some anerobic gasket sealer it was gone.  Below is a pic of that grommet on the back of stator cover.  Click the pic to enlarge...

[jmckinne]

+1 on the grommet,

Also I had the exact same problem with my shifter cover gasket. The replacement one I ordered leaked as well. Go with cork and make your own. Check out my thread on it here:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=51504.0

[pbelanger]

I checked the gromet; it's dry around it. Definitly the gasket, since I believe it to be a very cheap aftermarket junk. I removed the cover and oil started to spill right into my floor pan.  I like your idea of cork. I checked at McMaster-Carr; they have 1/16" thick Buna-N (nitrile) sheets, which are supposed to be ideal for oil applications. I'll order one. Might as well redo the points cover one as well.

I read your thread: nice tip.

[grumpy]

[img width= height= alt=" id="thumb_77518" border="0]http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=51535.0;attach=77519;image[/img]

 

CRIPES!!  Look at how clean it is in  there!!
I've got so much built up goo / LP1 in there that I have to remove it w/ a spackle knife!