Author Topic: oil leaks worth fixing? (Read 7287 times)

MCRider · « **Reply #25 on:** August 04, 2010, 10:08:01 AM »

Maybe you could just torque down the head nuts and reinstall. There is quite a range of torque between the low and high of the specified range. I'd just make sure you are at the halfway point (I'll bet its less) and you won't risk breaking anything.

Then come winter if it still leaks, I'll bet it doesn't, you can change the gaskets with the motor in the frame.

Frankenkit · « **Reply #26 on:** August 04, 2010, 11:30:48 AM »

He's starting to make it sound like a serious leak. He leaves a halo of oil on the ground where he's parked, and there's oil going all over his pants. $:-\$ Sounds like time for a head job to me. New head gasket, o-rings etc and you'll be a happy man.

Duanob · « **Reply #27 on:** August 04, 2010, 12:29:09 PM »

Me thinks a little oil might help them rusty screws there

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #28 on:** August 04, 2010, 01:07:01 PM »

If you are losing a quart or more in a week of normal riding, probably time for a teardown.

Does that sound like a decent rule of thumb?

zanorak · « **Reply #29 on:** August 04, 2010, 01:14:29 PM »

Quart a week it is then!

LOL - I'll get a pic and you all can see what I'm talking about. (Yes, I have a pan full of kitty litter underneath... )

Frankenkit · « **Reply #30 on:** August 04, 2010, 01:26:38 PM »

zanorak · « **Reply #31 on:** August 04, 2010, 05:50:15 PM »

As promised! Bear in mind that these are actually more oily than they look in the pics. The flash seems to have washed some of the color out.

But look at those clean carbs! Wheeeuw!

Kitty litter shows the drip pattern. I have no idea how it gets all the way down the shifter and drips?

TwoTired · « **Reply #32 on:** August 04, 2010, 05:55:30 PM »

Those cylinder leaks are probably the pucks under the cam cover that are leaking. Beware cam cover installation, do it wrong and bend the valves.

Back by the shifter is probably the shifter shaft seal, the oil pressure sender unit, or the oil pump. (or All of them).

Cheers,

zanorak · « **Reply #33 on:** August 04, 2010, 07:54:44 PM »

Twotired, please elaborate on the valve covers?

I wouldn't be surprised if everything that CAN leak on this sucker IS leaking!

TwoTired · « **Reply #34 on:** August 04, 2010, 09:36:17 PM »

Quote from: zanorak on August 04, 2010, 07:54:44 PM

Twotired, please elaborate on the valve covers?

Check out chapter 4 of the Honda Shop Manual. Figure 86 on pg 31 points out " six sealing rubbers" (they look like pucks). These are probably leaking on your bike.
The next page, and figure 87, shows what to avoid when reinstalling the "cylinder cover" (cam cover).

Cheers,

zanorak · « **Reply #35 on:** August 05, 2010, 05:15:43 AM »

Thanks again!

DedHed · « **Reply #36 on:** August 05, 2010, 07:17:44 AM »

Quote from: Dukiedook on August 04, 2010, 07:43:33 AM

Quote from: i_m_jon on May 18, 2010, 03:36:06 PM
If I might chime in. I went through the same decision on one of my 550's. After reading just a few posts here I decided changing the head gasket was the smart thing to do. After I removed the head, I came back here searching for an answer on something and came across some more info. Apparently, I would be a fool to change the head gasket and not the base gasket. So... I order my whole gasket set and when it arrives I also learn only a fool would remove and replace the cylinders and not re-ring the pistons. So... I get my new rings, get the cylinders honed and learn that I might as well rebuild the whole thing if it's apart. That bike is still apart and I can't tell you how much I wish I had just left a perfectly running 20k bike with a minor weep alone. My 2¢.

Ha ha, sorry to laugh at you mate but that's one thing we try to stress on this forum.

If you have a minor oil leak don't pull your whole engine! Stuff it with paper towels or braided cotton rope.
Save the engine pull for a real problem or when it is time to bore out (after 100K or so.).

Not to hijack a thread... however.... I just bought a 74 750K4 and it runs like a champ, no smoke and not throwing any oil... until last night. I took my son on a ride for about 30 minutes and returned home and parked the bike. This morning I noticed an oil imprint under the stand, obviously the oil leaked from the engine, to the frame and down the kickstand. I was / am prepared to dig in to this as deep as I can to plug the "Hole", however after reading this, I think the I need to discover where the leak is in the bottom end, hopefully be able to see it and say "There it is" and live with it as it is only minimal. I would much rather be riding the bike than scratching my head over a pile of parts....
Phil

MCRider · « **Reply #37 on:** August 05, 2010, 07:38:47 AM »

DedHed: Your bike has an automatic chain oiler (=automatic oil leak PITA). This is most liekly your culprit. The sprocket cover is held on by 2 screws. You should get a Hammer Impact Driver to remove them. $10 to $15 necessary tool.

The oiler is located dead center of the sprocket shaft. You can turn the screw clockwise which will screw it into the oiler and reduce the oil and shut it off ultimately.

Virtually all of us have had to deal with this thing. Turning it off and using spray lube on an Oring chain is the best remedy I thiink.

It could be something worse, but I doubt it.

bikerbart · « **Reply #38 on:** August 05, 2010, 07:44:25 AM »

worst thing I could have done was fix my oil leak.It ran great but weeped a lil oil.So,over the winter I pulled the motor and honed,new rings,HD studs,gaskets ,but the thing I didnt do was resurface.Mistake.No matter what I still cant get it to not leak and its driving me nuts.It runs great,better even but still leaks.I was very methodical about everything,retorqued the head,(frame kit

)Either I am a horrible mechanic or it just that I needed to resurface.

zanorak · « **Reply #39 on:** August 05, 2010, 08:05:50 PM »

I leaned WAY! out over the left side today while I was riding and the bike was hot - shorenuff there's a steady rivulet of oil coming out of the cam cover! HAHA! So it IS! possible...

dhall57 · « **Reply #40 on:** August 05, 2010, 09:38:25 PM »

Quote from: seaweb11 on August 04, 2010, 12:33:42 AM

My K8 has a couple of fins worth of mild oil leak.

I roll up some paper towel into a tiny ball and push it in between the fins at the front with a screwdriver.
I learned this trick 4 years ago on this forum so don't blame me

After 4 years and many long distance rides........I change out the balls of paper a couple times a year. No mess.
It is so minimal it has never come to a point where I even worry about the amount of loss.

That being said, I don't know your bike or your mechanical skills so I will leave it at that.

The rolled up paper towel works great. My 750K6 has a minor oil leak between the fins, but until it gets alot worse I'll just replace the paper towel every now and than. Its hardly noticeable.

wingman1946 · « **Reply #41 on:** March 23, 2011, 08:33:24 AM »

I don't know about everybody but I bought my bike because I like to ride..not be a mechanic. I say as long as it runs well and I can't measure the oil loss on the dipstick...ride it. If I have a shop manual I can fix anything on the bike...when it needs to be fixed. Remember why you bought a Honda to start with.

chickenman_26 · « **Reply #42 on:** March 23, 2011, 10:09:14 AM »

Quote from: wingman1946 on March 23, 2011, 08:33:24 AM

Remember why you bought a Honda to start with.

I remember, and it wasn't because I like oil dribbling down my cylinder fins or spraying onto the side covers. This seems to be a common issue with Honda SOHC fours. My 500 was leak free for almost 4,000 miles. Then it started weeping oil from the O ring area between head and cylinder on the left side. Recently, it's started on the right as well. Not bad enough to make a mess, but bad enough to annoy me. Re-torqueing the head stopped it for a while, but it returned. When the riding season is done, I'll likely pull it down to have the head and block surfaced. And I'm thinking of finding some replacement O rings made of Viton, and maybe even a slightly thicker section so they get compressed tighter.

Stu

TwoTired · « **Reply #43 on:** March 23, 2011, 11:25:59 AM »

Quote from: chickenman_26 on March 23, 2011, 10:09:14 AM

Quote from: wingman1946 on March 23, 2011, 08:33:24 AM
Remember why you bought a Honda to start with.
I remember, and it wasn't because I like oil dribbling down my cylinder fins or spraying onto the side covers. This seems to be a common issue with Honda SOHC fours. My 500 was leak free for almost 4,000 miles. Then it started weeping oil from the O ring area between head and cylinder on the left side. Recently, it's started on the right as well. Not bad enough to make a mess, but bad enough to annoy me. Re-torqueing the head stopped it for a while, but it returned. When the riding season is done, I'll likely pull it down to have the head and block surfaced. And I'm thinking of finding some replacement O rings made of Viton, and maybe even a slightly thicker section so they get compressed tighter.

Stu

Have you considered teflon orings with their higher heat withstand specs.?

It's pretty well known that the oil passage orings get hard and brittle with heat (they aren't far from the combustion chamber), then leak. I don't believe head and deck resurfacing is going to fix that.
A compression seal loss is an "almost never" occurrence. So, don't be blaming the head gasket (if anybody is thinking that).

I've had the weepy head syndrome on my 550's for 20 years. I just wipe it off once a week (or month). Never been bad enough to tear the engine apart, as it just runs too good. Someday, I'll try the teflon orings.

Cheers,

chickenman_26 · « **Reply #44 on:** March 23, 2011, 02:13:06 PM »

Quote from: TwoTired on March 23, 2011, 11:25:59 AM

I've had the weepy head syndrome on my 550's for 20 years. I just wipe it off once a week (or month). Never been bad enough to tear the engine apart, as it just runs too good. Someday, I'll try the teflon orings.

Cheers,

Not that I'm happy about your long standing leakage issues, but misery does love company.

If it weren't dirtying up such a visible part of the bike, I wouldn't even consider repairing it. My experience with Honda SOCH4 machines doesn't go back very far, and I was a bit surprised to find the problem so common. If it can't be stopped for good, then so be it. But I have a history of taking on lost causes.

Stu

TwoTired · « **Reply #45 on:** March 23, 2011, 03:08:24 PM »

Could be that after operating a 62 BSA lightning for a while. Honda oil weeps just don't seem significant.

FYI, I did get the BSA leak free for two months.

Cheers,

chickenman_26 · « **Reply #46 on:** March 23, 2011, 07:16:44 PM »

Quote from: TwoTired on March 23, 2011, 03:08:24 PM

Could be that after operating a 62 BSA lightning for a while. Honda oil weeps just don't seem significant.

FYI, I did get the BSA leak free for two months.

Cheers,

That was a pre-unit, wasn't it? Believe it or not, I got my '70 Thunderbolt free of leaks, and it stayed that way for several years till I sold it. But I do get your point. It's all relative.

Stu

Deltarider · « **Reply #47 on:** March 24, 2011, 01:21:38 AM »

Quote

And I'm thinking of finding some replacement O rings made of Viton, and maybe even a slightly thicker section so they get compressed tighter.

I once heard from a mecanic in a Honda workshop that they used Kawasaki O-rings for the oilpassages when rebuilding the 500/550 heads. I don't know what type or size, but the boss of that workshop is considered a guru on old Honda's.
Did any of you experiment with other O-rings than stock?

TwoTired · « **Reply #48 on:** March 24, 2011, 09:51:20 AM »

Quote from: chickenman_26 on March 23, 2011, 07:16:44 PM

Quote from: TwoTired on March 23, 2011, 03:08:24 PM
Could be that after operating a 62 BSA lightning for a while. Honda oil weeps just don't seem significant.

FYI, I did get the BSA leak free for two months.

Cheers,
That was a pre-unit, wasn't it?

Yes. And as I recall, it had a dry clutch right next to the roller primary chain, which needed oiling. It was a trade off between getting chain life and having the clutch slip. I sure had fun with that bike, and plenty of time to work on it in '72!
Cripes, it just struck me that the bike was only 10 years old at the time. At the time, I thought it was a pretty old bike! Ah, perspective.

Cheers,

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Author Topic: oil leaks worth fixing? (Read 7287 times)