Topic: Why do I have oil on the heads of my bolts?

[Magpie]

Strange! A newly rebuild motor, new gaskets, all bolts torqued in - now some of the bottom bolts have a drop of oil on them. This a 750 motor, hardly run. The oil has leaked down into the motor so there's almost 4 litres of oil in it but still, can it leak down the bolt shafts, past the washers and drip off the bolt heads?
Thanks,
Cliff.

[ekpent]

I keep cardboard under my bikes Cliff and some have sat in the same place for quite some time and have not noticed any drips like that on the fresh cardboard.Is it leaking enough to drip and leave a tell tale mark ? Will have to get down on my knees and take a peek sometime.  I can see in theory though how that can happen.

[Magpie]

Thanks Eric! it's not enough to drip but probably would if left long enough. The other 2 don't do this just the sandcast. It's going on a stand anyway but it would be nice to know why. It's kind of baffling.
Merry Christmas to you and your family Eric.
Cliff.

[Bob Wessner]

I have one bottom bolt on my K0 that also is usually wet with a drop of oil, it's on the left side if you are sitting on the bike. It doesn't leave any spot on the floor, but if I look under the motor, I can see it. Why, beats me. I stopped looking under the motor. 

[Kanticoy]

I have had a couple of bolts over the years from different bikes (all Honda) do that.  Some on a cb360, some on a cb500t, on and on.  I ended up getting a copper washer set from HF and putting one under all of the flange head case bolts.  No more drip! 

[Magpie]

Kanticoy, now that makes sense! Good tip!
Another good tip "I stopped looking under the motor.' saves my back too.
Cliff.

[bwaller]

It could be that there wasn't any case sealer applied to where those spots join? It will never leak much but eventually oil shows at the bolt head.

[Bob Wessner]

It could be that there wasn't any case sealer applied to where those spots join? It will never leak much but eventually oil shows at the bolt head.

Sounds pretty logical. I know my K0 must have suffered the chain through the case syndrome. The replacement case has no serial number. Perhaps that's my problem.

[Don R]

Oil will turn to a film, run down and re form as a drop sometimes. I got fooled by a leak on my dragaster this past season. Get a light and look closely before taking action.

[geminimotors]

I have 500s and 550s. I've had the mystery drop on one oil pan bolt on the left side. Cleaning, re-torquing, gasket replacement, etc. Drove me craaazeee. I ultimately found it was a shift rod or shift lever seal weeping so slightly(clean oil) I couldn't see it traveling down to collect on that one bolt head. I don't know if this scenario translates to the 750 though.

[Don R]

See?

[faux fiddy]

I ultimately found it was a shift rod or shift lever seal weeping so slightly(clean oil) I couldn't see it traveling down to collect on that one bolt head.

It would tend to collect on the kickstand side.