Recognize this leak?

hop along · June 02, 2011, 05:40:31 PM

Does anyone recognize a leak like this?
Located, as you are sitting on the bike, at the top of the front left cylinder. It seems to be 'windswept' back and down from the top of the cylinder head, collecting in nooks and crannies (see arrows).
It seems to me to have the color of gas, but no odor. It is greasy and wipes right off.
FWIW I've ridden about 1600 miles since taking it out of winter storage here in Ohio, and did do an oil change. Nearly 88,000 miles so far and nary a problem.

Sorry the pics aren't better, but I have an old skool digital camera...

I am suspicious that a carb leak is involved... anyone experience this before?

Hop Along... who is/was hoping to add another 1500 miles this weekend...

hootmon · June 02, 2011, 05:48:10 PM

I have about the same mileage on my '94... I get some oil leaking somewhere from the front left cylinder and it wind smears all the way back the the side cover over time.. Mine is definitely oil, and I've been told it is a common issue...
I've been told it's because it's the kick stand side, but I sort of doubt it..
I thought it might be oil vapor accumulating in the air box and leaking out.. Last time I took the airbox off I tried to put a little RTV along the front on the lower 1/2 to see if it would help, but it has not.
Suspect a leaky valve cover gasket, but never brave enough to pull the chrome cover off to take a look yet. I guess it's not that bad..
I have to clean the oil off every year, but probably should be at least every 6 months..

By my photos you can probably tell it's overdue again..

roboto65 · June 02, 2011, 06:01:42 PM

Ok Mr doubtful LOL what happens here is yes related to your kickstand LOL whaty happens is when you are riding blow back pools up some in the air cleaner chamber and when you get home and park it on the kickstand the oil that is left in there pools on that side.

So the next day you take off the oil has cooled and thus is a little thicker so it tends to stay there and well crankcase blow back and slight leakage from the air filter and hose coming out the front cause the oil you see. do I get a cookie or something

lragan · June 02, 2011, 06:12:44 PM

And at no time did his hands leave his arms...

hootmon · June 02, 2011, 06:23:17 PM

Well Allen,
ALL that would be true,
but I've been told that before, so I started hanging my motorcycle by the front rim on a hook from my garage roof to prevent that from happening, but it still seems to be happening.. What say you now... Bwwwaaaahhh haaa haaa haaa.

Actually I use a 2x4 under my kickstand so my bike is almost straight up, and it's just as bad..

Greg Cothern · June 02, 2011, 06:53:47 PM

Crankcase vents to airbox. Higher RPMs will push more up and leaks out around the airbox seals/edges.

roboto65 · June 02, 2011, 07:00:06 PM

QuoteAnd at no time did his hands leave his arms...

I have a special talent that's true

hootmon · June 02, 2011, 08:00:59 PM

Quote from: Greg Cothern on June 02, 2011, 06:53:47 PM
Crankcase vents to airbox. Higher RPMs will push more up and leaks out around the airbox seals/edges.

So Greg... You're saying IF you don't have this leak, then you are babying the bike too much??
I guess you can't accuse me of that with the oil I've got on mine!!

roboto65 · June 02, 2011, 08:13:24 PM

QuoteI guess you can't accuse me of that with the oil I've got on mine!!

No but we can accuse you of being hard on brakes.

hootmon · June 02, 2011, 08:23:11 PM

Quote from: roboto65 on June 02, 2011, 08:13:24 PM
No but we can accuse you of being hard on brakes.

No you can not...

BTW - Have we helped Hop Along yet???

roboto65 · June 02, 2011, 08:34:35 PM

LOL No sorry Hop happens alot here LOL

hop along · June 03, 2011, 09:05:01 AM

ha ha nice! Good company here, it's easy to see

My plan at this point is to siphon just a wee bit of oil out, my last change left me at the top of the dipstick fill line.
After this weekend, I have plans to recharge the air filter anyways and will keep an eye out for crankcase breather lines to see what I find.

I'm not sure the leak can be from under the chrome cylinder head cover, how the heck would a leak from munder the cover get up and around, and on top of that little rubber flap thing that sits on top of the front cylinder covers?

Well at least there aren't any wild squirrels trying to nest in there and making a mess.. that was a coupla years ago!

Hop Along

roboto65 · June 03, 2011, 10:28:40 AM

Oh so true Great company here so many great people

TLRam1 · June 03, 2011, 01:21:53 PM

If you guys would just wash the bikes more than say.....once.

hop along · June 03, 2011, 01:36:41 PM

... but not washing it is what made this leak so easy to see...

Besides, my girl is in Oklahoma, not Ohio, so she isn't here to wash it right now...
Hop along