Oil Filter Cover Leaking

[Guest]

Hey guys,

I'm leaking oil out of the oil filter cover. I'm missing one of the 3 acorn nuts (#11) that secure the cover on, so I'm pretty sure that's the source of my problem. I did replace the gasket (#7) with a new one. I'm going to order new nuts. However, since I'm ordering parts anyway, I figured I'd replace the spring (#8), and the bolt studs (#10). They're cheap, and I'm generally replacing all the bolts I can find just to keep it all in good shape.

Does anyone know how to remove the bolt studs? Are they just screwed in, and I can grab some pliers and unscrew them?

Thanks!

[chuck hahn]

Put two regular 10MM nuts on them and jam them together. Then use then back nut to unscrew them. Clean the holes well and use some SEMI PERMANENT thread locker on the new ones.

Dont waste money on a spring...stretch the old one out a bit.

[Nessism]

You're scaring me man. Please tell us you knew it would leak and were planning to replace the stud(s) post haste even before you ran the engine.

Reading threads like this makes me wonder what other issues are lingering. Please read through the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature so you can increase your awareness of some common foibles with GS bikes.

[srg]

I've never ran the engine since I've owned it, as it's been in about 100 different pieces scattered around my bedroom and basement

I think you're taking this the wrong way. I'm rebuilding this bike. It's going to take quite a while, but I'm slowly replacing things.

I've took the carbs apart entirely, welded a broken float pin back on, adjusted the floats, dipped them. After I fix the oil leak, I'm going to rebuild the head/valves as well. I've replaced the carb boots, replaced the petcock. I do have quite a bit of electrical work to go on it, as well as fixing up the forks and fixing up the gauges (as none of them work), tires, chain/sprocket....I drained the oil because I had no idea what the status of it was, even though the bike wasn't running (and wouldn't be for a while). After I filled it back up, this leak started.

EDIT: Also, the retainer spring is $1.05 for an OEM one. It's worth it, in my opinion. Stretching metal over and over will just wear it out.

[GateKeeper]

I think Nessism, is just looking out for your best interest.....and if you missed some of the key points, he was just pointing them out to you....

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[Jcgonzal]

I know that the o-ring can be pretty tricky to keep seated as you're trying to tighten the cover back up. When I changed my filter for the first time it leaked twice before I got it right.

[twr1776]

I use a couple dabs of red grease to keep the o-ring in the groove on installation.

[GateKeeper]

just wet the oil ring with the old oil, run it between your fingers and put it in the grove, should stay put until you got it all in place and buttoned up...

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[chuck hahn]

I strategically put a dab of Three Bond in the groove and then the oring. Cool thing about it is that it holds, squishes when you tighten the cover, and picks off pretty easy for the next time. And the oring doesnt need changed everytime either. Ive gotten 3 or 4 changes before swapping orings.