New problems

[jdmae92]

Well I got my bike started up and on the road for the first time today. You might have read my thread about the starter clutch. I haven't taken the cover off again to get pictures so it is just kick start for now.

First of all...there is a hole in the case that oil pours out of when the it is on the kick stand (tilted to the side) and no oil comes out when it is upright or on the center stand. The hole is to the right of the stator cover on the engine case about halfway between the bottom of the engine and the top of the starter. When I looked in it there is a cavity, not just a threaded hole. At first I thought it might be an oil overflow hole but I checked the oil level with the engine off on the center stand like the manual says and it is at the right level.

Second...It runs great on the road for 5-10 minutes but then (maybe after it has warmed up more) it gets very sluggish under 4000rpm and if I let off the throttle it just dies. When I go up hills and give it close to full throttle it just acts like it has no throttle and just slows down, even after downshifting. When it dies it has to sit about 1-2 minutes before it starts again. First thing I am going to check is the airfilter.

Any ideas?

[jdmae92]

Anyone know about the oil hole? The oil that came out also looked slightly milky; I have changed the oil filter recently.

[Pearson]

Hi jdmae: Always share what bike, what year, where r u? Stuff like that. You haven't given anyone enough info. yet to help you.

Also, are you talking about a whole behind the left side case cover? If you are, I suggest a search and read up about the magneto/alternator/stator/LH case cover. Do not have that case open on the sidestand. Center is ok.

As for the oil being milky I've heard that can be due to water but where that's coming from I don't know. Others here will hopefully help. I noted my oil was a little milky towards the bottom of the right side clutch case when I was in there last.

There's also many many posts on carb tuning which is what I would suspect with your second question.

[jdmae92]

Sorry, it is a 77 gs550. I didn't have the case cover off while it was on the side stand, there is a hole in the case next to the cover that oil comes out of. It is not covered by anything. I'll try to take pictures of it sometime.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Not sure My guess it is the drain hole for the starter cavity

[chiphead]

I don't remember how the stator wires are routed on this model but if they are routed through the crankcase in this area is it possible the rubber half moon grommet that seals under that cover gasket is missing. Probably too obvious.

[jdmae92]

The stator wires are routed up next to the starter; they aren't very close to the hole. If the hole was supposed to be there why would oil pour out everytime it is leaned to that side a little?

[jdmae92]

I took some pictures of the hole in the case so some of you might have a better idea of what it is. It is circled in the pictures.

[jdmae92]

Also, could a dead battery be responsible for the poor running? What would need adjusted on the carbs if it runs fine for the first 10-15 minutes then goes bad? Thanks for the help.

[Guest]

Is the hole on the crankcase stator cover? It's hard to tell. If it is on the cover there is supposed to be a bolt in that hole.

[49er]

Also, could a dead battery be responsible for the poor running? What would need adjusted on the carbs if it runs fine for the first 10-15 minutes then goes bad? Thanks for the help.

A dying battery usually causes difficult starting. You say that the bike runs well for the first 10-15 minutes, then "goes bad"!! That's a pretty bald statement.
Could be caused by vacuum building in the tank through a blocked vent hole in your cap. Or a partial blockage of the petcock filter. Or the PO has played with the jetting and you are now running too rich. When an engine runs well when cold and deteriorates when hot, it often indicates a seriously rich condition. Does the engine blow out black sooty smoke when it "goes bad"?
Since it restarts after 1-2 minutes, I suspect that it's a fuel supply problem.

[jdmae92]

Is the hole on the crankcase stator cover? It's hard to tell. If it is on the cover there is supposed to be a bolt in that hole.

No, It is on the case close to the stator cover. There are no threads or anything; it opens into a small cavity.

A dying battery usually causes difficult starting. You say that the bike runs well for the first 10-15 minutes, then "goes bad"!! That's a pretty bald statement.
Could be caused by vacuum building in the tank through a blocked vent hole in your cap. Or a partial blockage of the petcock filter. Or the PO has played with the jetting and you are now running too rich. When an engine runs well when cold and deteriorates when hot, it often indicates a seriously rich condition. Does the engine blow out black sooty smoke when it "goes bad"?
Since it restarts after 1-2 minutes, I suspect that it's a fuel supply problem.

I explained in the first post what the "going bad" was. the engine does not blow out any smoke when it dies, although the left side pipe (from the rear) has a small amount of smoke coming from it even after it warms up so i assume that one of those cylinders is slightly rich. I was reading about the petcock dripping fuel down the vacuum line into cylinder 2 so I now realize that that could be my problem. Which could explain the issue of not getting enough fuel.

[Guest]

It looks like a drain hole for the area behind the stator cover. There really isn't supposed to be oil in there. I'd pull the stator cover and clean it up or don't worry about it.
The first thing to do on these old bikes is get a new petcock. Well worth the money and stops alot of ghost chasing.

[jdmae92]

It looks like a drain hole for the area behind the stator cover. There really isn't supposed to be oil in there. I'd pull the stator cover and clean it up or don't worry about it.
The first thing to do on these old bikes is get a new petcock. Well worth the money and stops alot of ghost chasing.

There is a lot of oil coming out of it and I am a little worried about losing too much. What would I clean out to stop the oil? Thanks for all the help.

[tconroy]

Did anybody see those pics?They didnt come across on this end.I think it is you starter drain hole like sq.dancer lynn said.My cam chain tensioner started leaking and oil went down the cover into the starter housing and out that hole.You will probably need to take the starter cover off and clean it out.Charge your battery and see if that helps.Also clean all ground connections too.