Oil leak behind chrome cam cover!!!

[Steve]

... He told me the valves will get noisy when they're out of adjustment, and mine sounds really good.

Time to find a new "mechanic". :-\\\

Anybody that knows these bikes will tell you that valve clearances only tighten up with use, meaning that the engine will get QUIETER.

"Sounding really good" is actually going to involve a bit of noise.

.

 

[Mr. Sinister]

Pete: They were all in the right spot, save for two in the front.

Steve: He's no mechanic, just my brother in law. I'm my own mechanic.

 

[Steve]

Well, I guess it's a good thing he's not your mechanic, with advise like that. :-\\\

 

[Mr. Sinister]

The valves did check out, so you know. This thing really is in amazing shape for a 31 year old bike.

 

[Guest]

Clarification on the valve cover gasket difference...

'82 model (part #11173-44112):

You can see at the front the extra bolt on the left side of the very front, and compared with the earlier cover, the two bolts at the front are spaced further apart.

'80 model (part #11173-44102-H17):

Not sure exactly when they changed but there's definitely a correct gasket for both types... not saying what you've done won't work as it obviously is, just giving you a heads up to make it easier next time

 

[Mr. Sinister]

I would bet mid-81 they changed it.
Yep, I definitely got the 82 part number. It does work, and doesn't leak, but I would have preferred to get the right part the first time. It was listed as the correct number for 81 with the company I ordered it from, so chances are they didn't know the difference. Thanks for the clarification!!

 

[Guest]

Yeah good chance for sure! Those little details like that can be easy to miss... and it's the same with the clutch pushrod oil seal. They changed that as well somewhere around that time and the earlier one has a flange to stop it popping out whereas the later one has no flange but a bolt on retainer to hold it in instead... and a two piece clutch pushrod which makes getting it in/out that much easier.