Probably an easy problem?

[kerrfunk]

Today's not the first I noticed it, but I noticed it the most today because I wore rainpants.

Lately when I get off my bike my right ankle is oiled. It's not dripping wet exactly, and when I go on the center stand the oil level in the window is in the top half, but clearly there's a teeny bit of oil coming out the right side just upwind of my right ankle.

No obvious source. I'm guessing if I change the gasket for the engine cover the problem will go away?

Sight-unseen, what do you say?

 

[Hinermad]

Is your oil filler cap on tight? I had that happen on my Triumph. Changed the oil but didn't screw the cap all the way back on. Took it for a half-hour ride and when I got home my shin was coated in a thin film of oil.

 

[kerrfunk]

Is your oil filler cap on tight? I had that happen on my Triumph. Changed the oil but didn't screw the cap all the way back on. Took it for a half-hour ride and when I got home my shin was coated in a thin film of oil.

Well that is probably literally the easiest thing to check, lol. I'll take it off and wipe it with a tissue and put it back on, I think. Noting whether it's loose, of course.

 

[chuck hahn]

Next possibilty is the crank end seal. Oil dripping out of the points cover maybe??

 

[kerrfunk]

Not the oil cap. Could be the points cover, which is forward of the engine cover. The engine cover was pretty slick, so I could see a something forward of it...

 

[chuck hahn]

Take the points cover off and mark the timing plate with a sharpie. Remove the timing plate and wipe everything clean and reassemble. Ride it a bit and them reinspect under the cover for fresh oil

 

[limeex2]

We used to use Desenex spray on foot powder. If you have a leak it will show up in the white powder. Most of the time 1 can of contact cleaner can be used to clean most everything on that left side. A little oil can travel a long way. The most common spots are Valve covers, valve cover half moons. Inspect head and base gaskets behind the headers were it not so obvious. I have a clutch cover leaking at the moment.

 

[Steve]

Also check the clutch rod. I have a couple here that are leaking a bit.

.

 

[bwringer]

Here's a thought, courtesy of our old pal Bitter Experience.

Once, long ago, there was a feckless adventurer with a GS850G. He rebuilt a low-mileage GS850 engine top to bottom and bolted it in. All was well and good.

A few thousand miles later, alas! Our Hero's right boot was covered with oil. An inquiry commenced, and a new crank seal was summoned from the wilds of Hamamatsu.

Upon close inspection, Our Hero noticed a teeeeeeeeeensy tiiiiiiiny arrow on the new seal. Hark! Huzzah!

The arrow indicated the direction the shaft should rotate relative to the seal. Sure enough, the first seal had been installed backwards -- it looked like the right way around, with the rubber side out (same as every other oil seal Our Hero had ever seen), but the correct way to install this particular seal to get the correct direction of rotation is the reverse -- with the metal, or "inside" out.

The new seal was duly installed, using a breathtakingly clever arrangement of an 8mm bolt, nut, a large socket, and a few washers to gently draw it into place, with a light smear of case sealer around the outside.

And everyone lived happily ever after and nothing ever leaked again.

 

[Guest]

If it's coming from the top end it may be time to re-torque the head bolts. How many miles have you put on it since I put it back together?

 

[earlfor]

Take the points cover off and mark the timing plate with a sharpie. Remove the timing plate and wipe everything clean and reassemble. Ride it a bit and them reinspect under the cover for fresh oil

There should not be any oil under the timing plate cover. Just take the cover off, put the bike on the centerstand and let it run for a few minutes with the cover off and watch to see if any oil is flowing out/dripping.

 

[chuck hahn]

Earl......I was saying wipe it IF there is oil under the points cover

 

[kerrfunk]

If it's coming from the top end it may be time to re-torque the head bolts. How many miles have you put on it since I put it back together?

Something like 3,000 miles.