My first bike-Leaking oil!-What do?

[Bigdonno]

Image related... U can see the oil leaking from top of engine onto cooling fins. This is my 2001 gs500e I got 2nd hand from a bloke with about 64k on the clock.

I've had this bike for a month or so now and just noticed this leak around top of engine apparently from around the gasket. I am no mechanic and have no idea what these parts r called, so hopefully the pic explains what I cannot.
I'm really freakin out. Can anyone tell me what's wrong with my little girl? How can I fix this? And should I stop riding it? How big a problem is this?


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[Big Rich]

Not much of a problem at all.

Find your parts diagram at BoulevardSuzuki.com or wherever, and you'll see there are orings under the 4 allen head bolts. Obviously, one of your orings went bad (dried up, ripped, etc), but it couldn't hurt to replace all of them.

I'd still ride it until the orings came in - just keep a close eye on your oil level (especially at higher speeds and after longer trips).

[Joolstacho]

And when you put in the new bolt o-rings, don't overtighten the bolts, because you risk stripping the threads in the cam caps.

[Bigdonno]

Ahh I see.  Thanks for the info guys.
Now to find these orings.


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[robfriedenberger]

The O-rings are just regular O-rings, nothing special, neoprene O-rings can be found at harbor freight for less than $5 for a kit. They are nice to have on hand. Also a little oil never hurt a motor before, take it to a manual car wash and hose it off after your done...

[sledge]

Errrr......pressure washing a bike is just about the worst thing you can do it 

High-pressure water can force its way past seals and into the wheel/headstock/suspension linkage bearings, into electrical connecters and the switchgear, into the instruments, into control cables, past lighting lenses, into the fuel tank, past the the o-rings in the chain and it can find its way into frames and ultimately rust them out from the inside.

Its not something I would ever do but hey....don't let me put you off.....the choice is yours 

[robfriedenberger]

Sledge,

I suggested a manual car wash, I was not saying blast it at 3000PSI, most car wash stations usually are a little bit stronger than your garden hose.
Its perfectly safe when done with some slight consideration. If you run in to any of the issues above you should not be on a motorcycle. 

[gsJack]

There are 6 allen head bolts with O-rings.

I've used those magic wand type pressure car washes for my bikes for 29 years and 400k miles, just need a little care on where you aim it.

[sledge]

Sledge,

I suggested a manual car wash, I was not saying blast it at 3000PSI, most car wash stations usually are a little bit stronger than your garden hose.
Its perfectly safe when done with some slight consideration.

Maybe you should have said so to avoid any confusion, but like I said, if you or anyone else thinks its a good idea and wants to wash your bike in this way.........you go right ahead 

BTW....Headstock bearings are a 32005x and 32006x 

[Bigdonno]

I just gave the area a clean this morning (with a rag)checked oil (was quite low) and rode 5 min to gym. Checked again b4 going home and it kinda looks to me as if the oil is comin from the bigger gasket below the hex bolts and not so much from around the bolts themselves. What is this part the hex bolts are bolting down? The gasket looks in good order but definitely seems like oil is coming from around the gasket (maybe a lil from around hex bolt..
If I need to replace the gasket, is this something somebody with little to no mecho experience can achieve with a manual in hand?

Also on a slightly related tangent I noticed the bottom of the engine behind/under the crank case area is covered in black oil/grease(where centre stand is attached). Is this the sump? Every engine in every car I've ever had has had some dirty black oil covering engine extremities so is this just normal or indicative of a darker, more sinister problem?


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[Bigdonno]

I apologize for my ignorance on all matters mechanical.. I intend to grab a repair manual and educate myself immediately.


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[Big Rich]

Everybody starts somewhere.......

The only difficult part about changing out that gasket is properly torquing down the 6 bolts (get a good torque wrench, you'll need it again and again.....). TThat black grease by the centerstand is almost definitely chain lube. Feel free to clean it up - it should be kinda sticky and resistant to water.

[mustangGT90210]

Get some new bolts man! And possibly a head cover gasket as well, tough to tell if that is leaking also. Since you're going to be messing with the head cover anyway, might as well spend the extra $25 on the new gasket unless yours is still pretty fresh. Mine started leaking after I checked the valves the first time.

New rubber gasket is $28 through your local stealership, assuming they charge the same as mine