What do you guys think about this small bit of oil I found under the left side case. Noticed some oil on the kickstand and a slight bit dripping down from the bolts. I outlined the main areas where most of the oil is collecting; it's a very slow drip (haven't noticed any on the ground yet). Hoping this just requires a gasket replacement. If so, I'm not sure which part this is exactly; hoping you guys can help. I have attached the pictures with highlighted areas for reference. Hope to hear back soon!
Best,
Andy.
You can better track the leak by giving the engine a good cleaning and then dusting it with talc (baby powder). Go for a ride and the origination point of the leak should become obvious.
I say this because oil will run down the side of the engine and make it seem like its leaking from the bottom. It could actually be from somewhere else (like the valve cover gasket or cam chain tensioner). The oil just pools there when the bike is on the side stand. Do a little more investigation before ordering that gasket.
FYI you can put "width = 800" inside of your post's image code to make the image size a better fit for the forum.
I'll have to do that ASAP. It's very slowly building up around the red circle on the right side of the picture I posted for you, but has yet to hit the ground or pool up on the ground; seems very slow and didn't notice until I bent down to check out underneath the bike. Is it safe to ride? Oil level hasn't really seemed to decrease noticeably. This is my commuter vehicle, but wanted to take it out for a good ride this weekend. Now I'm worried about finding oil here (I am a bad worrier about things like this! Lol). Hope to hear back soon! Thanks for your help so far.
Best,
Andy.
Could just be chain lube. But yeah, give it a good clean and watch it a few days.
You're safe to drive.
Hey thanks for the reply! It definitely looks like motor oil. I did just change it recently too so it's clean looking and smelling. I'll have it a good cleaning, just waiting to warm it up and take a look at where the oil is coming from (though I'll still be unsure of what that means exactly after I find the source). Seems that it only shows signs of leaking oil when it's hot (after a good ride).
Quote from: TheDooman92 on June 03, 2019, 09:25:48 AM
Hey thanks for the reply! It definitely looks like motor oil. I did just change it recently too so it's clean looking and smelling. I'll have it a good cleaning, just waiting to warm it up and take a look at where the oil is coming from (though I'll still be unsure of what that means exactly after I find the source). Seems that it only shows signs of leaking oil when it's hot (after a good ride).
That makes sense as warm oil is thinner than cold oil. It could be that you need to replace a gasket or several. Then again simply tightening things up could be all you need. Or depending on your personal OCD, just give it a wipe once a week and let it go at that. :)
Thanks so much for the quick reply. Your comments/help definitely make me feel less anxious about the issue. Usually I see one small thing, and think it's something extremely serious (lol). I'll update if/when I get around to trying to fox the issue. Thanks kindly.
Andy.
Nothing to worry about. It sounds like a minor leak that is mostly just getting your bike dirty. As Kilted1 said, you could just ignore it/keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get worse.
Its still good upkeep to take care of leaks.
Once you find the point where the leak is coming from we can help you learn to fix it. Many engine gaskets can easily be replaced with moderate mechanical ability:
Drain oil > remove a few bolts > remove cover > carefully remove/scrape off old gasket material > replace gasket (identified and purchased ahead of time) > replace cover > replace bolts > replace oil.
That's the process for most of the gaskets such as the clutch, generator, and sump. The valve cover gasket is a little easier because you don't have to drain the oil and the gasket is made out of rubber instead of paper gasket material so it doesn't stick to the mating surfaces. You do have to remove the seat and tank first but that's easy.
The Cam chain tensioner gasket is a little more involved/risky because the tensioner itself is difficult to uninstall and install.
If its a cylinder head gasket, that's going to be beyond the ability of many home mechanics as it requires deconstructing the top end of the engine and following specific instructions to reset the timing. Anyone could do it with basic tools and diligently following the manual but it can be intimidating to open up the engine like that.
Thanks Smudge I really appreciate the guidance. When I leave the bike on its center stand the leakage is barely noticeable so I am going to leave that for now. When I do get around to fixing, I will make sure to update!
Andy.