• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

1977 GS750 engine block oil leak @ front

  • Thread starter Thread starter nickjtc
  • Start date Start date
N

nickjtc

Guest
The bike was not ridden particularly hard before it was stored for 20 years, but at some point the front of the engine was covered in oil which must have escaped from somewhere.

I thought that these engines were stone axe reliable and did not suffer such woes, but anyway where is the most likely culprit for oil to seep out? Head gasket? Cam cover gasket?

Thanks for your input. Nick
 
the best way to see where it leaks is to clean the engine and then you will see exactly where the oil come from,on my GS400 '79 i have a little oil leak on the head gasket.
 
A few days ago I read a thread on here (I am new to this extensive mechanics too) and they
cleaned engine with degreaser and then spread some talcum powder on engine.

then started engine and then you can see where it is coming out of.
I have never done that but will now.

It might have saved me my horror story of a rebuild of my top end.
 
Likely choices are tach drive, cam chain tensioner, valve cover gasket. Head and base gasket is possible but not too likely.

Stone axe reliable they are, but that does not mean they will withstand 38 years of neglect with no maintenance whatsoever.
 
The cam chain tensioner [under the carburetors] can leak and the oil can flow between the cylinders and down the front due to the tilt of the block. It won't just be the gasket but the internals of the tensioner, and getting the right seal and o ring and getting it back together and installed right requires knowledge and skill. It's not difficult, but you don't want to do it wrong or you'll have far bigger troubles.
 
John Park said:
The cam chain tensioner [under the carburetors] can leak and the oil can flow between the cylinders and down the front due to the tilt of the block. It won't just be the gasket but the internals of the tensioner, and getting the right seal and o ring and getting it back together and installed right requires knowledge and skill. It's not difficult, but you don't want to do it wrong or you'll have far bigger troubles.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Lots to think about. I should have had a closer look at, and been more specific with, my descriptive as to the location of the goo: at the front of the engine in a straight line below the cylinder head/cylinder join. Nothing above that line and nothing burnt onto the headers, which would discount the cam cover and tach drive. Once I've cleaned it up I'll get a better idea; now the pipes are off (being discussed under another thread) that job will be a lot easier.

Thanks so far.
 
I concur - I had to change a valve bucket from when I had the bike up and running
just to check - i had to remove the cam chain tensioner i had just sorted the day before.

to remove , reset and refit should take no longer than 10 mins and agreed the hard
bit is getting in there with a 10mm spanner.

When you have time get stuck into that issue. The bike is worth saving ....

Cleaning up the old gasket and surfaces is not easy on the head side.
always worth sorting the surfaces .....
 
All good stuff. Thanks for the input. If push comes to shove once I've cleaned it up and sorted the carbs I will run the bike and do the talcum powder thing. Frankly I can live with a bit of haemorrhaging just to have the bike up and running!
 
a leak from the cam cover can end up in unexpected places, esp. if it is in the middle of the head. clean it up, do some maintenance, dont panic and bust out the sledge....
 
Well, it's been a long time getting back to this ;-). Becoming single, selling a house and moving, going on lengthy motorcycle trips (not on the GS) from here to Florida and then across to L.A, are all time consuming activities.

Anyway, I finally have 0 distractions and can crack on with the bike. The leak was from the tachometer seal at the front. Thanks for the input from one and all.

Nick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top