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GS550 '78 engine leak

  • Thread starter Thread starter christianf
  • Start date Start date
C

christianf

Guest
Hi,

I'm completely new on this forum so please be good to me :-) I've tried to search for a similar problem but haven't found one so here goes:

Recently bought a nice and old GS550 from 1978. The bike runs well but I'm now taking it apart in order to restore it. However, before stripping down the bike I noticed pure gaskets and small oil leaks from the engine. I'm of course going to replace the gaskets, but what worries me is a leak from underneath cylinder two (please see attached pictures). In my opinion it shouldn't even be able to leak from here?

2018-01-30 21.15.24.jpg
I'm worried about whether the state of the engine is worth fixing with new gaskets and all or if this leak is telling me to look for another engine? Any help is much appreciated!

Cheers,

Chris
 
And just a closer picture of the engine/the poor gaskets
2018-01-30 21.15.43.jpg
 
Welcome to GSR.

I am not seeing the oil leak in first picture.
 
Oil leaks travel to strange places. The traditional way of tracking down a leak is clean up the engine and then spray the engine with spray powder (athletes foot powder) to find the leak while it runs. If you are planning to rebuild the engine for the restoration, that should take care of any leaks though. Did you measure compression before taking out the engine?
 
If you have the skill taking apart the engine to check all the internal parts and replacing the gaskets and seals is a great way to assure the engine will last a long time into the future.
 
Judging by the amount of gasket sealer on the outside of that motor, I'd guess that there's other things done to it by the previous owner that are questionable

That is an unusual place for an oil leak. you are correct, it shouldn't be able to leak from there

The usual suspects for oil leaks are valve cover gaskets, half moon seals, tach seals and cam chain tensioner seals
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the fast answers. I'm planning on taking the engine apart and add new gaskets all over - but of course this would be a waste of time AND money if the engine is "dead" already. I didn't get to measure compression before taking out the engine, unfortunately. But it ran fine though.

Any thoughts on the state of the engine/rebuilding it vs. looking for a "new" one?

Cheers

PS. Just a close picture of the suspicious leak.

2018-01-30 21.15.36.jpg
 
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