where is this oil coming from?(pictures)

[bwringer]

i don t think it will hurt anything at all. i found a OEM head gasket on ebay but it says its for 82-83 850 different part number too ant chance it will work on my 80 model?

Are you looking at the head gasket or the head cover (valve cover) gasket?

The head gasket is the same on all GS850 and 8-valve GS750 models.

The head cover gasket is different on 82 and all 83 models (19 bolts), and the same (16 bolts) on all 77-81 models. (There is a little overlap - some 82 models are known to have earlier style heads and valve covers.)

[yotaman423]

it was the head gasket. and it matched so i got it thanks for the reply

[Paul's Zuki]

Since we are all talking leaks. I have an oil leak right at the top of the cylinder head. I know I need to replace the gaskets, but my question is i just seated new rings about 180 miles ago. Do i need to re-hone to break the glaze and get new rings or can i use the same rings?

[Paul's Zuki]

Bump and TTT

[JEEPRUSTY]

Unless there is a drop in performance or other real issue then a wee leak should matter nowt.

Really guys is a little leak that meaningful if it is mere seepage?
The answer is no btw.

Cliff spraying on copper gasket and affixing putty are inherently doomed to failure as they cannot treat root cause.

Just saying if you cannot put a finger in the dike then no other fix will do.

[Steve]

ok so sleeve not cracked apparently its a watermark from where it sat at some point. machine shop says it needs to be bored .05 would be ok.

Whassamatter with leaving the watermark in there? I mean, how big of a mark is it? Is it really 0.025" deep, or is 0.05 over just the nest size piston?

I did not know it until this past May, but my wife's 850 has had a watermark in one cylinder for the 6+ years that we have had it.

I had removed the head to take it to a shop to have some broken exhaust bolts removed. On a whim, I took the cylinders for evaluation. It was suspected that one of the liners was cracked, but the "crack" was going about half-way around the middle of the sleeve. After locating another engine, a sleeve was exchanged into our cylinder block. Upon further examination, the "crack" did not go through the sleeve, so it is likely a watermark from the engine sitting before we got it.

Can't say that the engine went through an undue amount of oil, but it was evident that it was leaking some past some gaskets, so I took advantage of this time to replace all them, too.

I would be willing to part with one of the remaining sleeves, if you can't find another block. I will be home in a couple of weeks and can get it to you then.

.

[1_v8_merc]

If RTV doesn't work, then the leak is getting under it, and coming around it, or you missed the leak.
(not saying anyone "here" did it wrong, I'm just saying based on experience.)

Oh geez, I've done more repairs than I like to admit with it...but then again, I can do some pretty amazing things with it.
(just like some people that can do crazy things with JB Weld.)
It's just one of those things that has to be done Exactly right or it doesn't work at all.

You SHOULD just replace the gasket...now that winter is coming around.

[yotaman423]

thought i would post some pictures of hoe thing are going









hoping to get case degreased and ready for paint. i have sandblasted everything else. has anybody used VHT flat black wrinkle paint? how hot do there engines run?

[madjack57754]

I've had the best luck with Harley Davidson engine black wrinkle paint. Comes in a rather expensive rattle can, but holds up exceptionally well as long as it goes onto an dry, oil free surface.

[yotaman423]

well i went with a VHT header paint with a clear coat. decided to run the cylinder with the watermak. got everything back together and started it this morning. fired up with a little hesitation. let it idle for about a minute. everything seems ok no leaks oil light went off so i assume good pressure. is there anything i need to check before test riding and seating the new rings? i read some post and other info about rebuilds and seating new rings. so if i vary the revs and don t baby it i should be fine right? thanks again to everyone that helped contribute to this rebiuld without th GS resources i would never have been confident enough that i could have done this. hope im not counting my chickens befor they hatch

[yotaman423]

[Nessism]

Yes, just ride it aggressively in an around town manner for a while.

Hope you changed the valve stem seals and adjusted the valves while you had the top end off. And honed the cylinders really good too.

Good luck.

[yotaman423]

Yes, just ride it aggressively in an around town manner for a while.

Hope you changed the valve stem seals and adjusted the valves while you had the top end off. And honed the cylinders really good too.

Good luck.

did all of the above hopin to ride this thing cross country this year

[7981GS]

She looks very nice.

Daniel

[jimfj]

I can lend some expirence with pesky little leaks like this.

Super Glue. Clean the area with something that will remove all traces of oil. Spread the glue over and around affected area. If you happen to have some of the accelerator for the glue, even better.

the repair will hold up to engine heat well (iVe tried it several times) and its sure easier than replacing the gasket. Try it, it costs less than $5.00.