Oil Leak Continued...

[Scudder]

1978 gs1000e

Got the new cam cover gasket and breather gaskets in. Installed after cleaning up all the gasket sealer that the PO used on it. My son took it out and it still was loosing oil from the left side. When it is on the side stand is drips after riding.

Obviously the PO had troubles with leaking, and I remember the guy that we got it from saying that it leaks a little. I'm thinking the cover is bend? Does that sound reasonable?

Scudder

[mike_of_bbg]

Just to be clear - it's leaking from the left side at the valve/head cover, or just on the left side somewhere???

Got pics?

[Scudder]

It's leaking from the cam/valve cover. More specifically, the main leak or the seeping that I can see in the gasket, is on the left side of the cover on the cam closest to the carbs/intake cam. Sorry, no pics.

scudder

[niclpnut]

possibly coming from a half moon head plugs?


#18 in the pic

Nic

[BassCliff]

Hi,

One method is to clean the engine thoroughly. Spray the suspected area(s) with foot powder. Start the engine, maybe go for a little ride. Check for the wet spot.

If you did not replace the "half moons" at the same time as the gasket, then that could be your leak. Some of us will install the cam plugs backwards, with the lip inside the head, in order to lessen the likelihood of leaks.

Lip on the outside:



Lip on the inside:






Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Scudder]

Thanks. I just got the half moons in the mail this afternoon. I'll install them tomorrow and see if that is the problem. Thanks again.

Scudder

[mike_of_bbg]

Despite the normal avoidance of gasket sealer, it's worthwhile putting a thin layer on the bottoms only of the half-moons.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Despite the normal avoidance of gasket sealer, it's worthwhile putting a thin layer on the bottoms only of the half-moons.

Yes, I concur.

Use a little gasket sealer on the curved part of the half moons only.



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[dwickham]

Same problem

Hi,
I have the same problem with my 1980 GS 850 except I snapped off a bolt in the very front right of the cover and will have to dig it out first. Did you have to replace the oil separators when you replaced the breather gasket?

Thanks,

David

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Did you have to replace the oil separators when you replaced the breather gasket?

Are you talking about these?





If you mean the wire mesh pads in the breather and the top of the valve cover, no, they can be reused forever.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[dwickham]

Thats it

Yep, thats exactly what I was wondering. Thanks a bunch!

David

[Dmajiq]

This sounds like the problem i'm having as well on my 82 gs850g. Confused by the thread of what to do, though. beautiful pictures too, by the way~


Hi all!

I have an 82 gs850g and and oil leak that I have seems to be coming from the front part of the bike and down the front levels of the cylinder head.

When i took off the gas tank it revealed a slash in the breather hose. i patched it up until i could get a replacement. Cleaned up the spray on top of the carb covers and down near the spark plugs. I did this when i did an oil change.
When the breather hose arrived i went back, but the leak wasn't coming from the hose, though it was new oil coming out for sure somewhere from just around the spark plugs, dripping on the left side and down the cylinder head.

Is that too where the ignition cover is and could my leak also be a crank seal?
it's not a very big leak, but it is persistent and could be fouling my #3 spark plug.

I'm female doing the work with fellow gearhead friends.
Thanks bunches!

[Scudder]

Well, the leak of the gs1000e continues. I've changed the cam cover gasket and the breather gasket. I had a guy look at it and he said it could be any of the gaskets and really the only way to fix it would be to replace them all. That was a large expense, and a bigger project than I'd hoped for, so elected to drive the bike home, and do it myself. I've done similiar work on my gs750, but I'm just a bit more paranoid since this is my sons bike. But... looks like I'm going to dive in and save quite a bit of money.

Now I'm looking to purchase a gasket kit, which seems to be cheaper than getting them individually. I looked on Z1 enterprises and they have a kit for around $90. I've also looked on ebay and they have vesrah gasket kit for a little over $100. Does anyone have a preference?

One more question. Do you have to change the cylinder base gasket when you change the cylinder head gasket? The guy I had look at the gs1000 said I should, but I didn't change the cylinder base gasket when I changed the head gasket on my gs750 and things seem fine.

Thanks,

Scudder

[cowboyup3371]

There are a lot of comments here about going with OEM gaskets especially for the base. Might want to research it.

[1_v8_merc]

Nothing wrong with using sealants
I use Permatex RTV gasket maker(high-temp)

I reinforced many gasket areas with RTV, just to make sure I don't experience any more leaks! As long as you seal it correctly, it won't leak.