Oil Leak and Cylinder Head Removal

[Guest]

Hi, I've just brought a Lovely GS1100 Café Racer but the engine has small oil leak, it drips from the front of the cylinder head in the middle, where the extra 6mm bolt is on the cam chain tunnel (Hope that make sense!!) but the oil appears to come from above the head gasket? so I don't think its the head gasket leaking.
Checked the rocker box gasket for leaks all OK and I re-torqued the cylinder head down but leak still there.

The engine was re-built and set up for the previous owner 6 months ago by a Suzuki GS specialist shop with all new Suzuki O.E. gaskets and seals fitted. Runs perfect apart from a little smoke from the exhaust on starting from cold but disappears once it's warmed up.

This oil leak got me baffled, damaged head or cracked maybe?

So if the heads got to come off to sort it, can anyone tell me if it is possible to remove the cylinder head with the motor still in the frame or does the engine have to come out?

Regards,
Bob Medge. G.B.

[Steve]

The good news is that the engine does not need to be removed from the frame to remove the head.

The bad news is that if you are changing the head gasket, you should also change the base gasket.
(That can also be changed with the engine in place.)

Even better news is that, since the leak appears to come from above the head gasket, it might not be the head gasket.
The potential leak sources above the head gasket include the tach drive and the valve cover. Clean the front of the engine, then go for a ride to see where it leaks.

The engine was recently rebuilt with all new OEM gaskets by a "Suzuki specialist shop" and smokes on start-up? Makes me wonder if they bothered to change the valve seals? If the head was off to change the head gasket (not mentioned specifically, but somewhat necessary when an engine is "rebuilt"), it's not much more work to change the valve seals. Also, when you say "Suzuki specialist shop", are you talking about an authorized Suzuki dealer or an independent shop that just 'specializes' in Suzukis?

.

[Bob Medge]

Oil Leak

Had a go tonight at trying to find the source of the oil leak. Cleaned and degreased the front of the cylinder head then covered with baby talc powder. Started the bike and left it running, after about 2-3 minutes oil started to appear from the front on the left hand side of the cylinder head next to the cam chain tunnel extra bolt. It was seeping out above the head gasket so its not coming from that. I stopped the motor and took the tank off to have a look at the top of the head and there was oil around the inner plug, took it out and there was more oil around inner head stud and nut number 2. So I recon the oil is leaking from around there maybe the stud or rocker cover and running across the head and out the front of the engine.
I will take the rocker cover off tomorrow and have a look and hopefully find where the oil is leaking from.

[Big T]

Bob,

It's most likely the valve cover gasket, if it's miscut or poorly installed by a mm or so, it will leak oil and the oil will come from someplace you can't see with the gas tank on.

If you have a remote gas feed, degrease the head again, repowder and inspect again

Carefully take the valve cover off and see what you've got going on in the location of the leak. I'm sure the problem will be obvious

My question is, why don't you take it back to the "specialist" and have him fix it for free? I don't think it's too much to expect the job to be done correctly when you pay him a pile of money.

Also, edit your profile to show where you are you are in the UK. There may be some other member close by who can render assistance to you.

[hampshirehog]

I bet you a pint that leak is coming from the o ring on the front middle pair of head nuts. They get old and hard and they all end up doing that.

If you're pulling the cam cover then remove the middle nuts (they're an odd shape) and replace the o rings - genuine Suzuki only, cost you less than a fiver. If you just remove one nut at a time, replace and torque up before doing the next one you won't disturb anything.

[greg78gs750]

ding ding. can't believe a shop would not have replaced these. oh, wait...yes, actually, i can.

I bet you a pint that leak is coming from the o ring on the front middle pair of head nuts. They get old and hard and they all end up doing that.

If you're pulling the cam cover then remove the middle nuts (they're an odd shape) and replace the o rings - genuine Suzuki only, cost you less than a fiver. If you just remove one nut at a time, replace and torque up before doing the next one you won't disturb anything.

[Bob Medge]

Many Thanks for all the reply's and advice.
As suggested I'm going to rig up a remote gas tank, clean and powder the top of the head and give her a run to see exactly were the oil is coming from before I undue or try anything.
The guy I brought it off was very up front and told me about the oil leak. I haven't got a problem with the workshop that did the motor for him, it was 6 months ago and on the build sheet they advise 'For future consideration replace valve guides, slight smoke on cold start up/ clear once engine warm', and it is only very slight.
Regards,
Bob Medge.

[ukjules]

Re: Remote gas tank

I use some lengths of fuel tube - easily available. I bought 4m's off ebay.
One for the vacuum and one for the petrol feed.
I stick the tank on a foldable workbench nearby. Job done and simple.

[rapidray]

Your leak is as stated above: the 2 orings on the front, center 2 head nuts, on either side of the cam chain tunnel.
Ray.

[Fjbj40]

I did not see him say this is a 16 valve engine?

The 8 valve does not have the o-ring around those cyl head center nuts, if it is a 8 valve.