Mysterious Hole in engine case

[Guest]

First - let me apologize if this counts as a double post. I originally asked this in the rebuild forum, but I am afraid that the question may not be seen by someone with the answer. I'm rebuilding my 1982 GS850GL and came across a small hole and would like to what it is for and if I should try to clean the area that it leads to.

Does anyone know what the hole is under the starter on a 1982 GS850GL? I pulled the starter as there was some debris next to where the wire goes under the cover for the starter and found that there was a small 7/16" or so hole on the engine case. The same hole is on a spare engine I have. It seemed there was a small 1/8" vent tube going into the hole, and also seemed like debris could get in there.

image (1).jpg

[Cipher]

drain hole.........

[Brendan W]

Believe it or not the official name for that is the ' Mystery Hole '
Stops the starter motor getting flooded and drains the vent tube from the drive gearbox.

[jdion81]

By George, that is what it is. I would never have thought of that. Thank you.

more information that I found, now that I know what it is:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?131694-Oil-leak

[bwringer]

Woohoo! It must be almost spring -- we've got a Mystery Hole question!

The thread from 2008 you linked to explains all...

[jdion81]

It seems like spring here in Decatur. It's been 60+ degrees (with the exception of this weekend) for almost 2 weeks. I'm glad to get this mystery solved though, I can move on to other important things like cleaning the tank and replacing the engine.

[Brendan W]

Can you see Stator poking his head out the Mystery Hole looking for his shadow

[jdion81]

No, but I did pull a pretty well-done grasshopper from that area.