Slight oil leak, 1983 GS1100 head, right side

[oregonjake]

I just got back from taking Miss Bugly on a 250 mile loop, the longest ride since reassembling her. Everything was okay, no problems to report. When I arrived home I noticed a little oil on the right side of the head, around the chrome bolt under the cam caps. The picture below shows what I am seeing...



Should I look at the washer behind the bolt or the gasket on the cam cover? Or is it something more nefarious? Thanks.

[rapidray]

Pull the valve cover, replace the valve cover gasket if you have not done so yet & install the rubber half moons with the lip to the INSIDE.
Ray.

[oregonjake]

Thanks Ray, I have not replaced the valve cover gasket but will do so as soon as I can. The rubber half moons, I assume I can get those through Suzuki?

[Brendan W]

Last time I checked they were available but the price was a bit eye watering. Many, me included, refit them with a little sealer.
They won't last forever but you can avoid having to replace every time you open the top.

[gsgeezer]

Last time I checked they were available but the price was a bit eye watering. Many, me included, refit them with a little sealer.
They won't last forever but you can avoid having to replace every time you open the top.

I saw some new ones on eBay. Did a search for valve cover gaskets and the plugs came up, too. When I replaced my gasket, a few years ago, I replaced those plugs and used a little sealer, as mentioned. I got mine from a dealer, but they were more expensive than the ebay listing.

[oregonjake]

Thanks for all the advice, I have a Suzuki dealer across the street from my house and as I don't normally use them, I thought it would be easy to walk a few hundred meters. If the price is that much different I will always go with cheaper. I had forgotten the trick of using a bit of sealer, that is an easy way to go for the short term. I have work to do now, I owe you guys a beer.