1983 gs1100ed oil leak problems

[robert ford]

i have a 1983 gs1100ed with a oil leak from front of motor ,its hard to tell where its coming from(head gasket or cam cover gasket) does anyone know about how much this repair would cost if had it done by a shop

[83'GK]

Tach Drive 'O' ring replacement: Some $$

Cam cover gasket: Some more $$$

Head or base gasket $$$$$$$ dollars.

Looking for it and doing it yourself $ dollars and some time......plus a great satisfaction of sticking it to the man because you not paying big $$$!!

[knotzilla]

I also have an oil leak in the front too and it seems to be coming from around the #3 exhaust port area. It only starts leaking when the engine is run for over 1/2 hour or so. I think it might be a cracked head. Ted

[rphillips]

I agree with 83GK, check tach drive first, take the cable out of the tach drive & if there's oil up in the cable housing, this seal is the problem. My "83" 1100 E started smoking during a rest stop, a couple of years ago. I looked & could see the cam cover gasket had slipped out from under the front of the cam cover. Using only the tools from the tool kit, got it back in place & tight enough to get home without any excessive leaking.

[Jethro]

Oil leaks can be funny. I had one that I swore was the head gasket- leaking in front- turned out to be the cam chain tensioner gasket! Don't rule that out.

[mcycle-nut]

It could be worse. My ED leaks where the cases meet. This is not just major work, it's COLONEL work!

[Suzuki mad]

My 83 ES leaked oil from both the rocker box, cylinder head, base gasket and crank cases. The half moons were perished which sorted the top problem, the cylinder head and base gasket were because the head wasn't tight down after having had a rebuild two years previous plus the base gasket was actually thye cam chain tensioner leaking oil coming out the back.
4 half moons, rocker box gasket, a cam chain tensioner, less than £40 UK from Suzuki and no oil leaks.
Most dealers will charge you 'an arm and a leg' for servicing or repairs unless you are buying spares. If you need to do any work on the crank or gearbox it's a l,ot of work to break the engine cases.
I take it that you have an oil weap from just above the oil filter housing? If you remove the filter housing there are two bolts that hold the case together, may be worth checking that they are tight.
With an engine that's 23 years old, most of the rubber oil seals that have got hot and cold over the years go hard and stop working properly. It is not nessecarily all bad, just a question of change a few seals. Get a manual and use some of the we sites that show part diagrams to help you identify what seals might have failed. If you feel confident then have a go. Start small and work you way up. It will save you £'s, sorry $'s in the long run.

Suzuki mada
1981 GS1000E
1983 GSX1100ESD still in a lot of bit's.

Spring is here, must go for a ride!!!!!!!!!