Oil leak from crankcase bolt?

[Nessism]

Been struggling to find the source of an oil leak on my 850 - leaking off bottom of stator cover. It's a small leak but still, shouldn't leak at all. Changed the stator cover gasket twice but leak is still there. Set the bike up in the garage this evening with the engine running and the oil seems to be coming from one of the screws clamping the crankcase half's together. Has anyone ever seen a leak like this before? Only thing I can think of is that there is a sealer void on the crankcase half's and oil is working it's way over and down the case bolt. Not sure how to fix it short of cracking the engine which I'm not too keen to do. Wonder if I can get a dowty seal washer and try to keep the oil inside that way? Open to suggestions.

[TheCafeKid]

Been struggling to find the source of an oil leak on my 850 - leaking off bottom of stator cover. It's a small leak but still, shouldn't leak at all. Changed the stator cover gasket twice but leak is still there. Set the bike up in the garage this evening with the engine running and the oil seems to be coming from one of the screws clamping the crankcase half's together. Has anyone ever seen a leak like this before? Only thing I can think of is that there is a sealer void on the crankcase half's and oil is working it's way over and down the case bolt. Not sure how to fix it short of cracking the engine which I'm not too keen to do. Wonder if I can get a dowty seal washer and try to keep the oil inside that way? Open to suggestions.

Ive got a bit of a leak seemingly coming from maybe my oil pan bolts? or maybe a case bolt, cant tell which...

[robinm]

I

would put a fibre washer on the bolt, see if that stops the leak.

[Nessism]

would put a fibre washer on the bolt, see if that stops the leak.

Found a copper washer and just got done installing it. Screw was coated with oil when it was removed...thus confirming my suspicion on the leak source.

[SqDancerLynn1]

If it still leaks ? I would check & make sure it is not the weep hole in the bottom case for the starter cavity drain-- starter O ring

[Nessism]

Copper washer on the crankcase bolt is working. Rode the bike around a fair bit this weekend and no oil. Just posting this one for the archives since the leak source was so unusual, to me anyway.

[NICK!]

Nessism, you hit it right on the head. A couple of times a year we'd have a new GS that would leak from one of the main bolts. We just put a copper washer on the bolt, retorqued it and sent it out. Worked every time.

[salty_monk]

Glad you got it sorted!

Dan

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. Nessism,

A leak? On your bike? No! Say it isn't so!

It's great you found a simple solution. I'll have to make a note. Thanks for sharing. Would thread sealer be of any use in this situation?

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[salty_monk]

It may have helped stop the oil tracking down the threads of the bolt, easier to put a copper washer under the head though.

Dan