Just rebuilt my engine and it's leaking oil

[devauxr]

Hello everybody! I know I bet you're all super sick of me and this ole 850.

I've just recently rebuilt my 1980 gs850 engine and all and I went out and started it up today and it's leaking from what looks like the head gasket and base gasket. I followed my manual to the T with putting this thing back together. So the question is should I have tightened the bolts a little higher then spec or could they have backed off in the break in process (high revs)? Either way is this as simple as either tightening up a bit more or do i have to replace these gaskets? I really hope it's not the latter as I've just moved to an apartment complex where in depth repairs are not an option so... well she might be going if they're in need of replacement.

[chef1366]

Did you do a retourque after 500 miles?

[devauxr]

Technically it hasn't even been in gear yet and gone down the road. It was a high rev on the stands compliments of my fudgy carbs that i'm currently rebuilding.

[devauxr]

High Revs break-in i should say. Either way the engine hasn't been run for more then ten minutes

[chef1366]

New gaskets, proper tightening sequence and tourque you should be good. Try putting a little blue locktite or thread sealer on the little bolts on the outside of the outer plugs and the center of the front.

[devauxr]

That's what i was thinking just trying to get a little feedback. I didn't originally put the sealer on because I was going by the book and not thinking. My mistake and i'll fix it like always. Thanks

[Big T]

Did you put the O rings around the oil passage bolts?

If you torqued it correctly, certainly should leak at top and bottom.

Is it leaking at the bottom back corners?

[devauxr]

I took extra special care to put the o-rings on the base correct so I doubt that's the issue. It's leaking from the front of the engine off to the left of the center of the engine (guessing because it's on the stand) I also used one of those old dial torque wrenches so it's possible i may have misread or I just should have loc-tited it down.

[chef1366]

Don't loctite the head bolts. I was talking about the three small bolts. They tend to leak at the threads.

[devauxr]

oops on that! but i used blue loctite so it's ok. Except that now this thing is leaking everywhere, at the head at the bottom of the jug and at the oil pan. I can't wrap my head around it...sorta. I used vesra gaskets. I insalled them before seeing all of the bad talk about them. When working on my cars I always get gasket kits and I never have any issues (typically felpro). But if they leak this bad how is this company still in business. I mean every critical gasket is leaking. Normally i would put personal fault out there and would be happy to accept the blame but I put too much time and energy making sure that these things were installed correct. I'm at a loss now because I can't rip this thing apart at the complex I now live in. Anyone know of a motorcycle shop near Raleigh that will work on a bike this old?

[bwringer]

This sudden all-over leakage seems really odd -- even the crap Vesrah gaskets will last at least a little while, and don't go all at once.

Perchance, is the breather or breather tube at the top of the engine clogged? This could allow pressure from blowby to build up and force oil out. It's normal to have more blowby than usual immediately after a rebuild.

Also keep in mind that a leak from, say, a hidden area of the valve cover would dump oil all over, and on an air cooled engine it pretty quickly runs around to some pretty odd places. Basically, it's much more likely that you have a leak from one spot that's dripping from many other spots.

Do not over-torque the head bolts. That won't solve anything.

[devauxr]

I was thinking that it was really weird and i was going to ask and see if there was anything like a pcv valve or other structure that could possible vent crank pressure. I will definitely be checking that out tomorrow. I will keep you guys updated!

[Suzuki mad]

Did you torque the head down in the correct sequence? Put the O rings on the cam tunnel and on the bottoms of the 4 opening to the barrels?

The sump leak, I'd change the gasket.

I would normally go for genuine Suzuki gaskets myself even though they are a little more expensive.

[Bribird]

Hey devauxr, If you are still having problems when you get down my way. I will take a look at it for you. Durham is very close to me.

[devauxr]

So i'm pretty sure that vent tube was a spot on assessment. I took it off the engine and airbox and the tube was clean but i put it on the airbox and blew through it and it looked like the first time i played the trumpet. I can't be sure as it's raining right now and i couldn't really go for a ride but i have my fingers crossed. As for the help thanks for the offer, hopefully i won't need it but it was a very nice offer thanks.