oil drip between cylinder fins

total rebuild, the oil is weeping off the third cylinder head fin up from the head gasket, so its not the head gasket, but the only source i can figure is coming up from one of the three studs/bolts at the front of the head, has any seen this before.

i have done one retorque and that hasn't stopped it. i upped the torque on the 5/16 studs to 30lbft, i guess i can pull the crossover pipe to get a picture

If the threads are not clean and true, torque readings are meaningless. All threads need a tap or die chase. Torque is only a measurement of resistance to rotation, not clamping force.

The most common problem that makes a leak that shows up there is a small leak from one of the oil line banjo bolts or spindle covers. The oil will not be visible when it runs down from the top of the head but after it collects in the center of the head it will run out the front of the head where you will see it.

Spray a little foot powder on a clean dry head below the banjos and spindle covers and then a leak will leave a track. Jim

thanks Jim; i'll do the dry test, initially i had a weeping LF spindle cover

Just resealed my spindle covers. Do you have oil on your boot?

It was a spindle cover bolt on my 850. The foot powder did the trick, A bit of Hylomar on the threads and mating surfaces and Bob was my uncle. My neighbor spotted the foot powder in my chemical cabinet and hemmed and hawed trying to politely ask just how bad of a problem I had with my feet since I felt the need to keep the cure out in the garage.

I had the same problem after a total rebuild last year.
I had the head off three times and became more and more despaired.
Then I wrote to Matt at CNW. He recommended me to check the mentioned banjo.
There was oil and the engine has been oil tight since then.

Vidar

it was the left intake spindle cover, we are now oil tight, ... well as oiltight as a norton can get...

did the maiden ride...

lost a main stand bolt and, front caliper seals weep.... i guess we are still in shakedown mode

I had a leak on my 74 MK2A. Had the head on and off several times. Then I pulled the studs that are in the cylinder.
I found a casting / machining flaw in the cylinder where when the holes for the studs were drilled it broke into the pushrod tunnel. I used a 2 part epoxy putty and worked it till it was thoroughly mixed rolled it into a pea size ball and dropped it into the hole. /ran the stud back down. Then took a great deal of time getting what had squished out into the pushrod tunnel out. Smoothed it out and let it dry for several days. Haven't had a leak in the 2 years since I fixed it.
You can put a small light down the stud holes and look down the pushrod tunnels to see it there is a leak.
John in Texas

I have found cracks in the cylinder head in this area, possibly when the head was milled so the nut for the front stud could be fitted the mill has come to close to the push rod tunnel casting and a crack occurs in this area over time, I have seen cracks on both the left and right sides on different heads.