Oil on the 6th fin

J

John May

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Dec 14, 2021
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I have oil on top of the sixth fin on the front of the engine. After idling for 20 minutes it comes out pretty evenly across the fin. Any ideas?
I’d like to post pictures but I don’t know how.
 
Retorque the head bolts first before considering anything more major. If it still leaks then more work is required but try the retorque and then come back with results. Mine was leaky a few years ago, on retorqueing the leak went away and some of the bolts were under torqued, had last worked on the head 15 years before.
 
John May said:
I have oil on top of the sixth fin on the front of the engine. After idling for 20 minutes it comes out pretty evenly across the fin. Any ideas?
I’d like to post pictures but I don’t know how.
Click to expand...
Idling for 20 minutes? Are you crazy? This is an air cooled engine which needs a breeze to remain within its operational parameters. Idling for this long may have damaged the cylinder head in various ways.
For instance, it may have warped, opening a gap to the pushrod channel where oil drains from the head.

- Knut
 
mdt-son said:
Idling for 20 minutes? Are you crazy? This is an air cooled engine which needs a breeze to remain within its operational parameters. Idling for this long may have damaged the cylinder head in various ways.
For instance, it may have warped, opening a gap to the pushrod channel where oil drains from the head.

- Knut
Click to expand...
Long periods of idling are not good for the cam & followers either.
 
I don't like idling at long red traffic lights - rev the motor to increase oil down the tunnels to the crucial cam/follower area.
20 minutes???
 
kommando said:
Retorque the head bolts first before considering anything more major. If it still leaks then more work is required but try the retorque and then come back with results. Mine was leaky a few years ago, on retorqueing the leak went away and some of the bolts were under torqued, had last worked on the head 15 years before.
Click to expand...
Worked for me too.
 
Myself I don’t let my bike idle for 20 seconds much less 20 minutes. I hope his post is a typo. I am with RobSS on this.
Mike
 
It's possible that the rocker spindle caps are leaking. Sometimes it is hard to see, try running a finger underneath them. The oil will flow down towards the sparkplug then towards the center of the head. Because the motor is tilted it runs out the front.
If I need to idle the bike for longer than a few minutes I have to fans to keep it cool.
 
If retorque doesnt resolve, try fitting a reed valve on the breather hose to reduce pressure pulses inside the engine.
One not uncommon leak point, the 2 front head studs are threaded into holes in the block that can break into the pushrod tunnels. Hard to see when head it off umless putting light into holes and looking for it inside the tunnels. Seal studs in with loctite or similar to halt oil wjcking up and out stud holes, down front of engine fins.
 
I use baby powder dusted on the head ….after cleaning the head to locate any oil leaks…a quick check of the head torquing would be the first thing I try…
Rod
 
If this has been suggested, sorry. The two front center studs are the leak, remove one nut at a time. Coat the washer, both sides, the nut and the stud with gasket maker, Retorque the two stud nuts and wait for a day to start. If your a little sloppy nobody will see it!
 

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