Qu

[Olegred]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/...eca861a37a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/...3117b19ee0.jpg

[DiverRay]

The bluing tells me you are probably running a little lean. You will NEED to verify that with a "chop test" and read the spark plugs. IF you search for "reading plugs" I think you will find a thread that explains it.
The oily stuff by the fin is probably a leak from the valve cover. The cap screws like to loosen up over time, and as you ride, it starts to get an oil "smear" over the engine. I would pull the tank, and recheck all the cap screws on the valve cover.
Welcome to the land of XSesive!!

[HobbyMan]

When the bike runs lean, the exhaust temperature goes up. That causes a certain chrome oxide to form on the pipes changing the color.

[TopCatGr58]

Your pipes are aftermarket, and are single walled vs. the double walled OEM ones! So...even properly tuned machines can cause them to turn blue!! However, there is also a good chance that the PO didn't rejet the carbs after putting them on!

SO...you'll want to pull the carbs and check to see what the sizes of the jets are, at least the mains. It's usually a 2 sizes up for aftermarket, and even a 3rd if you have K&N type air filter due to better breathing/flow=leans out the fuel air ratio/mixture!

The little rubber half moons you see in the head are also prone to hardening and eventual leaking. They are easily obtained from several sources, Partsnmore, bikebandit, your local dealer, etc! Others have taken the valve cover off, put a layer of sealant around them and put them back in! You can either order a NEW valve cover gasket, or buy some material and make your own depending on how artistic you are!

I found an interesting rubber sealing tape at my local LOWES home repair store...in the plumbing section IIRC, and I would think it would be a bit better than just plain Electrical tape!

You heard a slight change in rpms with your leak test. Did you inspect your intake boot synch port caps for hardening/cracking, cause that could be where the leak is, not necessarily the boots themselves!!
T.C.

[mro]

originally posted by TC
Others have taken the head off, put a layer of sealant around them

That be a lot a work to get at those half moon seals.
Seems to me I'd just remove the valve cover


mro

**Benefit of being a MOD/Admin, I can EDIT anytime I want! I was getting tired....yeah, that's the ticket!** T.C.

[CarolynS]

Hey, Olegred, I'm the new female XSive that was mentioned. The bike looks pretty good in the pictures. Better than my rat does at the moment-body and paint this weekend.
These guys already saved me the $90 for what are called "carburetor mounts" in one place I visited. I don't need to change mine either-they are just ugly-temporary.
The bluing on the exhaust could be because the PO didn't prep the new pipes before installing them-or it could be lean running. Either way, I'm sure with the help that is available here on this great site, you'll be an old hand in no time.
Hey boys, I'm taking off the tank, removing the carbs tonight!! Tanks going for some bodywork-3 dents-and the carbs will be cleaned and refurbished. Thank you, because I wouldn't have had the courage to do it 2 weeks ago. I'm not alone anymore.

[Olegred]

Hey, that makes it two newbies in one thread Yeah, the bike is in ok condition, runs like a champ and I hope it won't have any major problems. The guy that owned it was a meticulous fella, so after 29 years it even had the manual, all the tools and was pretty clean.

[Flatlander]

When you remove the valve cover's to repair the oil leak's, use the hight temp. gasket sealer on the valve cover bolt threads. This will help hold them put, and will be easier to remove when you decide to remove them in the future. Just my $0.02.