79 Xs 1100 Oil Leakage

[MIDWAYAUTO]

I went to start it this spring and oil started running out of the left hand side (if you are sitting on it) engine cover. Down by the shifter. Any ideas?

[mro]

Shift cover is a "wet" cover.
Forward of it is the roundish crank/timing cover which is a "dry" cover. If coming from the roundish one crank seal leeking, a hassel to change but might be done w/o pulling engine.

Shift cover... unusall for it to leek but stuff happens and gasket could have a problem and need to be replaced.

Bikes been sitting over winter? With bike on center stand, check oil level...does it seem over full? If so may have gas in the oil. Level could rise enough that the gas/oil could leak from the shift lever seal which is normally above the oil level in bottom of engine.

If no gas in the oil, clean it and try agin to pin point leek....


mro

[dbeardslee]

Midway,

Are you sure it's leaking from the cover and not from the galley plug under the cover? It's got a little o-ring under it, and mine was leaking there. Changed the o-ring and stopped the leak. The timing cover has to be removed to get the plug out. Be careful if you take it out as that plug is made out of potmetal and too much torque will snap it right in two. Not sure what the torque spec is, but only needs enough to compress the o-ring a little bit.

DB

[MIDWAYAUTO]

Thanks, you were right. It was from the plug underneath the cover, must be the O-ring. Didn't leak at all last fall and now once it was warm it ran out pretty good???? Oh well, thanks again.

[dbeardslee]

Midwayauto - glad to help. Just an FYI - there's another one on the other side, put it's a little galley plug thing that just pulls out and also has an o-ring on it. Alternator cover has to come off for that one. Don't take the cover off and run it to see if it's leaking - the oil pressure will shoot it out.

DB