Oil leak - sgould I fix this?

[QTreiber]

Another wet spot on my 1979 XS 1100:







Should I address this or is this simply cosmetic? If I want to fix this, what do I have to do?

Thank you in advance!
Armin

[natemoen]

Can't tell if it's coming from the valve cover gasket or the cam end plugs. You could pull the valve cover and clean up the gasket area, pull the plugs out and clean them up them reseal everything up with rtv.

There was someone here that made aluminum or stainless replacements for those cam plugs just don't remember who it was though.

[fredintoon]

Should I address this or is this simply cosmetic? If I want to fix this, what do I have to do?
Armin

Hi Armin,
scrub it clean with engine degreaser and a brass-wire toothbrush and wash it off.
See how long it takes for the stain to come back and make the decision then.

[WMarshy]

That's a common spot for these engines to weap a little oil from. Not much of a big deal unless your bike is for show. I just wipe it one in a while and forget it. One member does offer a machined aluminum plug but I can't remember who. One of these days I will make my own!

[Elevener]

I cant remember who it was either, but last time he posted about making another batch I messaged him I wanted a set. Never heard back.

[DGXSER]

I belive that was XSCHOP who was making the plugs. He haunts the .org site now.

Other have you covered on your options pretty well. Me, I'd clean it up and see how bad it is leaking like sugested. The fix for the plug is RTV no mattter what gasket material you use.

[skids]

Yeah, I would just clean it regularly until you have a reason to remove the cam cover...like checking shim clearances.