NC30 oil leak...

[Smoky]

evening all, im in need of a little help...
spotted an oil leak yesterday, just a small drip- but keeps reappearing... seems to be coming from behind the front sprocket cover. i know this is going to be bad... but how bad?
really hope its not the output shaft...
if it is, will it be time to drop the motor?

[hunter]

look here.viewtopic.php?f=24&t=26972&hilit=engine+oil+leak

[Smoky]

Diamond. Will give it a good look and hopefully its coming form there....

[Smoky]

update*
checked the clutch push rod, gear lever and front sprocket and doesnt appear to be coming from there....
although saying that, it hasnt happened much at all lately. is it possible that its only lkeaking out when the motor is under load? so far ive been letting it tick over and trying to spot the source.
any ideas?

thanks all

[Smoky]

been a while, but now ive gotten round to it, im pretty sure ive traced the leak down to the left rear valve cover (as you sit on the bike) think i remember reading in the haynes book of lies that you can remove these with the motor still in the frame... can anyone confirm that please?
also, does anyone know if i can source the gaskets without buying a complete set?

cheers all

[hunter]

Yes,Both cam covers can be removed with engine in frame,
These gaskets are re-usable,buy I''m sure if you want a new one Rick Oliver will have them.

[Jashdown]

You sure it's the cam cover gasket? They are rubber gaskets and basically never leak, unless it's torn, which will only happen if it's removed.. I would take the cover off and look over the gasket closely, trying to find any imperfections.

Get a torch and look around the whole cylinder, if the cam cover is leaking, you will see the oil trace on the head.. I don't think it would be the cam cover gasket, if you can see traces of oil around your sprocket..

Go for a 15 minute ride and then remove the sprocket cover and look around for any oil.. Clean all the gunk out from the around the front sprocket before you go for the ride too.

[Smoky]

@jashdown- not totally sure its the cam gasket no, but almost certain its coming from the top end of the block... had the sprocket cover off and had a good look around, didnt seem to be the output shaft, or the gear lever- even had a good look at the clutch pushrod too, and it seemed dry.

after studying the haynes book of lies, my next assumption was either the drain hole on the side of the head, or the cam gasket. i may have to scrub the engine down, as im having trouble seeing the oil trace line. i just know that it ends up on the floor, after dripping off the sprocket cover. (just a few little dribbles, not a torrent)

have ordered a new gasket and will fit it this weekend and update you all.

again, thanks very much for the help, and terribly sorry about the late update.

[jetblack]

Mine was leaking from the front cam cover gasket and coming out through the drain hole on the side of the head, it was becuase i hadn't seated the gasket properly when refitting after doing the clearances. just replaced with a new one for complete confidence.

[Smoky]

right, update time:
got into the garage this morning and whipped the plugs out first thing- and found them covered in oil. front and rear. also a fair amount of oil in the plug holes too, (only checked the rear, couldnt see the front) Changed them for an old set and fired her up, runs fine (after a cough and splutter) so checked the plugs again, and... yup-covered in oil again. so, im assuming its not the cam gasket, unless its leaking around both plugholes causing them to fill with oil...
took the airbox off, was a little oily in there- nothing dramatic, but not dry...
but this is where things get odd... theres a fair amount of white smoke coming from the exhaust, but only the top pipe (shotgun setup) which comes from the front cylinders, also the front downpipes get a whole lot hotter than the rear ones... there doesnt appear to be any smoke at all coming from the other pipe. although when i cap it with my hand, theres more pressure than the top one... confusing.
so i know oil is getting to the spark plugs somehow, but im not sure how... or why.

this is where i beseech of you, the mighty learned ones, that you might bestow your wisdom upon me...
(please help me, im losing the plot)

cheers all!