Rear cylinder head leaking oil.

[Blaylock1988]

So I moved out to LA, had my stuff shipped. Finally after 2 month I got the time to get my bike back into working order.

I was looking over my bike today since it was was really dusty and was cleaning it, when I noticed oil underneath my left footpeg. Then I noticed light oil on the swingarm, then a little oil on the engine case, that nasty thick oil build-up on one of the hoses that runs somewhere up to the rear cylinder head. I took off the airbox cover and saw what looks like oil seeping from the top of the rear cylinder. I think I have a bad gasket that needs to be replaced. HOPEFULLY that is all, the buildup on the oil line worries me though. It looks like a tiny leak, but it looks like it may have developed nearly a year ago (I haven't been riding my bike much).

Will an engine rotation be enough to access the rear cylinder and replace the gasket? Or do I need to remove the frame completely?

Good thing is, I have an opportunity to get the headers ceramic coated while I'm at it.

I will update with pics as I go along.

Do you guys think it is the gasket, or could it be a different source for the leak?

EDIT: I spoke to my Dad, he said its the rocker cover, and I read a bunch of comments of people saying they had to rotate the engine to do it.

 

[thrstrmech]

Where did you move to in LA? The gasket seems to be reasonable suspect. After my bike sat for a year while working overseas, came back to find the rear cylinder base gasket leaking ever so slightly, talked to some folks about it, Harley guys, and they pretty much said the same thing, gasket just needs to be re-seated, suggested I take the bike out for a long ride and that otta do the trick, hmmm, did it and wouldn't you know it worked, haven't seen a thing since, that was over 6 months ago and it's checked weekly. Hope it's that simple for you, good luck

 

[Blaylock1988]

Eh, idk, I have significant buildup on one of the oil hoses, and I went on an 8 hour ride a couple weeks before I moved. The buildup is much older than that. My dad said he had the same problem on his S2 Thunderbolt, he had to replace the rocker cover gasket after a few years.

I am living in N. Redondo Beach now and love it!

 

[wolfo68]

you don't have to rotate the engine to do it, but it's a lot easier. If it's actually from the head and not the rocker you might want to put on a new head gasket.

 

[Blaylock1988]

When I first looked at it, I saw oil was coming out from the very top cover, I thought that was the top of the head, but my dad reminded me that our bikes have rockers it was the rocker cover, not the head itself. I don't see how its possible to remove the rocker cover without rotating the engine or removing the frame, its so covered up in there.

 

[thrstrmech]

Welcome to SoCal if and when you're ever headed to San Diego hit me up, I'm in Murrieta/Temecula area an hour north from SD. Let me know if you need a hand, you're about an 1-1/2 hr away.