[BruceyTL]

Hey all,

while doing other works re fuel pump..I’ve pulled the lead to my rear spark plug and a fair amount of oil has come out with it! Enough to run everywhere down the side of the bike.

Am I right in saying this is most likely the valve cover gasket?
Thanks

 

[Six5]

Yes there is a separate round portion of the valve cover gasket that surrounds the spark plug hole in the cover. If there is a lot of oil in the spark plug well , that portion of the gasket may be missing or damaged.

[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/[email protected]/0529kaiEL6]IMG_20131228_164512[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/]Tony Six5[/url], on Flickr

 

[BruceyTL]

Thanks Six5. Yeah that must be it, there was quite a bit there..feck

I don’t have to drop the engine to get that cover off do I? It looks pretty tight to get to two of the bolts - rear cylinder btw.

 

[Six5]

.....
I don’t have to drop the engine to get that cover off do I? It looks pretty tight to get to two of the bolts - rear cylinder btw.

No. there is no need to drop the engine. I use a shortened, low profile, hex key to loosen those two screws on the rear valve cover.
You can buy a low profile set, or make your own.

Be careful to keep an eye on the alignment dowels that keep the valve cover positioned on the head. There are two of them, I think. Somestimes they are loose and could fall into the engine.

 

[tlsgazza]

There is a drain hole in the side of the cylinder head that may be blocked too. It drains any water that gets down the plug hole in the head. Try blowing it out or run a piece of wire up it to clear it. I would have expected the oil to run out through this.

 

[BruceyTL]

thank you both, now have the new gaskets and some time this weekend to take a look!