Oil Leak - KZ1100 A3

Thanks for accepting me. I’m a 24 year computer engineer, and pretty new to KZs. Love this forum, filled with a lot of info.

Recently noticed that the oil level was quite low. So, I added some oil today to the correct level and went for a ride. Saw fresh oil stains here on Right Side.

I didn’t see the oil leak when it’s standing still, only when I rode it.

The bike runs fine/normal.

Also, see spray stains on my shin.

What do you guys think? How much time do I have before going to a mechanic? As I’m really busy with work, prefer to do it by myself when I have time.

jeh

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Dave

Looks like the stud nuts are weeping. Might try to retorque them and see if it stops. 

Hi, are you talking about these nuts? Someone told me it could valve cover gasket, but I don’t see any oil stains up there.

How shall I retorque these? i don’t a think a socket wrench would fit there. Can I use a normal spanner?
Also how does this get loosened by itself?

thanks
jeh

Could also be that smaller head bolt next to the spark plug.  I've got one that weeps but it seems to be more from the gasket area.  And yes a tall socket (with a short extension if necessary) will work with your torque wrench for the large head nuts.  (You are planning to use a torque wrench, right?)

You need a torque wrench with a socket.  The tightness spec is in the service manual...

www.kzrider.com/modules/ServiceManuals/K...Service%20Manual.pdf

Okay. Should I loosen up all 4 cylinder head nuts and then retorque all of them in order? Or only just tighten the ones that are loose?
What is the process? 
 Thanks..

There is more than four of them. You will need to remove the fuel tank and tighten them in the sequence described in the service manual. It is not hard, just a little tedious,

Okay. So this one, yeah?

These two bolts are M6 (10mm hex head) and require a MUCH lower torque (1.2 Kg / m) than the other head nuts.



H.

Carefully examine the front of the motor in the head gasket / camchain areas.  We've learned that a leaking mechanical tach drive (on a Z1 at least) can perfectly mimic a head gasket or camchain tunnel O-ring leak because of the way air blows the oil rearward.  We don't see the tach drive cable in the first pic though.  The mechanical drive on Z1's and older KZ1K's is above the #3 exhaust port, between it and the camchain bulge in the head.  Electronic tach?  Worth a look...

We've read about a process in which an oil weep can be found by cleaning, de-greasing & drying the suspect area(s) well, then running the motor for a while, after which spraying white powder (foot powder?) in the area & looking for discoloration caused by an oil weep.  Or maybe it was apply powder, then run.  Never tried it ourselves.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

sf4t7 wrote:

Could also be that smaller head bolt next to the spark plug.  I've got one that weeps but it seems to be more from the gasket area.  And yes a tall socket (with a short extension if necessary) will work with your torque wrench for the large head nuts.  (You are planning to use a torque wrench, right?)

Where would the oil be coming from to "weep" around the smaller outer bolts unless it is leaking through the head gasket from the supply passages around the main studs ?? I have never seen a failed gasket successfully seal through "re-torqueing" but I have seen a few stripped threads from trying to "tighten it down a little more"