slight oil leak

Hi all, I've just bought my first bike, a 1981 kawasaki z500. I took it to the mechanic for a tune up, which included an oil change.

Ive done about 40Ks since, and just noticed a small amount of oil on the cylinder casing... I put the bike on the centre stand and checked the glass oil level meter (the engine was hot), and the oil level filled the whole window.... too much oil? Could this cause the oil leak, or could it be a worn gasket? How much damage can occur from having too much oil?

You could have to much oil. Best let it cool and settle and check again. Get something like a turkey baster and take some oil out - wait until it cools. Not sure how much damage could be done by overfilling - anyone ? These old bikes dont have a lot of oil pressure so I'm thinking it's unlikely that overfilling would cause a gasket to blow. Could be wrong though.

Where exactly is the leak ? Can you take a photo ? Could be a leaky gasket. I have one or two small leaks that are just not worth fixing. If the leak is at the tach cable or the cam cover then these are probably easy fixes.

Welcome to the site. Are you in Europe ? I dont think the 500 made it to this side of the pond.

You don't put the bike on the center stand to check the oil, it lowers the window below where it is supposed to be. You put the bike in gear to prevent it from rolling, then you stand it up so it is perpendicular to the ground, then check it. It needs to be on both wheels, that is how it is operated.

How many miles are on the chassis? Where exactly is the oil appearing? The head might need to be retorqued, or the oil could be coming from somewhere else and migrating.

It isn't likely the leak is from oil level discrepencies.

the smaller fours do have a bit more oil pressure then the 900 and 1000's...diferent bearings on the crank and such...but if it is doubt that it did much damage...maybe fouled the plugs..

KaZooCruiser wrote:

You don't put the bike on the center stand to check the oil, it lowers the window below where it is supposed to be......

Looks like I've been doing it wrong for ever. I know the manual says to check oil level "With the machine on level ground..." but it is to much of a balancing act to hold the bike level and squat at the same time to look in the sight glass. Just did exactly that and tried it with both wheels on the ground and in all honesty the difference in level was not noticeable.
Oh Well. Live and learn

too much oil can cause a bubbly film in the engine where it prematurley breaks down or something likes that.

Just retorgue your head bolts