UPPER OIL LEAK by exhaust?

i have a 1977 kz650b. there is an oil leak by the exhaust pipe off to the side on the left side oil leak is pretty fast the valve cover is not leaking nor is the head gasket any ideas anyone?

tach drive?

tach drive does not leak at all

The half moon shaped cam plugs may be leaking.

THANKS BUT THE PLUGS ARE FINE IT IS LOWER THAN THE PLUGS I USED A UV LITE TO FIND THE LEAK STILL NO LUCK THANKS!

2WDKING wrote:

THANKS BUT THE PLUGS ARE FINE IT IS LOWER THAN THE PLUGS I USED A UV LITE TO FIND THE LEAK STILL NO LUCK THANKS!

Since everybody else's ideas have gone nowhere, it sounds like an exhaust-side valve guide might be leaking - which would make the source hard to spot.

Smoke any when it runs?

Since the bike leans to the left while on the side stand, the probability is that the leak is uphill of where you are spotting the oil. I know you said the valve cover is fine, but maybe you have a bolt that has broken on the valve cover. The chain slinging oil at the front of the inside of the cover would throw a lot of oil into that area.

You might have to stick your head up under the tank :silly: to see it.

Had similar problem and was convinced it was not the tack drive, not the cam cover gasket, not a loose head bolt, and figured it was a head gasket o-ring failure. Cleaned the engine area, removed the headers, looked into the exhaust port, Whoa -- wrong again, and hope you're this lucky: the #1 crush copper exhaust gasket (both of them -- I was using two old ones) was leaking. Not enough to make any noise, but just enough to ooze a little black goo which migrated (blew while riding) in and amongst the fins and streaked over the alternator cover. Looked just like oil. Scrupulously cleaned the port area and header flange. Used a little Permatex high temp (copper color) seal to hold 4 NEW exhaust crush washer gaskets in place until it lightly set (avoids gaskets falling out so easily when later installing the header pipes). Applied a little more Permatex on the outside of the new crush washer gaskets. Installed header pipes, torqed header bolts, attached muffler, cranked and rode. Viola! No more leakage and staying bone dry. Hope you might enjoy the same easy fix.

I think the boys have pritty much got you covered.It has to be one of those plases or a crack.Keep lookin man you'l find it.:silly:

To confirm source of seepage --

Clean engine with gunk or whatever, hose it off, and blow dry (do not crank engine). When completely dry (may dust some baby powder around the suspected leak areas if desired - not a joke), crank the engine and allow it to idle while you sit with a flashlight closely inspecting the clean dry engine for the first signs of leakage. As the engine reaches operating temperature, any leakage should become evident.

If seepage appears from an exhaust clamp bolt or from underneath an exhaust clamp, it is likely from a leaking exhaust gasket. BUT it's remotely possible to be from base of an exhaust stud bolt screwed into a re-tapped hole which re-tap went a little too deep and penetrated an oil channel inside the head.

Forget babypowder..yes it works ..but makes a mess.
Get some of that girls underarm stuff with powder in a spray can (ask a lady at the drug store)
Dont forget to tell them what you want it for ,they will get you the cheapest stuff on the shelf.

PS makes the garage smell good too.