oil leak/Austin, TX members

Hey all,

I've got a 1976 KZ400. Oil is dripping from the bottom circular bolt on the left side of the engine. I'm not sure if it's leaking from the gasket, but from the archives that looks fairly common.

I just did my first oil change ever the other day and kind of overfilled with oil. Could it be leaking up and over because there's too much oil in the engine? It's not constantly leaking, just for awhile after I've ridden. Should I drain the extra oil with the drain plug?

Also, are there any members in the Austin, Tx area? This is my first bike and any sort of mentoring would be awesome.

Welcome, good to see another Texas memeber, I am not sure if this is right but is it leacking from the drain plug or is it the filter bolt, both of these should have a seal o ring on them, I am sure some of the KZ400 guys will jump in

Welcome smockron...there are a few Austin members on this site, but at least two that I know of have not posted in quite some time. Perhaps if you posted photos of where exactly it is leaking from, members could puzzle it out from a distance?

now it's leaking more. before it used to be just from the bottom of the left side engine cover. seems like i'm getting oil coming out the back of the engine by the chain now. again, it only happens during and after it's been run for awhile.

Have you pulled the cover off to see where its comming from, maybe something simple

The penautimate parra. of your posting states "kind of overfilled with oil".
Why don't you try adjusting the oil to the proper level and see what happens to the "leak?"

Oil tends to flow to the low point on your bike. I suggest that the oil leak may be from most anywhere and traveling down to accumulate on the drain bolt. While this bolt may be the point of the leak, it ain't necessarily so. Dry everything with paper towels. I suggest you buy a can of spray deodorant with powder and spary the engine. If something is leaking, it will show quickly in the powder. The powder washes off easily after you find the leak.