Oil Leak Question...

My 1980 KZ750 is leaking oil near the #3 cylinder header, and I can't quite tell if it's coming from the gasket or from the header.

I managed to reduce it from a significant leak (dripping down onto the pipes and flowing around to the side of the engine) to barely noticeable by tightening the header screws and trying to tighten the engine bolts (they barely moved at all). Last night I added pod filters and rejetted, and today it was leaking a bunch more.

This winter I'm going to take apart the engine and replace the valve seals, gaskets, copper header gaskets and possibly relap the valve seats if necessary. In the meantime, though, I'm wondering if I should have my eyes open to any other specific issues that could be causing the leak.

I think adding PODs are your problem,PODs always cause something to go wrong...... I KNOW HER WE GO AGAIN.:laugh: .:laugh: .:laugh: .:laugh: .:laugh: .

I said it above HERE WE GO AGAIN about POD comment.:dry:
MY BAD.:blush:

I'm not familiar with the 750 heads so here goes...

On the KZ900/1000's, directly above & slightly off center of # 3 exhaust is your tach drive cable input.... There's seals that will leak if old and hard....

Have you checked to see if this is where the leak is occurring?

OMR

I've heard plenty about the pod thing, but I'm not having any issues that would suggest incorrect jetting, so maybe the increase in air/fuel in the cylinder is creating more pressure and is forcing more oil out???

I tried checking the tach cable, but it wouldn't budge. I think I'll need to take the header pipes off in order to get at it. It looks like the leak is coming from below the cable connection, however.

Well, you had the oil leak before the pods, right? Some people often speak before thinking, as in blaming it on pods...I could not begin to imagine how ones choice of air filtration could create an engine oil leak???:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :woohoo:

mzandmz wrote:

I think adding PODs are your problem,PODs always cause something to go wrong...... I KNOW HER WE GO AGAIN.:laugh: .:laugh: .:laugh: .:laugh: .:laugh: .

Duly Noted oh wise one!!

#3 valve seal on exhaust side leaking. This will run oil into exhaust port and out of exhaust and if you tightened the ex. bolts it seemed to have some effect. Take #3 header off to see if valve stem is oily and whole port in black oil. Just my 2centsB)

Thanks, Z1109R Fin, that was my guess, too, but I know just north of nothing, so I thought I'd throw it out there to see what everyone else thought.