Name That Part!!!!

So I got another Noobzilla of a question. What is this plug nut looking thing on top of the engine next to the plug and why is it leaking oil? Can I tighten it?

Its a nut.

Yes you can tighten it.

It is one of 12 nuts, plus two small bolts (just below the outside plug holes) on your cylinder head.
These nuts actually keep the entire engine intact.

The outside nuts have copper washers under them because they seal the oil channel beneath.
In order to reseal these, you must first re-anneal the copper washers, which means heat them up super hot with a torch, then toss them into some nice cool water. This softens the copper molecules and allows them to reseal.

The head nuts must all be tightened in proper sequence outlined in your service/repair manual.
They are usually tightened to about 30 ft-lbs.

A proper torque wrench is required.

GL.

looks more like the valvecover gasket and cam end plugs are leaking ,though it wouldnt hurt to retorque the head

Arite, thanks man! With your awesome knowledge of all my noobalicious problems this bike is gonna be tip top shape.

i think you need a gasket kit man! if one gasket fails, the others arent far behind it, if they were installed at the same time.

base gasket
head gasket
valve cover gasket
cam seals...
good hot and cold torque. as technine said, SEQUENCE. sequence is very important when torquing gasketed parts.

By seeing that i would do it in a heartbeat, (just my opinion)...unless all your head bolts/nuts are looser then a hookers cooch.

-Luke

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Is the oil coming form around the front side?

You have an image of the front and side but lower/parallel to the oil leak?

As Plum mentioned, hard to say though for sure, seems the oil is rising up from the cylinder stud nut... May just be the angles of the image...

Fozzie, I have the same J motor you do. It looks like you cam end caps are leaking.
My reccomendation depends on how much time and money you have and your skill level. If you are like me, and are on a time and money budget, do the following:
remove tank, ign coils w/brackets, #1 and #4 spark plugs(the outer ones), and finally the cam cover. If you do not have a new cam cover gasket, then after you remove all the bolts, if the cover is not loose, carefully bump it with the wooded handle of a hammer. When you see it is loose, carefully lift it up about a quarter of an inch. More the likely the gasket will be sticking to both the cover and the head. Take some kind of thin metal tool like and exacto knife, or you better half's butter knife, and while holding the cover up a little, reach in and separate the casket from the cover. Then remove the cam cover.
Remove the cam end caps by pulling straight up on them.
Now degrease the gasket, and gasket surfaces on both the head and cam cover, and the cam caps.
Get some high heat silicome, and coat the head surface, the bottom and top of the cam caps, and the cam cover. Before you put the cover on, be sure to retorque you head bolt nuts, and the 2 10mm bolts on the ends.
Factory torque is about 30 ft lbs- I went a little more on mine.
Be careful that you put the gasket on the right way. I put mine on backwards the first time because it has 2 holes on the front side for the smog valve ports that pump air down to the exhaust valves.
Good luck with this quick, and cheap fix.
David

Just some additional notes....
Unless you want your bike all original, you can remove the smog valve and chuck it at the neighbor's dog that keeps chasing you as you ride by.
Remove the hose going to the airbox, and plug the hole. For looks, get some 5/8" heater hose, and connect the 2 nipples on top of the cam cover together without hose clamps.
You can get rid of the vacuum line that went to the smog valve. Just block the nipple it went to. THe only vacuum line on mine is one going to the fuel petcock from one carb.
The following make great degreasers- brake cleaner, starting fluid, and carb cleaner. Just lay your old cam cover gasket on a piece of clean cardboard, spray it with on of the above chemicals, and wipe it with a snot rag, paper towel, etc.
What I like about this forum is that other members who have done this job more than I have can contribute and we all learn more as we go- even if we argue sometimes.
I agree with Plummen's reply below, or above?

Clean the whole area THOROUGHLY, as in NO OIL. THEN sprinkle a small amout of baby power ( if needed ) , ride a short distance and observe for oil leakage.
Yes I do understand the power will blow off. But many times it leaves just enough residue to show where the oil leak is coming from. NOT to where it travels to. IF you only do a short ride.
Best of luck!
Pat