Oil leak at shifter?

Bike is a 1982 KZ750H3 four cylinder. Shortly after starting it I get smoke coming up apparently off the inside of the left exhaust pipe, perhaps near the crossover. It seems to come from directly under the shaft that comes out of the tranny for the shift lever. After it warms up this mostly stops.

Is there a seal on that shaft where it comes out? And if so, is it a hard seal to find? Thanks!

Are you sure it's not chain lube?

Pretty typical to hear about a leaking shifter or counter shaft seal when the problem comes from a recent chain oiling.

Any Chance?

Bill

On the bigger 4's, a rubber grommet/gasket has the alternator output wiring going through it.

Over time the rubber gets hard from heat and oil exposure. Z1 enterprises sells replacement grommets that will require opening the alternator cover and the sprocket cover,cutting the "Bullet Connectors" off, running the wires through the new grommet and either buying new connectors from www.easternbeaver.com or making up compatible connectors.

No, it's not chain lube. Instead of oil, I use a wax lube that doesn't flick off once dry (I've checked this).

I looked at the grommet that the alternator wires pass through and while it's old, it's fairly plyable and not at all oily. It's coming from the left/bottom of the engine somewhere, and at first seems to be coming from the shifter rod (inside the cover), but I see no seal around that rod (or in the manual for that matter). There is a seal at the output shaft (to the sprocket). Wondering if that might be leaking. I mentioned that it stops after the bike runs a while, but maybe it's just burning off.

What else is in that area that might leak? I was thinking maybe one side of the round oil filter cover? or the bottom cover itself?

yes there is a oil seal for the gear shaft..they cost like 3$.

you ha ave to pull it out to replace it..its a pain to do. but that will stop your leak

I had to replace that seal on my ST as well. It was fairly easy to do on that engine but yours might be harder, part was still available at Kawi. These usually show up as side stand only oil leaks, same as alt cover grommet