Oopz! Advice needed.

I may have just created a top-end gasket project for myself...
Anyone have experience sealing a slight(?) oil leak at the base gasket without having to re-gasket?

I'm wondering if I should attempt to squeeze the gasket a little with a re-torque of the head nuts, and if that might even do any good. Being that this location is directly adjacent to the oil passage, I'm doubtful.


In the photograph, the red arrow points to the spot where I first noticed oil (a small puddle in the depression in the case) just below the corner of the cylinder.

Any idea what happened to create the leak? Beautiful motor by the way

Wouldn't hurt to try re torqueing the head, especially if you just built it up (motor looks like newly rebuilt). On mine, there are O rings down in the base gasket perimeter which can also cause leaks.

Its been an ongoing adventure, but the last was a change-out of the cylinder head about a year ago. So it had a good while to set-in with the gaskets.

I got a little over-zealous with the throttle when a stop-light turned green yesterday, and nobody was in front of me. Moments later, nobody was behind me either. :huh:

No o-rings at the base, just the base gasket which was installed dry.

Dave,

Those J motors were prone to leaking there by the dowels. Torque the head again and it might, maby, if your real lucky....stop leaking.

If you pull it apart again, take a few extra minutes and make sure the dowels slip fit into the case and block. Some case sealer on the base gasket won't hurt either....

I'll put a little more torque to em. I think it was 32-34ft. lbs. where stopped. They are the APE studs/nuts, so there is still some room to go tighter. But how much???

I would check with APE as I'm sure they have more experience with maximum torque values than most folks. Ed

Pull 40-42 lbs on them Dave. Do it when the motor is stone cold. Personally, I put some oil on the bottom of the head nuts at assembly and a drop on the threads.Don't forget the two 6mm bolts that go into the block. Go easy on them. Stay away from the torque wrench on those. Use a 1/4 drive 10mm and do it by feel.

I'll go to 40lbs this afternoon, and take it for a nice, easy ride. :whistle: Judging by my past experience with luck, I'll have the head off again by tomorrow evening.

Thanks all, and will report back later...


later...it held for a little while. :huh: