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'81 GPZ550 Oil Seeping at Barrels / Block Joint
- SweetGPz
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in a 100 mile ride I have to wipe the oil off of one side of the engine per photos. It seeps a little from the other side too, but barely. Seems to be coming from the base gasket near the front block stud or the similar looking boss that is not a stud just under the O553L in the casting. I am guessing this might be 'typical' for a 38K motor that has never been opened. Any first hand knowledge of an easy fix would be much appreciated. I am guessing I have 3 options:
1. Wipe regularly.
2. Re-torque head bolts after shooting a little carb cleaner into the joint to clean it and applying a wicking sealer (and possibly sacrificing chicken).
3. Replacing the base gasket (see #1 above).
Looking for some experienced GPZ550 advice. TIA,
Bill
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- GPz550D1
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1981 KZ550-D1
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- DGA
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"83 KZ1100 Spectre, '81 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, '74 Kawasaki H2B 750
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- SWest
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- 10 22 2014
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Steve
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- missionkz
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The rings in your bore slowly spin around in their respective piston grooves all day long with the engine running.
They aren't in the same place that long anyhow.
So if money is tight and you are planning a rebuild sometime in the near future, it isn't that critical if you put them back in service with respect to each piston, as long as you run a little ball hone up and down the cylinder.... just a few strokes to give the rings chance to bite into something again.
You do not need to do a complete hone job to refit those pistons and rings.
*** What does matter is if the bore is out of round, the cylinders are out of spec in taper or a there is big ridge groove at the top...
and most importantly, if the rings have lost enough tension to not seal up anyhow.***
Bruce
1977 KZ1000A1
2016 Triumph T120 Bonneville
Far North East Metro Denver Colorado
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- Tyrell Corp
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As above, if you are going to strip it then do a top end overhaul too whilst you are there. Oil leaks like this might not get any worse for some time if you want to leave it for a while.
1980 Gpz550 D1, 1981 GPz550 D1. 1982 GPz750R1. 1983 z1000R R2. all four aces
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- SweetGPz
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Tearing down the motor is not an option at this time, too many projects.
I am going to try come carb cleaner & wicking sealer. I will post results.
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- nickleo373
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1981 KZ550C LTD
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- GPz550D1
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SweetGPz wrote: That photo is really helpful. I'll bet my gasket/o-ring look identical. Any chance I can retorque just the outside bolts? What is the correct retorque procedure? Loosen all & retorque? Follow standard sequence loosen/torque in that pattern?
Tearing down the motor is not an option at this time, too many projects.
I am going to try come carb cleaner & wicking sealer. I will post results.
You can try a re-torque. It won't cost anything and may buy you some time. Tighten the small 6mm (10mm wrench) bolts in the center first. Then, starting in the center and working your way out, loosen each nut, one at a time, a 1/4 turn to break any resistance/corrosion and then torque to spec. You torque two of the center head nuts first and then go to the opposite side and torque the next two center nuts and work your way back and forth, two nuts at a time to the outside, if that makes sense.
1981 KZ550-D1
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- DGA
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Sorry, have to disagree, rings in a 4 stroke do NOT rotate, they stay where you install them. I have pulled race engines apart over and over and the rings are in the exact same place. I always install the top ring gap on the thrust side of the bore, then the others 120 degrees from that. No matter how many miles after, they come apart in the same place.missionkz wrote: Truthfully, this is generally a misunderstood thing and It really doesn't matter too much if you reuse the rings for a while...
The rings in your bore slowly spin around in their respective piston grooves all day long with the engine running.
They aren't in the same place that long anyhow.
So if money is tight and you are planning a rebuild sometime in the near future, it isn't that critical if you put them back in service with respect to each piston, as long as you run a little ball hone up and down the cylinder.... just a few strokes to give the rings chance to bite into something again.
You do not need to do a complete hone job to refit those pistons and rings.
*** What does matter is if the bore is out of round, the cylinders are out of spec in taper or a there is big ridge groove at the top...
and most importantly, if the rings have lost enough tension to not seal up anyhow.***
"83 KZ1100 Spectre, '81 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, '74 Kawasaki H2B 750
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- missionkz
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However, it has been proven time and time again, they move all over the place. Some say, especially with a fresh hone job on street vehicles,.
Extreme low time race engines....? Got me on that.
It's the reason you always pin a 2-stroke motor's rings.... can't let them them eventually spin and fall into the cylinder ports.
Bruce
1977 KZ1000A1
2016 Triumph T120 Bonneville
Far North East Metro Denver Colorado
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- DGA
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"83 KZ1100 Spectre, '81 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, '74 Kawasaki H2B 750
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