Bad Oil Leak!!!! Help!!

[akadaryl33]

I'll try and describe this in as abbreviated a manor as possible. I have a 1987 1200 with only 9500 miles on it, just purchased it last summer. This past Dec. i started it up on a warm day ran it up the road to work the Stabil into the carbs. Since it was cold i never revved it over 5k. About a mile up the road i lost power and the bike stalled. After i used up the battery trying to restart it i finally got it bump started and drove home. About 100yds from home it died again. When i got it in the driveway i noticed oil pouring out the belly pan, i mean alot of oil! The bike never made any strange noises and it ran smooth until this happened. From what i can tell the oil appears to be coming from somewhere around the cam chain tensioner, right between the middle 2 cylinders. Is it possible that the gasket around the tensioner blew?  I can't see any obvious problems with the carbs removed. I am just now getting to trying to fix it, i had to store it while i waited to close on my new home and just havent been able to get to it until now.I really want to to get her back on the road soon, but i'm not sure where to start. So if anyone has any ideas about what might have gone wrong i would greatly appreciate the help!

Thanks!!  Josh

[ribbert]

Josh,
If it's leaking that badly it should be easy to spot. The FJ's are not prone to this sort of event ( not that I've heard ). Fill it back up to the mark with oil, remove the tank for a better view if necessary (with temporary fuel bottle) arm yourself with a good torch, start it up and look. That amount of oil leaking should be easy to see. If convenient, clean the motor down beforehand, it will make finding it easier.
Noel

[akadaryl33]

Thanks Noel, i'm going to do a good carb clean and if necessary rebuild before i put them back on. I'll try and start her up with oil as soon as i can.

[rktmanfj]

If you still have trouble spotting the leak, then clean the area well and spray the area with aerosol powder (like foot powder), then start it up.  You should be able to find it right away.

Randy T
Indy

[JFox]

I agree with Randy, firstly you have to localize the leakage.
I think that tensioner gasket is rarely couse of oil leakage. Actually, I've never heard...
But my shot is that might be clutch cover gasket or oil pan gasket. Might be one more reason - oil level sensor.
Jarek

[Flyover Country Joe]

Josh, just my .02$ worth, I thought mine was leaking from the cam chain tensioner, but it turned out to be the cam cover gasket and cam cover bolt grommets. An 87' with 9500 miles will probably need those changed. Randy's idea about the foot powder spray ought to solve the mystery about the source. Don't try just changing the cover gasket without changing the bolt grommets, if that is where you find the leak. And don't try overtightening the cam cover bolts to get it to stop leaking, if you get carried away tightening those bolts, you will hate yourself.
                                                                                                  Kookaloo, ya'all!
                                                                                                                     Joe
1990 Bruise

[akadaryl33]

Thanks for all the input everyone!!! I'm working 2 jobs right now so i haven't looked at it in a couple days but i think i'm going to get to the carbs in the next day or so and then i'll pop them back on, add some oil and see if i can't get a good look at the leak. I'll get an update on here as soon as i can. Thanks again!!

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Josh... I want your 1973 CB350-four 

[akadaryl33]

Sorry that one is gonna be with me for a lonnngg time. I paid $300 for it about 5 yrs ago. The carbs were off and it needed a petcock, but it was all there and absolutely mint! 11k miles and even still had the 4 into 4 still on it. It runs smooth as silk and gets 60 plus mpg even 2 up.