Mysterious Oil Leak... Oh no...

[Bminder]

So I got this 92 FJ1200 started that I bought last week.  Needs full choke to stay running, but that's not my worst problem right now.
As it idles, there is this oil leak coming from the front of the engine, it looks like the center behind the exhaust pipes, and right where the jugs bolt to the crankcase.
And there's this light tan goop someone put over whatever the object is there...
Here's two angles of it. What am I looking at and what is leaking?  
(the grass clippings are from when we trailered it home on my lawncare guy's trailer.)

http://s355.photobucket.com/user/bminder/media/IMG_7374.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1
http://s355.photobucket.com/user/bminder/media/IMG_7374.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

I can't figure out how to make the photos appear in my post, and I couldn't find anywhere on the forum that explains it...

[Bminder]

I just checked the site glass for the oil level and realized that I over-filled it. I put 4 quarts in instead of the 3.2 it calls for with no filter change...  doh!!!
So would over-filling it cause oil to seep out like that?

[Bminder]

Looks like you're only allowed one edit on your orginal post and  none on your replies.
Anyhow, I drained the oil down to the proper level.
The leak it still there.
It looks like someone put a bunch of goop, JB Weld maybe? around the bolt that the oil cooler line bracket bolts to.
As far as I can tell, the leak is coming from there. Not the bolt on the bottom, but somewhere above it where all that good is.

[aviationfred]

Here are your photos.





That looks pretty ugly.

Fred

[Pat Conlon]

Look at back side of the cylinder block where the cam chain adjuster is...look for oil leaking from the cam chain adjuster gasket and flowing forward out the front.
5 main areas for cylinder block or cylinder head oil leaks
1) top end valve cover gasket - common
2)  valve cover bolt grommets - very common
3) head gasket on the right side
4) cylinder block base gasket
5)  chain adjuster gasket.

Unless you have a crack somewhere.... Looks like the PO did not do you any favors.

[Bminder]

Do I need to pull the carbs to see the cam chain adjuster gasket?

[Pat Conlon]

To get a real good look, yes, the carbs and heat shield.
If you don't want to do that, you can get a peek at the right and left side with a flashlight.

[Bminder]

Pat, you are my new hero!
I could see it was wet around the cam adjuster gasket, so I wrapped a screwdriver blade with a shop towel and wiped it off, started the bike and after a bit a little stream of oil started coming from the bottom. It looks like that is the leak.  It also looks like the right side bolt could be loose because I could see glistening at the bolt head and the gasket area around it.

I may just try to tighten down the bolts and see if the leak stops, but if not, do I need to buy a gasket for it, or can I use RTV or something?

So keep your fingers crossed that whoever put that JB Weld on there did it because they thought that's where the leak was...

[Pat Conlon]

Are you in a hurry? If not, get a new gasket (see Randy @ RPM he'll get it to you in a couple of days)

The major PIA is pulling the carbs and heat shield to get to the adjuster, so if you are in a hurry you could reuse the gasket with some black RTV and hope for the best, understanding that Murphy's Law dictates that you will have to do it all over again, this time with a new gasket.

[Dan Filetti]

Looks like you're only allowed one edit on your orginal post and  none on your replies.

You can edit it as many times as you like, -as long as it's within the first 30 mins after you've originally posted.

FYI.

Dan

[Bminder]

...if you are in a hurry you could reuse the gasket with some black RTV and hope for the best, understanding that Murphy's Law dictates that you will have to do it all over again, this time with a new gasket.

I've used RTV in place of gaskets on car engines with great success, but I imagine the vibration and heat of an aircooled motorcycle head is a little tougher to seal well.

[racerrad8]

You need one of these...

Tensioner Gasket

There is not a single gasket on the FJ engine that requires the use of "sealer, RTV, Yamahabond, etc". The only thing that needs a dab of something is the valve cover gasket to hold the gasket on the valve cover, NOT to seal it to the head.

Here is a recent story of the improper use of "sealant"...

NO NO NO

Randy - RPM

[Tiger]

So I got this 92 FJ1200 started that I bought last week.  Needs full choke to stay running...

You are going to have to pull the carbs, strip and clean them, to get your FJ running properly anyway, so you may as well get a new gasket (under $5.00) and do the repair right the first time, right

A wee tip regarding oil leak location....Clean the suspected area(s) with something like brake & parts cleaner and when clean and dry give the area a good sprinkle of talcum powder...start the motor and the talcum powder will show exactly were the leak is...VOILA!!!

John.

[rktmanfj]

A wee tip regarding oil leak location....Clean the suspected area(s) with something like brake & parts cleaner and when clean and dry give the area a good sprinkle of talcum powder...start the motor and the talcum powder will show exactly were the leak is...VOILA!!!

John.

+1

Aerosol talcum (foot powder) works great for this.

[Bminder]

Well, I was able to get an allen wrench in there and tighten both bolts on the cam tensioner. They were very loose.  Had to pull the alternator to get to the left one and be patient to get to the right one.  That seems to have stopped the leak.
Now I'm running some Seafoam through the carbs to see if I get lucky. I want to ride this thing!!!

I think all that JB Weld is to keep that bolt in place that holds the oil cooling lines bracket... The PO of the PO must have stripped it or something. The PO didn't know why that stuff was there and that was his guess.