found oil leak

[jimmi]

Hi all,  just got an 87 Fj 1200 and found a small leak from the left hand side of the engine . i dont think the case is cracked , but maybe the casing joint .
This is my first Fj . any comments welcome , thanks , jimmmi

[FJ_Hooligan]

You found an oil leak?  When did you lose it? (crickets)

Really?  This is all the information you're going to supply?

How about the location of the leak?  Front, middle, back?  Dripping off bottom only or traces coming from higher up?

Cylinder/head?  Clutch pushrod seal? Countershaft seal?  Crank end seal?

The help you get is only as good as the information you give. 

[jimmi]

yeah thanks for the heads up on that .

Right down the bottom on the left hand side (as you sit on the bike)
Just where there is a gap behind the belly pan
Round about where my big toe is
(Would that be where the clutch (housing) is on this bike ?
Many thanks, jim

[Dads_FJ]

Oil filter is on that side, it's not uncommon to pinch the neutral light wire behind the filter housing.

[Pat Conlon]

I'll play....Are you sure it's oil and not brake fluid?

Could be a leaky clutch slave.... very common.

[jimmi]

Thanks all .will hopefully get time at the weekend to have a proper investigation , in the daylight and not outside in the rain with a torch , cheers , jim

[Dads_FJ]

Thanks all .will hopefully get time at the weekend to have a proper investigation , in the daylight and not outside in the rain with a torch , cheers , jim

Let's just hope it's not a gas leak   

[jimmi]

Thanks Pat . the petcock link is great will be on that at the weekend .

Is there a link anywhere for the Brakes ?? thanks again, jim

[Tiger]

Jimmi...clean the area with something like brake and parts cleaner, wipe clean and cover the area with some talc' powder...wait a while and it will show you a track of where the leak is coming from...oil/brake fluid, etc shows up every time

John.

[FJmonkey]

Get a good light and look up and around the starter and alternator. Each has two O-rings, an external and internal. If you see oil up that high on the engine then it is one of the 4. Order replacements from RPM and you are good for another 28 years. My external starter O-ring leaked, when I removed it the O-ring was twisted 180 degrees inside the groove. As already mentioned, the stock oil filter housing can pinch the kick stand safety wire and not seal properly. The small drain screw could have been stripped and it may weep. The Left side of the FJ power plant has a lot of sealing going on there. Is your chain staying oiled? Possible CS seal leak, clutch push rod leak, Shift shaft seal leak? If you really get stumped, clean it all really well, dust every thing with a powder, some foot sprays work, and run it again. The leak(s) will be easier to see...  Good luck, tell us what you find and fix. Kookaloo my friend...

[jimmi]

Thanks thanks thanks for all the fantastic support and advice . 

[jimmi]

Hi all ;

Been looking around the bike , could nt see much. went to the bike shop and its official the Engine is cracked . (Behind the left engine mount)

Advised to clean , rub down and put epoxy resin over it (its about 1 cm long )

its only a small weep so not too worried . thanks for all your advice , jim 

[jimmi]

Just spoke to another fiend who in the past had an Engineer weld a cracked head .

And another friend (who is happy to carry out the work) suggest drilling a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it spreading , an put an ally pin or self tapper in the hole .