gasket leaking ...big problem or not?

[Polly]

hello everybody,
happy with my just bought 93 XT
but... there is oil leaking
It is the gasket at the bottom of the cylinder that is leaking
( not verry much but it does smell when the engine is hot, a mecanic told me that it is nothing to worry about,
I plan a trip to Mongolia(2 on the bike), so I expect rough roads, high temperatures....
Is this treally inocent?
How difficult it is to replace this gasket? ( I am waiting for a workshop manual(...thanks Dakota) is it possible to do for an amateur?
Thaks for your much appreciated replies
Pol

[lawries]

The question is; Why has the base gasket blown?
Has the engine been rebuilt?
I believe the most common reason for a base gasket to blow is excessive crankcase pressure due to a build up of oil in the crankcase as the oil scavange fails. I think you should investigate you don't want a failed oil pump half way to Mongolia, or at all for that matter

[Polly]

I dont know if the engine was rebuild, there are clear signs of previous oil leak on the top of the crankcase.
how to investigate the problem?

again, is this possible by an amateur?(the download of the workshop manual is running(slow but running)...

sorry to be an amateur (mecanic)...

Pol

[oldbaldrick]

Are you sure it's the base gasket?
It's quite common for oil to appear in this area, on the right side of the engine, due to stripped threads on the long clutch cover bolts that also hold the oil filter cover.

[*Touring Ted*]

Its not a regular problem and it should be addressed.

When gaskets leaks, it needs investigating.

Maybe the barrel wasnt torqued down properly, maybe the gasket is badly seated etc.

Personally, I would strip it down and replace it.

[oldbmw]

personally I would clean it so it was completely dry. Then ride the bike to determine 'exactly' where the oil was coming from, and in what quantities.
Riding it may help determine the cause also. You may find you might want to strip it down for another reason, so why do the work twice ( blind).

[Polly]

thanks so far folks,
I did clean the spot , it is not clear for 100% yet, it is difficult to see where the oil comes from,
I will repeat it today to make sure, I 'll let you know



Pol

[tomwest]

hi.

I had a similar oil leakage on my bike,allways a little smear of oil around the barrel after a ride.That turned out to be the timeing chain tensioner gasket.So do chek every possible thing before you rip it apart, valve covers, top cover´, breather pipes etc.. just a feve drops of oil from a loose cover or a cracked breather pipe can smear around and make things look worse than they are.

[Bill Ryder]

Leaks can be hard to find. One thing I have done is clean the engine and then spray it down with a spray powder such as athletes foot spray. Or find some fine dry dust and coat the motor. Then when you run it the spray powder will discolor immediately letting you know where the leak is. If you are really new to working on overhead cam bike motors maybe try your first tear down on something not so crucial? Volunteer to help any of your more knowledgeable friends or find a wrecking yard that will let you tear down a already ruined motor for parts.

[Polly]

Hi everybody, bad luck indeed, it is the cylinder gasked leaking (and the cover as well )
For I am in de middle of the prep, and already have to face these kind of mecanic problems on my bike.....
I don't have the tools, the time and experience to open up the whole engine...

SO........I went to see a second hand motorshop, they still offer me a fair price for the 93 model when buying a 2002 model............I think I'll go for it

Thanks for all advices and usefull tricks, I hope I will not need them anymore riding a (almost ) new(-er) bike
So thanks again
See you on the road some.....
Pol

[*Touring Ted*]

Maybe a good choice.

Still, dont let them knock more than £150 off the value of your leaky one. Its only a gasket.

[Walkabout]

Sorry to read about the gasket problem - your solution does seem to be an "extreme" way of solving it but I reckon I understand that:--- read on!

I also have found an oil leak in my 2001 TT600R. In my case it is definitely coming from the crankcase cover joint on the left hand side and maybe from the right hand side as well!! When I first noticed it, I hoped it was the breather pipe(s) but it seems not the case.

Anyway, I reckon it is getting worse after my last ride of the bike and the manual I have says that Yamaha use "Yam Bond" sealant instead of a proper gasket.

My questions are: does anyone have any advice or experience in using this Yam Bond stuff and is opening up the crankcase covers (both sides) a straight forward "experience" ??

Thanks in anticipation,

Dave

[freethumper]

hey, it looks like your problem is solved but I just wanted to add my 2 cents...

I bought an 89 xt600 and found the right case to be leaking heavier than I thought it was. I got all bummed but then finally took a wrench to it and found a missing bolt! replaced that and tightened up everything else, it was amazing how much was loose. When buying a used bike I recommend taking a tork wrench to everything and checking the specs on anything you know how to get to.

[Polly]

Hello every body,
Me again... After checking again and again , considering the problem with some (mechanic minded) friends...,(still it was not obvious where the oil came from..
I did ride my bike every time to discover the leak and...maybe the oil coming from the side cover is pushed up by the wind and makes it realy look like it is coming from the cylinder gasked
I go for the replacement of the gaskets, starting with the one from the side cover..

I can use the workshop of a friend and he will help me at critical moments...

Thanks Dakota for the workshop manual.
I'll let you all know how things work out...
Pol

[Walkabout]

Hi Pol,
That is what is happening with my bike basically; the oil is blowing back from near the front of the "gasket" on the crankcase cover (which I believe is Yamaha Bond stuff according to the information that I have about the TT engine). Then it covers various other bits of the bike, but I am pretty sure it is from the cover.

So, are you using the bonding stuff or getting/making a gasket? - I have not played around with the engine much so any advice would be great!!

By the way, what is your workshop manual like - on a cd?

Dave