Finding an oil leak

[BareKat]

So my kat is weeping oil like a HD.

Enough so that I have to wipe the lower left fairing from time to time. Also I'm starting to get a few oil drops on the rear tire... Not the best thing with only two wheels.

Damn oil is impossible to track the source... Any tips?

TX Barekat

[muffinman]

I use degreaser to clean everything and then its usually pretty easy to find once it shows up again after a couple rides.

[41 Redhawk]

Degrease the suspected area extremely well. Get some powdered jock rot or foot rot stuff in an spray can and coat the area with the white powder. Start the engine and watch for where the oil seeps out. It will show up spectacularly in the white powder.

[Ty2dayok]

My bike had similar oil displacement as you described from the front fender to the rear end and it ended up being from a leaking oil line, hope its a similar simple quick fix for you

[rexazz2]

remember gravity makes it come down and wind makes it travel to the rear

covers can have cracks , after being dropped
P/O of mine dropped it , didn't look that bad on the outside but when I took it off it showed the crack on the inside

If you pull the cover to replace a gasket , trace the new gasket on cardboard then use the cardboard for a bolt organizer
Makes keeping the different length bolts in order easier
Make sure to silicone any areas where there are seams on the case side

[BareKat]

All good suggestions!

Thanks guys.

Rex... donating on Oct. 22.

[rexazz2]

Rex... donating on Oct. 22.

[BareKat]

Degrease the suspected area extremely well. Get some powdered jock rot or foot rot stuff in an spray can and coat the area with the white powder. Start the engine and watch for where the oil seeps out. It will show up spectacularly in the white powder.

Red, I used your suggestion and was able to track the oil leak somewhere above the front drive sprocket.

So I pulled the plastics and found a "fair bit" sitting on top of the transmission area (behind the cylinder, under the carbs). There were no leaks on the bottom of the engine.

My bike had similar oil displacement as you described from the front fender to the rear end and it ended up being from a leaking oil line, hope its a similar simple quick fix for you

Ty2, I think my leak is an oil line(s).

Based on the schematic below the leak appears to be from the oil supply line. Since there is no catastrophic leak I assume either an o-ring has let go or one of the mounting screws needs to be re-torqued. I may as well just replace all of the o-rings and re-torque everything.

Since it's the end of the season I'll hold of on repairing the leak until next spring... and since I have to pull the carbs to fix the leak I may as well install a factory pro jet kit.

Anyway, thanks for the tips guys.

[Stumpy]

Since it's the end of the season

What do you mean? I ride unless it's icy out there

This is probably the best time of year to be out on a bike, the scenery is beautiful, there are less idiots out, you even get more fuel for your money

[BareKat]

Hey I'm all for riding up until I can't ... I was out today for about 4 hours... thank god for the heated grips.


I did a little mud and dirt too... The adventure guys would be proud of me.


Here is the weather for the rest of the week... not much chance I'll get to ride to work.

What do you mean? I ride unless it's icy out there

This is probably the best time of year to be out on a bike, the scenery is beautiful, there are less idiots out, you even get more fuel for your money

[Stumpy]

Ya big girl! Ride until it freezes

I've taken my Kat out in -22c on Christmas Day. I'm Scottish, cold itself bothers me not in the slightest. Ice on the road however, is completely different. Ca canny!

Stay safe!

[BareKat]

ditto

Stay safe!

[BareKat]

So it's a new year and my bike is still leaking a bit of oil.

I'll likely buy a new bike next year so I won't be installing a jet kit and I'm too damn lazy to pull all the plastics and carbs to fiddle with the oil supply lines.

It doesn't appear the bike looses much oil but it sure looks like a lot of oil when it's making a mess on the fairing.

Red, I used your suggestion and was able to track the oil leak somewhere above the front drive sprocket.

So I pulled the plastics and found a "fair bit" sitting on top of the transmission area (behind the cylinder, under the carbs). There were no leaks on the bottom of the engine.



Ty2, I think my leak is an oil line(s).

Based on the schematic below the leak appears to be from the oil supply line. Since there is no catastrophic leak I assume either an o-ring has let go or one of the mounting screws needs to be re-torqued. I may as well just replace all of the o-rings and re-torque everything.

Since it's the end of the season I'll hold of on repairing the leak until next spring... and since I have to pull the carbs to fix the leak I may as well install a factory pro jet kit.

Anyway, thanks for the tips guys.