Oil Leaking -ish

[GeordieChambe...]

Hi peeps, I was putting a new choke cable on my bike and noticed oil on the fins at the front of the cylinder head. It's not really leaking as in drip drip drip but it must be escaping from somewhere. Is it safe to assume that my head gasket needs replaced as I can't think of anything else in that part of the cylinder head that would leak oil.

Also if it is the case that my head gasket needs replaced how big of a job is it? I'm quite adept at doing my own maintanance and recently have done tyre and wheel changes, brake pads, new chain and sprockets, new choke cable and also stripped and cleaned my carburettor.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[davebike]

First clean the engine with degreaser and be REALLY sure it is the head gasket
Get a manual read it carefully
You will need a torque wrench
You will need a top gasket set

Head gasket in not a easy job for a novice

You will need to be able to reset the cam timing if you get this wrong
you will need new valves !!

On the GS/GN125 engines removing the exhaust without breaking the bolts can be a not trivial job

Dave
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[Clutchy]

[davebike]

Cough Air cooled engine Cough



Dave
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[GeordieChambe...]

aye no coolant m8 lol

And she runs fine, no loss of power or anything like that, slight tappety sound but thats a different matter (valves or camchain or both haha)

The leak isn't bad at all, just a thin coating of oil on the fins but I'd rather know what it is and nip it in the bud now than leave it till it gets worse (and maybe more costly to repair )

Apart from the head gasket I can't really figure out where it would be coming from
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[GeordieChambe...]

Also the inside of the filler caps fine, no residue or milky colour or anything strange there tbh
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[GeordieChambe...]

Here are some pictures of the leak in question. I wiped the top fin clean to see how thick it was but its only on the left side of the engine. Any one have any ideas of what it could be???
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[GeordieChambe...]

Any body got any ideas or am I safe in assuming that it is my head gasket
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[Kickstart]

Hi

That oil is half way up the head, well above the head gasket.

I would normally suggest the rocker cover gasket, but no knowledge of that engine to know whether it has one (a lot of small engines just have a large bolt blanking an access hole to adjust a valve)

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[GeordieChambe...]

Thanks for that kickstart at least I know that I don't have to go that deep into my engine m8

and yes my engine has 2 bolts over the valves (inlet and exhaust I believe)
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[GeordieChambe...]

Just wondering if it would be possible for the oil to leak from the join where the top part of the cylinder head cover mates with the cooling fins??

If you look closely at IMAG0011.jpg at the top left of the pic you can see some blue sealant (goes all the way round), could it have leaked through this??

I only ask because I didn't think my oil went that high up and just lubricated the lower parts.
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[davebike]

Yes looks like from the Rocker assy / cylinder head joint
The is no gasket need a Very Very slight application of a Good gasket cement

The is not easy to get right and very easy to get wrong

Get a book read think before you try
Don't snap the bolts that hold the two bits together or it engine out and a big professional repair
Don't overdo the gasket cement or get it in an oil way or you will need another engine


Dave
____________________
Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[GeordieChambe...]

Thanks for the reply Dave, think im finally getting somewhere

I know this might sound dumb but is the gasket cement like silicon sealant or is a spe cific product?
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013

[davebike]

Mate

If you need to ask that the job is so far above your skill level get a mechanic to do it or just check the oil every day and top up !!

Sorry if this sounds sarcastic but block an oil way in a head and you Will need a new engine

This a tricky repair get sealant in the oil ways and get a new engine

If you must try your self get a book read it and think not once not twice but three times before you start

I seen several of these engines wreaked by gasket cement

Blue Hylamer type sealant or Suzuki bond is the correct sealant but you need to know how to do it !!
____________________
Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com

[GeordieChambe...]

Sorted peeps Cheers for pointing me in the right direction Davebike. Was a tiny gap where the rocker cover met the cylinder head and the last owner had just bodged it with LOADS!!! of sealant haha

All good now and I just have the valve clearances to attend to then respray the mudguards, panels and tank and I'm ready to go
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Suzuki GZ125 (03) - March 2013, CBT - April 2013