Checking valve clearances - do i need to drop the oil

[baggy73]

Have a CG125es 2006. need to check the valve clearances, got a haynes manual and started to remove the engine casing. and oil leaking. I am totally new to this bike maintenance thing and am probably being very stupid but should i drop the oil completely, or is a little oil going to escape only. I only did an oil change 2 days ago then realised I needed to check the valve clearances.

[WD Forte]

No, there will probably be a wee dribble as you remove the 'rocker cover', but that's all.
You might need a gasket if the current one breaks or tears as its removed, but if to comes off whole and looks healthy you can generally re use them.
Fit a new one if you wish of course.
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bikers smell of wee

[baggy73]

Thank you for that. I had oil dribbling out of the side engine casing i was removing to get to the fly wheel. is this normal.

[WD Forte]

What?
the headline is "Checking valve clearances" now you're removing the side casings too?
If you're doing that then of course you'll lose the oil and want to drain the oil into clean container first or just add fresh stuff after re assembly.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[Ducked]

Perhaps you are removing the side cover to see the timing marks and to turn the engine over?

On the SYM Wolf, a CB125 (similar apart from not being a pushrod engine) clone, there are circular threaded ports that you can remove for that, which prevents significant oil loss.

I would expect a CG to have similar arrangements, though I dont know this for a fact.

[P.]

There should be a smaller port, don't take the side case off.

[baggy73]

so much for haynes and the internet. they had the casing removed, must be an earlier modal. will try and look through the holes.