Slabby vomiting oil :(

[Mudskipper]

I did the valve clearances on the slabby ('86 GSXR750) a while ago, had to re-do them because I got power loss and a knocking sound.

This turned out to be one of the tappet locknuts being loose. So I re-checked all the clearances and locknuts tightnesses again, put everything back together.

It started quickly and ran nicely, then I noticed that it was pissing oil from the front/top of the engine. And I mean, absolutely pissing out.

My first thoughts are - is it the rocker cover gasket (which is a thick rubber one)? Seemed in good condition and had no problems last time (with leaking, obviously there was the problem of the loose locknut!). I didn't use any additional gasket goo though. Should I try this?

The other possibility is one of the cover bolt holes looks like it's been repaired. Would one bolt not being perfectly sealed cause this? It's not actually coming out from it, it's coming from the front top (can't see precisely as tank etc was back on, and by the time I realised it was leaking and tried to locate it, there was too much oil to see clearly).

There was also some oil seeping from plug hole #3. Plug was tightened properly and definitely not cross threaded. However the vast majority of the oil didn't seem to have come from there?

I know I will need to strip tank etc again, degrease it all and locate the leak source exactly, but any ideas to be going on with? Forecast loads of rain tonight and tomorrow night then I'm on holiday for 10 days so I won't be able to look at it properly for a while.

I'm absolutely sick of it at the moment, I'm almost tempted to see what I can get for it as is and just get rid. I need a bike for work asap.

Any help or ridicule welcome.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[stinkwheel]

Check the oil for fuel contamination.

I've known a couple of people who had slabbies with dodgy needle valves, eventually the diaphragm on the vacuum fuel tap would let go (they're getting old now) and the carbs would start to overflow. Overflow on a slabby tends to run down into the engine rather than out of the overflow.

They both had them fill the sump with fuel. An overfilled sump could lead to oil coming out of all sorts of places.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Mudskipper]

Ah bugger, that sounds like it could be it.

New fuel tap and replace the oil?

Cheers

edit: or https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FUEL-TAP-REPAIR-KIT-SUZUKI-GSXR750-F-H-85-88_W0QQitemZ200347019765QQcmdZViewItem?
____________________
CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[stinkwheel]

Should be fairly obvious if that's what's happened when you open the oil filler cap. The oil level will be way too high, it'll smell of petrol and will be very runny.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.