Cylinder Gasket leaks

Piercee100 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Karma :

How serious is it? I took the old CD185 out for a run this morning doing a delivery to the in-laws two up at 65 / 70 mph for 200 mile round trip all motorway as its the only thing I've currently got a top box for.

The bikes been previously rested for a couple of years and maybe the gaskets have dried out? When I got home I had oil leaking from both the cylinder block gasket and the cylinder head gasket and sprayed up my right boot. Letting it cool and checking the oil level shows I've lost about half a litre but cant tell how long on my journey it was leaking for. I can see in the dirt at the front a faint weep where the oil has run from below the block gasket down the crankcase.

Is this just gasket failure or is this the sign of something more serious? And if so, what should I be looking for?
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Rides: Honda H100a (Retired), VT500e (Sold), Kawasaki ZX400 (sold), Kawasaki GT550 (Sold), Suzuki Inazuma (Daily), Honda CD185t (Broken), LML Star 2t (Last run edition).

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Head gaskets don't dry out. If you haven't over-heated it then it might have a broken head bolt.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

If it's leaking that much you deffo need to take it down to find out. You might get lucky and find it's been rebuilt recently and someones left a bit of old gasket or other crud in there....or one of the ally rings on the gasket has bust.

There....you've had the "half empty" and "half full" suggestions. Fingus Crost Very Happy

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Space Is Deep

strike750 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 17 Jul 2010 Karma :

it will more than likely be the rocker box seal these are always a problem check all round if so its an easy job replacing a new gasket

blurredman · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

Make sure the breather is clear, if it is not, pressure will force oil out any crevace.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

Piercee100 · Trackday Trickster Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Karma :

Mmmm, head bolts sounds a possibility. I didn't consider that one but I have heard a few stories of that with these engines. Deffo not the rocker gasket as that's the only one not leaking. I'm not sure where the breather pipe is on this but that's a nice easy one to check.

Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend lol.
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Rides: Honda H100a (Retired), VT500e (Sold), Kawasaki ZX400 (sold), Kawasaki GT550 (Sold), Suzuki Inazuma (Daily), Honda CD185t (Broken), LML Star 2t (Last run edition).