slight oil leak

[fastlight81]

I have a service manual for my 81 suzuki gs850gl. I got the bike for a steal. I have oil seeping out. I believe its coming from the cam cover. Its not a terrible leak, but I want to fix it before I shine up the engine this winter. My question is it is always on the fins on the upper area. Forgive me, I have a lot of learning to do when it comes to the terms of all the parts. Where else should I look for oil to be leaking and what gaskets should I replace besides the cam cover gasket? Where is the best place to order the gaskets from online?

 

[hillsy]

Probably a good idea to degrease the engine totally and then run it for a while to see where the leak is coming from. They can leak from the head nuts if the correct washers are not used (the external ones use a copper washer). Also the cam chain tensioner is known to leak oil readily.

I don't know where you are, but I guess BikeBandit for parts if you are in the US.

 

[fastlight81]

sometimes its the simple things that get overlooked the most. I never thought to degrease the engine. I will do that. I do live in the US and Ill take a look at bike bandit. Thanks for the help. Ill let you know what i come up with.

 

[SONICJK]

Once you've degreased it, get is spotless clean and shower the area in baby powder. Then run the bike.
With the powder you'll be able to trace were the leak originated, as oppose to where the wind blew it.

 

[fastlight81]

I certainly never would have thought of that sonic. I appreciate the advice. Im leaning towards the cam gasket and block nut gaskets(the copper ones) but when I have the time, Ill try this method

 

[fastlight81]

i degreased the engine, I didn't have any baby powder,so i gave the engine a flour treatment. Im pretty sure my neighbors must think im nuts. Well other than the fact I am. I ran it around the block twice and saw no discoloration. I then took it on a 60 mile road trip tonight. I rode my bike hard, stopping periodically to look things over. By the time I got home, I didn't notice anything major. The cam gasket does show slight discoloration. So that will be changed, but I'm stumped. ever since I got the bike in mid july there has always been a slight pool of oil a few fins under spark plug number one. Idk maybe it has just accumulated over time. Maybe when I go look at it tomorrow after things have cooled down Ill see something different. What am I missing?