Side Oil Screen Cover

[lakeview]

On my first start of this mock up, lots of oil leaked out the side filter cover. Once I replaced the inner and outer gaskets and added fresh copper washers to the fasteners, the leak is reduced to only messy, but still not right. So I took off the side filter cover again and a lot of oil came out, almost as if that whole filter cavity was full and waiting for me to open it up.
Shouldn't that area drain down into the right side cover and then the crankcase once the engine stops? Any other of these side filter covers that I have opened just dribble a bit down the side case. Is there a drain passage that I need to find and clear?
Nothing in the tech section mentions this.

 

[ckahleer]

On my 81 xs650, there is just a dribble of oil in there when I remove the cover.

 

[jetmechmarty]

View attachment 161923
On my first start of this mock up, lots of oil leaked out the side filter cover. Once I replaced the inner and outer gaskets and added fresh copper washers
to the fasteners, the leak is reduced to only messy, but still not right. So I took off the side filter cover again and a lot of oil came out, almost as if that whole filter cavity was full and waiting for me to open it up.
Shouldn't that area drain down into the right side cover and then the crankcase once the engine stops? Any other of these side filter covers that I have opened just dribble a bit down the side case. Is there a drain passage that I need to find and clear?
Nothing in the tech section mentions this.

Debris under the gasket? Wrinkled or cracked gasket? Maybe you just need a new one? No, it shouldn’t leak. Not even a little.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

The oil inlet and outlet holes in that chamber are rather high, so a bit of oil stays in there, ready to dribble all over your side cover and pipe...

 

[Superjet]

What about that bypass bolt that holds down the filter? I have seen a slot for a screw driver wonder if someone messed with it? Seems if I remember usually see it flush with the head of the bolt to hold down the filter.

 

[lakeview]

I will look at that adjustment, thanks.

 

[lakeview]

Superjet was right. The screw was turned in almost 3/16th and the ball was half covering the passage. I adjusted it back to even, but mission creep has set in as now I am going to replace the side cover gasket and check the bottom screen too.
Thanks for the help!

 

[grizld1]

Good catch, Superjet; setting the screw flush with the bolt top is the recipe in Mama Yama's cookbook.

 

[Superjet]

Glad all got sorted out Lakeview. I suggested it as it was an observation while changing the oil and looking at that bolt. Nothing too complicated in there figured it would be something to take a look at. I still cant believe how much oil came out of it even with the gaskets in there?!?

 

[kevski]

I found the two screws were a little too long and it would weep, I shortened the screws by an 1/8 of an inch and no weep now.

 

[lakeview]

The intial oil spill was enabled by the lack of a gasket between the element and the engine. (I sorta mumbled over that part).

 

[lakeview]

As the sun set, the old biker could feel the temp dropping past 10 C. Time to tighten up that last bolt they cleverly hid under the side stand and clear up the tools. All in all, not a bad day. Three gasket surfaces cleaned and the sump filter reinstalled.
Tomorrow will be a good time to clean the old gasket off the side cover, he thought as he rolled the door down.
Year round DST might be a good idea, too.