Oil leak

[1K9]

Or, go through the motions -- lift the tank -- lift the throttle bodies (all cables still attached) -- remove the valve cover -- carefully remove the gasket and inspect -- thoroughly clean the head mating surface to all shiny -- clean the gasket (if good, put back -- if damaged, order new) -- practice measuring your valve clearances (knowledge is power -- adjust if necessary with an @Bedifferent spring depressor) -- then reassemble carefully following the star sequence in the manual incrementally tightening the bolts. You will need a little sealant in the four half moons. And I recommend following @Claviger 's practice of tightening the valve cover bolts to 10 nM (the manual calls for 12, and on my bike at least, the bolts have bottomed before that and I'm concerned that more is not better and may lead to deformation of some sort).

Paul; what are these moons you are talking about?

 

[Joesmoe]

Find @idk 's signature and download the manual. Page 3.6 (page 82 by page count) describes re-fitting the valve cover gasket.

 

[warp9.9]

Or, go through the motions -- lift the tank -- lift the throttle bodies (all cables still attached) -- remove the valve cover -- carefully remove the gasket and inspect -- thoroughly clean the head mating surface to all shiny -- clean the gasket (if good, put back -- if damaged, order new) -- practice measuring your valve clearances (knowledge is power -- adjust if necessary with an @Bedifferent spring depressor) -- then reassemble carefully following the star sequence in the manual incrementally tightening the bolts. You will need a little sealant in the four half moons. And I recommend following @Claviger 's practice of tightening the valve cover bolts to 10 nM (the manual calls for 12, and on my bike at least, the bolts have bottomed before that and I'm concerned that more is not better and may lead to deformation of some sort).

 

[1K9]

Thank you Scott

 

[warp9.9]

Here you go Rick, @1K9 yeller dot by everu half moon although I just noticed the triumph put the picture of the gasket upside down the halfmoon shapes are in the head from line boring the cam journals in the head and cam ladder during manufacturing.

 

[warp9.9]

All this tear her open is fine if ya got nothing to do. Although I would rather ride myself. I say find leak fix leak ride bike.no sense tearing her apart not knowing where the leak is. A scope could make things easier. But fist a flash light and look under the tank leaks most likely are rear do to it being under pressure. Front is gravity feed until the pump sucks. Anyway no leak there raise tank. Look around the cam cover perimiter paying close attention to the one side its leaking on. Check spark plug wells or drains. You can pull plug wires one at a time and look or stick a Q-tip type swab in and see if it come nack wet with oil. I think the only spark plug well wheep hole you can see without a scope is the rear but dont quote me in that. If you could scope them all you wouldn't need to pull the plug wires. It really depends on things. You no like triple filters or ram air less crud to work around.

Anyway check under the oil tank first !!!!

 

[Joesmoe]

Different manual ?

This is the one I cited:

 

[warp9.9]

Hard copy manual I have 3 of them

I think I only brought one with me.

 

[Joesmoe]

That manual is 2004 - @idk is 2011 (and though I purchased my manual with the bike in 2014 - my hard copy has a 2012 date).

I'm no engineer (not that kind, anyway) so can't comment beyond this.

 

[warp9.9]

That manual is 2004 - @idk is 2011 (and though I purchased my manual with the bike in 2014 - my hard copy has a 2012 date).

I'm no engineer (not that kind, anyway) so can't comment beyond this.

Its ok my manuals work for my bikes. Heck all these years and still just re-use cam cover gaskets