View Full Version : Help! Oil leak!
TCalYen
01-23-2025, 06:17 PM
Dang oil is getting on my shift lever and f’ed up two pairs of shoes. I’ve attached a couple of pictures. Any idea how to tackle fixing it? Thanks in advance for your help everyone.
Notjoemechanic
01-23-2025, 06:45 PM
The first thing you need to do is wash everything with some degrease and then look for the leak with it fully warmed up and running. You may have to get the rpms up for it to leak. The first places I would look would be your crank case vent. Are you over oiling your chain? Are the caps on the stator cover and rocker cover seated? Do all the caps have good rings? Then check your mating sufaces like the rocker cover and base gasket on the jug. If you still can't find anything check the oil seals like the one on the shift lever and output shaft behind the sprocket. It's just too hard to give you a better answere without seeing it in person. Hope this helps.
Thumper
01-23-2025, 07:01 PM
Dang oil is getting on my shift lever and f’ed up two pairs of shoes. I’ve attached a couple of pictures. Any idea how to tackle fixing it? Thanks in advance for your help everyone.
Check the case bolts. Do not overtighten! But you may fine obvious loose bolts.
GypsyR
01-23-2025, 07:18 PM
Old trick I picked in the 1980's. Wash all the oil off. I'd use "engine degreaser" and a water hose. Get it or let dry. Get a can of spray talc. Back when I worked for Yamaha "Cruex" was favorite.(Tested to 150 mph) But any sort of spray can foot powder will do. Spray it all over the engine. Remember that any oil leaks will always end up at the bottom so concentrate on the upper 2/3's. You can make it look like a snowball but like a sloppy coat of paint is fine. Run the engine, go for a ride, whatever makes you leak some. Then inspect. The powder traps the oil and will leave these great and super obvious black trails right to the source or sources of the leaks. Then you can just rinse the powder off with a hose. It washes right off with just water.
flopsweat
01-24-2025, 09:12 AM
Old trick I picked in the 1980's. Wash all the oil off. I'd use "engine degreaser" and a water hose. Get it or let dry. Get a can of spray talc. Back when I worked for Yamaha "Cruex" was favorite.(Tested to 150 mph) But any sort of spray can foot powder will do. Spray it all over the engine. Remember that any oil leaks will always end up at the bottom so concentrate on the upper 2/3's. You can make it look like a snowball but like a sloppy coat of paint is fine. Run the engine, go for a ride, whatever makes you leak some. Then inspect. The powder traps the oil and will leave these great and super obvious black trails right to the source or sources of the leaks. Then you can just rinse the powder off with a hose. It washes right off with just water.
This is a fantastic tip. :clap:
TCalYen
01-27-2025, 01:56 PM
You guys are awesome! Thanks for the input. Going to do the powder and report back. It’s definitely not chain lube.
I bought a super beat up Hawk 250 for $250 with a good engine (hopefully) that I’ll pull parts from (if needed).
I will report back.
ILLF8TED
02-16-2025, 03:02 PM
Honestly, clean your motor. By yourself a UV light and oil dye kit from amazon. Dump dye in motor and go for a ride. If it's a significant leak, you'll see it right away with the UV light.
TCalYen
02-16-2025, 06:43 PM
Honestly, clean your motor. By yourself a UV light and oil dye kit from amazon. Dump dye in motor and go for a ride. If it's a significant leak, you'll see it right away with the UV light.
LOVE it…
Thanks!
TCalYen
03-06-2025, 05:36 PM
Hi Everyone!
So I bought the dye and here is where the leak is… any idea what I need to fix it? Guessing it’s a gasket. My Hawk is a 2016 with about 7k miles. Best dollar for dollar bike I’ve ever owned lol… and I have 5 bikes right now. I did buy a reall really really busted up 2021 Hawk for parts. Pretty much the only good things on it are the rims, the engine, and the braking system. Anyway… anyone have any idea what to do about the oil leak? It’s pretty significant. See attached picture.
JerryHawk250
03-06-2025, 05:43 PM
Have you tried snugging the bolts down? Bolts may have vibrated lose. Just don't go crazy over torquing and break the bolts. If it still leaks you will need to replace the gasket.
TCalYen
03-06-2025, 05:47 PM
Haven’t tried but I will tonight and will report back. What is the gasket called? Any idea? Do you think any sort of “stop leak” will help?
Bruces
03-06-2025, 07:44 PM
It’s the cylinder base gasket .
TCalYen
03-07-2025, 01:47 PM
Ok thank you
JerryHawk250
03-07-2025, 04:08 PM
Make sure you get the head and base gasket. Since you will have to pull the head, it would be a good idea to replace it.
7000 miles might as well rebuilded it
TCalYen
03-10-2025, 05:24 PM
Make sure you get the head and base gasket. Since you will have to pull the head, it would be a good idea to replace it.
Thanks for saying that!
TCalYen
03-10-2025, 05:25 PM
7000 miles might as well rebuilded it
What would I need to rebuild? Are there kits? I saw a big bore kit on Temu of all places lol.
If it’s not a big deal to rebuild then why not. Just need to know what I would need.
If everything looks good,just new piston rings,and the 2 gaskets you need all ready.There's lots of rebuild kits complete with new cyclinder that are cheap. Bit if bike is running good rings won't hurt,you might brake the old ring when you install new gaskets.Should be an easy job.
TCalYen
03-11-2025, 10:39 AM
Ok cool. I’ll look into it and post a link before I buy anything.
Question… has anyone here actually installed a big bore kit on a Hawk????
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