Oil Leak on Hawk 250
 

About to roll over 5000 units and started smelling burnt oil occasionally at stoplights. Since the bike is not smoking, I looked closely and found this. How serious is this? How can I fix this? Do I even need to bother? I checked the oil level, and it seems to be fine, so the leak is slow.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Edit: I have come to the conclusion that it's a head gasket leak (please correct me if I am wrong). I contacted PSM, but I doubt it's covered under warranty and just wanted to find out how much a replacement gasket would cost. I am 100% sure I can do the work myself as I have access to a torque wrench and several excellent videos of the procedure on YouTube. But my big question is this: How long can I go before I have to deal with this? Would tightening the head be worthwhile, or should I just do the gasket? Also, any additional advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

gasket bad. gonna have to pull the head. shouldn't be too terribly bad to do. It can wait though, not urgent. a good bit of fresh oil there though, so I'd say "soon".

since this is my daily driver, I will need to repair it sooner than later. But that being said, winter is coming, and I would love to put it off. Thanks for the help.

If it were me I would attempt to tighten the head bolts. If this all of a sudden came on, the gasket could need to be repaired quickly. If like the leak on my Snapper lawn mower that’s still leaking it’s still not much more than a wash job every once in awhile. The leak started 10 years ago. Just my thoughts and the repair isn’t difficult if needed!

I agree with J4fun. Maybe check head bolts and snug them up. It might not be a permanent fix, but it will give you time to deal with the gasket replacement during the winter. That would be a good time to d some porting.

The oil passes through to the head on the opposite corner of where you found the leak. On the fiber style head gaskets there is also an O ring used to help seal off that corner.

As suggested, try to snug up the head bolts and see if that helps (24ft-lbs). If it keeps leaking, pick up a TT250 headgasket, which is steel and does not require the O-ring. Also a bit thinner so it gives a small bump in compression.

The Brozz 250 also uses the metal gasket.
https://shop.brozz250.com/eshopprod_...r_Assembly.htm

its in my cart. 12.95 from california scooter company. thanks.

whoa..looks like the one from the brozz site is half as much.

Maybe it is indeed a head bolt issue, and will seal up. Maybe!
Then you can send back the head gasket for refund.

gonna keep it for a rainy day.

I think if I am going to pull it apart to torque it down (ordered a torque wrench, never had one) might as well just change it. Also the digital dash is coming so i figure take it all apart at the same time. I will also take that time to install the turbo charger that I 3d printed.

i cleaned off all of the oil you see in the picture. Then I took the bike up Miller Hill (deep gravel miserably first gear all the way) and at the top I could smell oil. I rode it home. Since then I've been to moundsville a few times and I cant sense a loss of compression. But, very soon I am going to fix it. I cant freakin wait!!! (im not kidding!!)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KCpNPm9M5ii2ecVk6

i know it is not good to push it, but truth is a whole engine is so cheap and the fact I get to learn in the process..its a win win. Thanks.

plus..its a Hawk.

I would bet it's leaking around the O Ring, but it sounds like it's not really hurting anything, as long as it doesn't run low on oil.

i will tear it apart. I need to tear it apart. I want to tear it apart. and I will fix it. and then I will laugh at myself for ever being stressed out about it. tomorrow I am going back out. hell i might do it today.