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

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCalYen

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by GypsyR

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.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILLF8TED

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.

buzz · 03-09-2025, 07:01 PM

7000 miles might as well rebuilded it

01-23-2025, 06:17 PM	#1
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 40	Help! Oil leak! 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. Attached Thumbnails
	0

01-23-2025, 07:18 PM	#4
GypsyR Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 416	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. __________________ 2023 Templar 250 X
	4

03-06-2025, 05:36 PM	#9
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 40	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. Attached Thumbnails
	0

03-06-2025, 05:43 PM	#10
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,848	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. __________________ 2025 Lifan KPT 400 2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 (Sold) 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	0

03-07-2025, 04:08 PM	#14
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,848	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. __________________ 2025 Lifan KPT 400 2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 (Sold) 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	1

01-23-2025, 06:45 PM	#2
Notjoemechanic Join Date: Mar 2024 Location: Dothan, Al Posts: 44	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.
	0

01-27-2025, 01:56 PM	#6
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 40	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.
	1

02-16-2025, 03:02 PM	#7
ILLF8TED Join Date: Feb 2025 Location: Washington Posts: 1	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.
	0

03-06-2025, 05:47 PM	#11
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 40	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?
	0

03-06-2025, 07:44 PM	#12
Bruces Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 1,705	It’s the cylinder base gasket .
	2

03-07-2025, 01:47 PM	#13
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 40	Ok thank you
	0

03-09-2025, 07:01 PM	#15
buzz Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Dayton Pa. Posts: 1,032	7000 miles might as well rebuilded it
	0