[cpc]

I have found I have an oil leak in my points, ive cleaned it up and I dont think its the camshaft oil seal, it looks as if if is coming from the holes for the points plate screws....what would cause this? A bad gasket? If my oil seal is good I dont want to hurt it, what is the safest way to fix this problem? I tried a make-a-gasket on the points cover, but the oil still is able to leak out. Thanks!

 

[NE350]

I had a similar problem two weeks ago. After my bike died on the road side I saw oil leaking from the points cover. After I got it home I removed the side cover and the points plate. I thought the oil was coming from the cam shaft seal but it was intacted and working fine (dry). I checked the 4 screws that hold the hole assembly on the motor and they were all loose. I then checked the rocker arm adjusting pins. One of the lock nuts was very loose. It also looked as though that was were the oil was coming from.
I then removed the right side cover to see what was going on there. There was a small amount of oil on the bottom and the ends of the rocker arms adjusting screws were wet with oil.

I wasn't sure if the rocker arm adjusting screws have there own seal. All I did was tighten everything down and took a couple short rides and everything so far is still dry. Sometimes the issue is not as big as it seems.

Matt

 

[tbpmusic]

350's are supposed to have an o-ring on each rocker shaft - goes between the cam cover and the head.
Most gasket kits include them, they get flattened over time.

O-RING (7.7X2.3)

 

[cpc]

I do not think it is coming from the rockers....like I said, through he point plate screw holes, is where I have seen it, to me that would suggest a bad gasket. Anywho, I donot have ime to fix this till later in the week, so how big of a problem is this? its not leaking badly, but just enough to be visible on the engine itself.....and the sparkplug wire cap.... what is the procedure to remove this part off the engine? I know remove the points, and spark advancer, and the 4 screws and 2 bolts for the valve rockers, will the cam be dislodged? do I simply pull the points housing off the cam? how do I readjust the valves?

 

[cpc]

after looking at a spare points enclosure housing, I see what you are talking about.....but still what is the procedure to remove this housing and replace, considering the valve adjustments?

 

[tbpmusic]

after looking at a spare points enclosure housing, I see what you are talking about.....but still what is the procedure to remove this housing and replace, considering the valve adjustments?

Possible, but risky - lots to go wrong.
Normally it's done on the bench, so if you try it, there's a 50/50 chance you'll end up on the bench anyway.
This was talked about recently here, can't remember when.
A Search would probably turn it up.........

 

[66Sprint]

There are 4 seals/gaskets involved with JUST the journal.... Add at least a fifth as you should pull the cam-chain tensioner assembly...... First assemble the needed gaskets, O-rings and seal.... Might as well do it right......"Make-a-gasket" will NOT do as any "overage" WILL end up in an oil passage.... (NOT a good thing)
Pull the engine and do it on a bench....You DO/WILL have to re-install the advance mechanism, re-time the points, possibly re-check the cam timing, and usually reset the valve lash.... MUCH easier when you can get access to the parts easily........
AT this point, I'd probably tear it down to the base gasket and check-out ALL the parts/the entire top end..............But that's just me.....I'd almost bet your problem is the camshaft seal itself, which can be fixed with a lot less work, with the engine still in the bike......
JMHO...... Steve

 

[cpc]

ive got 2 spare housings 1 with a good camshaft seal, and extra good o-rings, why, would it be so hard to replace the housing...your talking about cam chain tentioner.....the engine IS NOT coming out of the bike! no way! not this soon, its running GREAT, this is the only problem.....all I need to know is the procedure to remove and reinsall the housing.....im not going inside my engine, this one has less than 3000 original miles on it....gobs of power.....i wont risk this engine till i have my cb rebuilt, and this one NEEDS to be rebuilt.

 

[tbpmusic]

why, would it be so hard to replace the housing...

Generally what happens (when it all goes horribly wrong) is that the pressure exerted by open valves (and the chain and tensioner and all the other stuff involved) causes the end of the cam to drop down - many times impossible to get it back on the end of the cam again without really screwing something up.

That's why the procedure is done on the bench, with the top engine cover off, cam chain and sprocket removed.

Though you do hear anectdotal reports once in a while about folks who have done it the quickie way.
Never worked for me personally on any bike..........
You would be well advised to not attempt it until you are prepared to tear it out of the frame should things not go as planned (fairly high probablitity).

It's really no big deal once it's out of the frame, you're not really "tearing the engine apart".

 

[cpc]

its not that much oil maybe a few ounces over 600 miles or so, so i just wont worry about it, unless someone tells me it means something bad could/will happen without being fixed....thanks for advising me so i didnt screw things up for myself.

 

[66Sprint]

Where was that oil supposed to be going? ...and what was it supposed to lubricate?
Leaks tend to get worse, they don't self-heal......
Another member here can tell you how much damage non-lubrication of a cam journal can cause and how fast it occurs..... His 360 isn't really all that much different, and he had "an oil leak at the points" as his symptom as well........
You got good advice on what you SHOULD do...What you actually do is on you.....
Just one further question.... Why ask for advice and then disregard it?

 

[cpc]

cause im not up for taking an engine out of this bike for the upteenth time in less than 2 months, is why im not going to deal with this matter right now, ill watch it, if it gets bad then ill deal with it.....i figured it would be a simple fix, not as involved as the advice i recived. this is my only vehical for the time being, and i simply dont have time or help to deal with this matter in a single day! my BF is a lazy f***, and wont help me anymore! ya Im a girl, and ive built this bike up from a bunch of parts laying around, I wish i could fix this by myself but i cant get the engine in or out on my own....anyone wanna help?

 

[Bird76Mojo]

If you were closer I'm sure there are several people here that would help. I know myself, Bill, and Steve would likely lend a hand if possible, but we're clear across the country. ANYONE OUT THAT DIRECTION??

The engine can be removed on your own. It's just a matter of getting the bolts out, and then picking up slightly on it, moving it over onto a "frame rail" balancing it on the frame, then switching hands back over the frame to get both hands on it to move it to the floor.

I wish you luck, but like Steve said that leak will only get worse. Sooner rather than later too. I hope you're not in the middle of nowhere when it happens..

P.S. Start smackin that lazy man around a bit, and see if that engine gets pulled a little quicker..

GB :mrgreen:

 

[cpc]

lol, ill try doing that or withholding some coochie from him! Ill get it taken care of as soon as i can till then i just gotta keep a watch on it....shouldnt be too hard, seems to jump time about once a week.....lil screws are stripped on the heads, so i cant tighten all the way like i should! Thanks!

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Withholding the gooch from a man? NEVER! Damn womenz!! :| You should NEVER, I repeat NEVER do anything so drastic!

Keep an eye on that oil level and hopefully you'll get to it soon.

GB :mrgreen:

 

[66Sprint]

Your gender has nothing to do with my advice..... There is a valid reason why we tear these older engines completely down and make sure everything is within spec and in proper working condition......THIS is a SAFETY issue as well as a common sense one.
WHY would you knowingly continue to operate a vehicle that shows even the slightest possibility of catastrophic engine failure (probably at speed) and risk both your life and possibly that of others?
.........FIX IT OR PARK IT!

...(Yes,..... I know I'm being harsh, but she's shown good initiative and potential by cobbling that bike together from left-overs.... Let's keep her safe and around awhile...)

 

[leethal]

WHY would you knowingly continue to operate a vehicle that shows even the slightest possibility of catastrophic engine failure (probably at speed) and risk both your life and possibly that of others?
.........FIX IT OR PARK IT!

Good call Steve.

Running that engine in the face of conveinience is a bad idea...

 

[cpc]

as i said, this is my only vehicle...I will watch it, if it worsens I will then pull the engine and fix it, as it stands, i WILL continue to use my bike, and as for "my life or others" this is not something I would worry about locking the engine up, i would think the worst that could happen is the cam would lock, and snap the timing chain and cause severe damage to the top end....if you don't want me riding this bike, make an offer, I open bids at $3000 (Including a CB350 engine as a spare that needs its top end finished), thata way, I can go buy a HD, and not have to tinker with this 40 year old thing any longer.....clean title too! please don't lecture me on what i should do or shouldn't do, im a big girl and can make decisions for myself, as I said, if you are so worried about my or others lives due to a very MINOR oil leak, make a bid on this bike, i may even put it up on ebay if enough of you are interested.....enough said!

 

[tbpmusic]

as i said, this is my only vehicle...I will watch it, if it worsens I will then pull the engine and fix it, as it stands, i WILL continue to use my bike, and as for "my life or others" this is not something I would worry about locking the engine up, i would think the worst that could happen is the cam would lock, and snap the timing chain and cause severe damage to the top end....if you don't want me riding this bike, make an offer, I open bids at $3000 (Including a CB350 engine as a spare that needs its top end finished), thata way, I can go buy a HD, and not have to tinker with this 40 year old thing any longer.....clean title too! please don't lecture me on what i should do or shouldn't do, im a big girl and can make decisions for myself, as I said, if you are so worried about my or others lives due to a very MINOR oil leak, make a bid on this bike, i may even put it up on ebay if enough of you are interested.....enough said!

Now, now - temper, temper........

The guys mean well, but I can tell you're a lady that doesn't like to be told what to do (I married one of those).
Just accept their advice as it was intended, no one was trying to lecture you .....
Personally, I just wanted you to know the relative perils of what you were contemplating. You may recall I did not tell you to not do it....

Watch the oil leak so that it doesn't funkify your points in some inopportune situation. I might ride with the point cover off, just to keep an eye on things in that context.
Lots of places around Grand Junction that you'd be ALL alone after the points geek out and the bike won't run.
Spent a number of years in Colorado myself, back in The Day.

 

[66Sprint]

Never been to Grand Junction, but I'll trust Bill's assessment of the terrain....
I wasn't telling you what to do, just trying to get you to consider the consequences.... Remember, a catastrophic event is just that....Sudden and unexpected.....Usually under the worst conditions......
We are NOT worried about the bike, but about you....


"(Yes,..... I know I'm being harsh, but she's shown good initiative and potential by cobbling that bike together from left-overs.... Let's keep her safe and around awhile...)"