Valve cover seal blown!

I was half way home between cities when my oil light started flickering so I pulled over and checked it out and my valve cover seal was leaking oil all over the place. Also, one of the o-rings on the bolt was leaking too...

I searched the forums already but I still have a few questions:

I know I don't HAVE to, but SHOULD I pull the motor and check out anything else while I'm replacing the seal?
Is there anything I should inspect while I'm in there? Like the camshafts?
Any common mistakes people make while doing this I should look out for?

These might be stupid questions, but I've never done anything like this and need the help!

Thanks in advance,
Pseudonym

 

Whoa.. .never heard of a valve cover seal blowing! Were you perchance racing across the Bonneville Flats?

I wouldn't worry about pulling the motor if you shut it down soon enough after the oil warning light came on. This may be a good time to check valve clearances though....

 

I was thinking the valve clearances were under there! (sorry im a noob)

I went a good 200 miles at 85 (7000 rpm in 6th) in the peak of Texas heat ~ 90 degrees F... and I topped off the oil but the light still flickered the last 70 miles home... And it was just past sunset by that time. Do you think I permanently damaged anything?

 

I would doubt you have lost enough oil to do any major damage. How far down is the level in the window?

Whilst you are replacing or refitting the gasket, as stereo said it is worthwhile checking the valve clearances which you can do with the valve cover removed. You are right, that's where the camshafts and valve buckets are.

 

bigfitz52 has a great write-up with pics on the valve adjustment and refitting the gasket here: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

It's on an 80s xj550, so I don't know how much it is like the xj600, but if you have the little rubber "doughnut" washers like the older xj's, it'd probably be good to replace those too (this is the advice bigfitz52 gave). He also did it with the engine in the frame.

Maybe one of the resident experts will chime in on the similarities.

 

Yeah I have doughnuts lol. I went out in the garage and started removing the parts to get to the valve cover and have a few questions. My air filter is one of those cone type k&n filters and it is covered in oil. WTF? There is an oil line leading to it and it looks like it's supposed to so I figure it's supposed to be covered in oil?? Also, I got to the carbs and decided to stop for the night because I feel like I'm going to mess them up. The bike runs clean and smooth carb-wise so I don't want to off-set them. How should I go about taking them out?

Thanks in advance, guys!

 

The tank is all that needs to come off to remove the valve cover.
The carbs stay on.
Do you have four individual filters, one for each carb?
While K&N does sell filters that use oil, they are not usually cone shaped.
It sounds like you are reffering to an after market crank case breather filter.
Where is this filter located?

 

Hound, my bike is a 92... valve cover is under the carbs lol

Filter is in a plastic box under the gas tank and has four holes in bottom that go directly to the carbs and an oil line on the back end of the plastic box that goes to the clutch cover...

Just one filter, about 4 in by 6 in I guess not exact (one of those cone filters looks like a cylinder with small chicken wire holding in a cotton cloth) seen here: http://motorcade.co.za/images/09012008396.jpg but the ends are open

 

Pseudonym

That arrangement sound like a stock airbox but the filter shouldn't be soaked in oil. I think you may have a, shall we say, misalignment of the names of parts. The valve cover (for checking engine valve clearances) sits right on top if the engine (cylinder head), not under the carbs.

The hose you can see is the crankcase breather which leads from the engine to the airbox. At a guess, the hose is about half inch OD.

I tried to search a '92 XJ600 on the Yamaha parts list but couldn't find that model for that year.

 

Ok so the filter you have does use oil to trap debris.
It is reusable you can wash it out and reoil it with K&N filter oil, instructions on the package.
I can't find a manual for the 600 either but I can't imagine you have to remove the carbs.
I could be wrong.

 

You guys didn't find a book because it's called a Seca II (XJ600SD.) It does have down-draft carbs and part of the airbox or the carbs themselves may be in the way of removing the valve cover.

The "oil line" you're referring to is the breather hose.

Pseudonym; get yourself a manual before you destroy this bike or yourself.

Did you replace the rear chain and both sprockets yet?

 

Thanks fitz we live and learn. Found the parts list and looked at the air filter and carbs and see what it is now. :lol:

 

Hi Fitz! I got the Haynes manual, and sorry, no I didn't change the chain and sprockets yet... But it's not like I'm driving anywhere now lol!

So....I guess nobody had anything to say about removing the carbs? I can just yank 'em out?

 

what does Haynes say about them? They should be able to be treated as a unit; and removed and replaced as such.

Does the book say they have to come off to get to the valve cover?

 

Yes sir, it does. They block access to the valve cover. I pulled them off, they were hard to get out... They're missing parts BTW - I made another thread (maybe should have kept it in here)