Small oil leak

Hey guys, 82’ xj550 maxim, working on doing a running sync right now and have the bike at an idle of 3500rpm. I know it’s ideally supposed to be at 1200rpm and I’m trying to get it there but one problem at a time. I had noticed some oil leaking from the top of the engine, granted the first attempt I didn’t have a fan and ran the bike longer than I should have and there was some smoke, I assume oil boiling. This time I have a fan on it and it’s not smoking but still getting some drips

 

yep, quite a common place for an oil leak, nothing to do with overheating, you will need to remove the cam cover, and reseal it, pay particular attention to the half moons, and remove any "burrs" with a small file ,carefully.
stick the gasket to the cover ,with Permatex gasket goo.
then put some silicon gasket sealer between the gasket and head
stu

 

Dang I replaced it last summer... I can use the same seal if it’s that young right? Just add more permatex and silicon?

 

Yes that should sort it.

 

Did you replace the dough nut seals on the valve bolts? The seals keep pressure on the valve cover and the gasket. Do over tighten the bolts.

 

Yep replaced those and boy were those a pain without the tool, and I did tighten them when the engine was hot

 

i had the same thing, i loosen the cover bolts enough to pick that half moon and get some gasket goo under it put it all back. didn't disturb it any more than needed
but that was a new gasket

 

I think that should have read, " DONT overtighten the bolts"
stu

 

I misread that lol. Hope he didn't do it?

 

I probably did but I am taking it off anyway

 

This is why I am a repair technician not an author.

 

Any advice on this? I would guess that my carbs are too rich/lean from 1 to 4 (1 being the closest in the pic) took them back off and recleaning the passages and swapping the first two plugs for cleaner ones. They smelled of gas and 3-4 didn’t