im scared

i was lookin for a gas leak and once i fixed it i noticed an oil leak. this leak looked like it happened to be the exact right hight to be a head gasket leak. the oil is mostly on the left side because it is leaning on the kick stand but is all on the front of the head. i havent ridden it yet because it is my first bike and im getting my permit next week so wind isnt a factor on where the oil is. somebody please let me know if it could be something else because i dont want to have to tear apart my head to replace the gasket

 

You know, you can ride with a minor oil leak. All Harley and Triumph jokes aside. . . just don't run out of oil.
If it's not the valve cover gasket, it's the head gasket.

 

Can you take a pic of the leak and post it?

 

Always check fork seals if the front of the head is wet. That would seem obvious but can be overlooked. On old bikes fork seals almost always need to be replaced.

 

It could also be the cam chain tensioner gasket and the oil is running around to the front. It could also be the valve cover, or the infamous tach drive gear housing oil seals (only if you have a mechanical tach.)

CLEAN the motor; I use a spray citris engine degreaser; you can also use bug and tar remover or even mineral spirits; followed by soapy water and rinse well. Get it clean and dry. Then watch carefully. Start it and warm it up-- check for leaks. Ride two miles, stop-- check for leaks. You get the idea. You'll find it. And Yamasarus is right-- it could be leaky front fork blowback from a while ago. When my forks were leaking it was getting on the rear part of the exhaust collector shields back by the mufflers, from the front. How, I cannot fathom.

 

ok ill go out and take a pic of the leak area and post it soon

 

heres a couple pictures even though they arent the best. it all looks like its been there for a while but i just noticed it yesterday

 

Inconclusive. Do what I suggested.

 

If you will enter your LOCATION in the Appropriate Place ... there might be someone NEAR you who would be able to render assistance.

 

This looks strangely familiar 8O
The pictures would make me look at the tensioner gasket first...

 

Yeah no kidding, doesn't it though? My '81 has just started getting serious about leaking from the tensioner gasket; I was thinking base gasket until I figured it out.

 

is the tdnsioner gasket an easy thing to replace?

 

Yes... It's a lot easier with the carbs off, but can be done either way.

There are two allen bolts holding the tensioner in place. Yours is a manual tensioner, so all you should have to do is to undo the bolts, remove old gasket, install new one (wet it down with motor oil), tighten bolts. The old gasket will probably put up a fight, so make sure both surfaces are good and clean. Get some gasket remover (aka aircraft stripper) so you won't have to gouge the aluminum. New gasket should only cost a couple of dollars..

Did you clean the engine off to see exactly where the oil leak is?

 

I doubt that its the Tensioner Gasket.
Niagra Falls of hot oil lives just beyond the Tensioner Gasket.

The Tensioner Gasket IS easily replaced.
You can make one from a Cheerios Box Top.

The TENSIONER is hard to replace.
The Tensioner needs to be reset.
The End Plug removed to allow the Body to be fastened to the Block.

And, ... Then, ... you have to Re-install the Hex-Plug End Cap.

You push the End Cap against a Coiled Spring within a Second Coiled Spring which is pushing on the Cam Chain Guide which is pushing on the Cam Chain itself.

(Precisely center-punch the Plug Cap. Drill a shallow "Dimple" in the Caps dead-center. A shallow indentation which comes nowhere near drilling through the Plug. This "Dimple" will allow an Assistant to apply force against all of the resistance ... to the Plug ... with the tip of a Phillips Screwdriver ... the "Dimple" ... keeping the Tip of the Screwdriver -- centered -- on the Plug ... while YOU Seat the Plug and get it started into the Tensioner against all that resistance.

Once you get a turn or two on the Plug ... the assistant will no longer be needed.
But until you start the Plug ... you need the extra pair of hands.

 

THIS IS your next step. We're suggesting possible sources, but until you find out, it's just guesswork. No sense tearing into the wrong thing.

 

baby steps. with these bikes, guess work will get you in more trouble than you have ever imagined possible

 

yea sorry guys i haven't gotten around to getting some engine degreaser yet, i just went to the stores today but i forgot to pick some up. once i get my engine cleaned up ill report back my findings.