Looks like we got a leaker!!!

Hey guys, we finally had a decent day of weather here in Milwaukee, after it snowed like 6 inches of slush hell on us two days ago! So I went out riding for a bit, but I noticed a whole bunch of black gunk just under the engine on the left side. This is an '85 VF500F by the way.

I think it's been there for a little while, at least since this spring. I noticed some black crap on my boot after riding about a month ago, and I thought at first it was some gunk that was stuck to the shift lever, but there was no gunk there, it was coming from this leak or whatever it is!!!

Here are a couple pictures for your enjoyment:



Here's a little bit closer view:


It's only on the left side though, the right side is all clean.

Anyone know what could be leaking in there, and if it's very serious?

Thanks guys!

-Chris

 

It might be nothing, but I would suggest taking off the sprocket cover and checking the seal for the sprocket shaft to see if it is weeping.

Oh, and no leaking on the carpet. Check local listings for a leak room near you. lol

 

Looks like possible excessive chain oil? possible oil leak and chain oil. Like Vman said, take it apart and take a looksy :lever:

 

I think you should clean up the area and take it for another ride and confirm where the leak is coming from, that black tar looking stuff could be blowbye (bad rings) to check pull the spark plug that should give you some indication. If the bike has been sitting awhile it may just need a good run. i asume you've changed the crankcase oil if it was clean looking it would simply be an oil leak bad seal. Hopfully its nothing serious the bike looks in good shape from the pic.

 

I've seen that same stuff and I found that it comes from my chain lube wax. I usually lube my chain ever tank of gas and it seems to just melt off. I could be wrong though. By the way I had an 86 Interceptor 500 what a great bike.

 

Ok, that's a good point, it could be excessive chain oil... Last time I oiled my chain it was a Sunday and no motorcycles stores were open, so I ended up buying some cheap stuff at the hardware store, and tons of it flew off. But I don't think it was that much.

Anyway, not this weekend but next weekend, I'm gonna take it home to the parents' house to do some work and I'll investigate further. I can't do much here at my apartment in the parking structure, cause I have no tools, light, or electrical outlets!

But next weekend I'm gonna clean up the common collector anyway, so I should be able to get a better look at what's going on once I take those parts off.

 

Ok you guys were right, it was just piles of old chain lube in there!

I took off the exhaust collector yesterday, and it was easy to see there was just tons of sludge in there



I took off the cover over the sprocket and cleaned everything out pretty good



Here's what it looked like inside. There was a lot of crap in there!