Oil Level \ Oil Leak on '81 Maxim XJ650

Hello there, I recently tested this new bike out on the highway a few times and when I park it, I notice a little oil patch under my bike.



The hose thats circled is the one leaking this mystery substance and is corroded and dirty around the tip of it...

And the patch on the cement is what is left from it??

Anyone have any idea what this could be from?

Also, how much oil should I put into the oil thing... I don't have a dip-stick but a zip-tie was coincidentally the same length to the bottom so I dipped it in and about 1cm of the end was in clean looking oil... should I put more in or should it be good?

The guy I bought it from said he recently changed the oil and the bike doesnt burn oil... so is it the right amount or am I practically running on empty here?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated

 

This time of year ... that might be normal. Any little bit of Blow-by Gases are going to get drawn-up into the Airbox.
You'd expect some condensation to happen.
The Airbox condensate drains out that hose.

But, ... (Maybe this should be a big ...)
BUT, if it starts pouring-out of there ... worry.

And, if the Bike needs to be Topped-off with Oil a lot ... that ain't good, either.

I know the horse is out of the barn ... but, you might just want to do a Compression Check.
That's going tell you what you need to know, ... right there!

 

It looks like you have some fuel tracking down around your alternator, you might have a float needle not seating properly.

 

Looks like that to me too. Gasoline gets into the oil and it ends up in the air box. That hose you have circled is the drain on the air box.

I wouldn't run it until I had the fuel sorted out and and oil and filter change.

On the RH side of the engine, below the oil fill, is a window. The proper amount of oil will almost fill the window when the bike is on the center stand. The window should be empty when on the side stand.

**EDIT**
Oh, one more thing. The fuel valve is vacuum activated, when set to ON or RES fuel should only flow with the engine running. That's a safety to prevent the problem you seem to be having. I'd check that out too.

 

As others have said, if that's oil coming out that hose it's not a good thing. That hose is the drain from the airbox. Check the airbox to see if you've got oil and/or gas in there.

Check the oil fill at the window as noted above - you'll need a light and some patience. If you can't tell, drain some until you can.
The engine/transmission takes 2.5 litres of oil, or just around 3 litres when changing the filter too.

All that brownish stuff under the carburetors is evidence of fuel leaking from around the carbs themselves - quite a bit and for some time by the looks of it. You'll want to make sure that's been taken care of too.

 

Alright, thanks for all the replies!!

So far, I've checked the oil level and the window is full on the center stand, and empty on side stand so Im led to believe we've got plenty of oil.

Also, Im having trouble taking off the air filter? I dont know what the hell Im doing... If any of you can supply me with pictures or a diagram that would be great.

This is really frustrating working on my bike, when my parents split my dad took all the tools so I'm very limited with only a few select tools >_<

 

From the looks of the dribble I would attribute it more to condensation than anything, especially if you didn't ride the bike far enough to fully warm it up. If your oil level stays correct (just as you observe it now) then I wouldn't worry too much. You really need to get yourself a service manual, that's the most important tool in your toolbox. As for the air cleaner, will this help? Looks like (3) screws reference #17 (only two in the drawing) and then the element lifts out? This is under the seat of course.

 

Ahh yes, thats precisely what it looks like. I basically stripped it all down and looked around and did a little cleaning.

My air filter hardly fits in, it looks aftermarket and was taped down LOL. Anyways, at the bottom of the the whole box looking thing was gunk and a little bit of moisture, apart from that it looked pretty good.

So what do I do now?

Also, thanks for the picture! where did you get it??

 

Yup 3 screws - Original fuse panel mounts to the same lid too so it may be in your way.

 

diagram is probably from HERE

 

Close. The problem with the "official" Yamaha site you posted the link to is that the diagrams don't save as well. I filch mine from an area Yammie store that has an online fiche, the diagrams are better resolution, bigger. http://www.babbittsonline.com/pages/par ... fault.aspx

 

It sounds as though your "dribble" was simply condensation carrying some of the accumulated crap from the airbox out with it. I would clean the airbox out thoroughly and install a nice new stock air filter. Then I would get on eBay and start looking for a factory manual (or order one from Chacal.)

 

Where can I get a new air filter besides eBay?

Also, I'll be 'going back in' to the air box today and I'll take a lot of pictures

 

Ok I opened it back up and snapped a few pictures..





















Should I put it back together now or do you have any other recommendations?

 

Chacal carries the filters or at your local dealer.

Looks like you cleaned the box out pretty good.

 

I can barely fit my hands in there so I scraped it with a screwdriver till I got sick of it.

I think tomorrow I'm going to ride it for a bit and park it to see if the dripping continues...

 

..so back to the original post with the question , oil is in puddles
{or in my case lots of oil almost every time i end a ride.}.also air box so full i employed shop vac to task....
have i blown a seal.s? if so what does that entirely mean?
if by in advert.n.ly add.ng more oil than required or understood to need have i created more pressures inside engines casings? there by forcing oil to find easiest points of escape..
if yes then would that path follow the pistons and their ring s?..was not of knowledge as to center up my bike to check oil level in site glass..
thanks to you all in advance...

 

Remove the oil fill cap. Take a sniff. Does it smell like gas?

 

thanx for the re;
no gas ..i just elevated front end on curb then tilted bike on oil filler side and poured out till site glass clear upon lean.ng on kikstnd..
seems to run fine now ..no more leaking oil..
thanks again.y.all

 

Watch carefully to see if it happens again. If it does then you definitely have a sticking float. Hopefully it was just overfilled. Please start a new thread if you have any more questions.