Oil coming from the crank shaft?

Xj900 1983
When I went out to the garage today it was a huge pile of oil under the bike. It looks like it's coming out of the crank cover on the left side. Some smal drips of oil under it

I understand there is a crankshaft seal that could need a replacement. Correct?

So. What and where could I find this seal and how do I replace it.

Br
Robert

 

Hi Robert welcome to the XJ forum. It is your crankshaft oil seal if it is leaking from the round cover. Remove the round cover to check you will see the pickups, rotor etc which is held by an Allen bolt. The seal has a lip on it which means it is more difficult to remove but you can get a new seal without the lip so you do not have to split the crankcases. You can contact info at info@XJ4ever as Chacal our vendor has the seal without the lip. One of the forum members recently removed the old leaking seal on his bike and replaced it. Removing the old seal is the hardest part of this job.

 

Behind this rotor the seal is.

 

You should also check to see if the oil is coming from the main gallery oil plug, that hex-drive plug directly below the round ignition pick-up coils cover........

 

Lovely thank you

 

OK. Will that mean it's not the seal that's the problem?

 

I forgot that plug Chacal. Yes if it is the main gallery oil plug the crankshaft seal should be fine. The chances of both leaking simultaneously is highly unlikely. Photographs below.

 

So if the oil running onto the hex plug at the bottom (in which case it is the crankshaft seal) or is it running from the hex plug (which means it is the o ring behind the hex plug)? Removing the crankshaft end cover will confirm if it is the crankshaft oil seal that is defective or not. Run the engine (with the bike on it's centre stand) with the round cover off and check it that way. If it is the crankshaft seal there is wiring in there too to feed pulses to your ignition system and oil is not good for the insulation on the wiring.

 

Thank u will check it out