perhaps the most basic newbie question!perhaps the most basic newbie question!Hello everyone;
Please don't flame me! I'm new to the motorcycle world, and am refurbishing a 1966 CB77 as my first foray into the world of bikes. I have what I am hoping is a simple newbie-type question that might even make some of you laugh! I had the engine out of the frame to re-build the top end, and just re-installed it this afternoon. As part of that process, I had both side covers off the lower end, and still have them off. I received the bike without any motor oil in it at all. I poured some oil in the fill hole, and after about a quart, I had puddle forming right under the gear-change post, I moved the bike a few feet, and more oil leaked out somewhere just in front of the clutch plate assembly. Is this a normal occurrence, that normally doesn't happen to folks with a clue who re-install the left-side engine cover before filling the thing with oil? Or do I have a leak(s) that I need to track down and address? Hopefully, the oil is simply traveling through the holes designed to feed oil into the left side area. Thanks in advance! Steveo (newbie!)
Most Japanese bikes have "wet clutches", i.e., the clutch runs in oil. This is why there is a gasket for the left cover. The right cover has no oil behind it - no gasket. The top and bottom engine cases have no gasket [due to all the bearing bore tolerances], but are sealed against oil leaks with a sealer.
A shop manual and parts manual will be a great help to you, especially since you are new to bikes - they eliminate a lot of head scratching [and subsequent hair loss]. Take your time, study manuals, ask questions here. Remember that these engines are aluminum, and bolts/screws must be tightened with a lot less torque than a cast iron automobile engines, hence the torque values in the manual. Over-tightening will strip aluminum threads, and will then require a thread repair, such as a Heli-Coil. Hope this helps.
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