'81 750k is oil supposed to be in left case cover?

[Cricket]

I was doing a static timing test. When I removed the left side ignition cover oil came out. Not just a little either. Is oil supposed to be in here?

Thanks,
Jimbo

[Rick V]

If you are talking about the crank cover with the smaller round cover screwed to it,then the answer is yes.If you are talking about the sprocket cover ,then the answer is no.

[Cricket]

Hey Rick,

I'm talking about the cover to the pulse generator. The little round cover that fits to what the clymer book calls the left-hand case cover which contains the "spark advancer" unit and "starter driven gear", etc.

When you said sprocket, if you meant countershaft sprocket, then no. I actually had that off recently to replace my chain and it was dry.

Jimbo

[Cricket]

Well, I timed it with the stroboscope and all was well even though the bottom of the starter gear was sitting in oil. At 6k rpm, oil was spitting out of the cover (it was the fastest timing reading I've ever done) but nothing too awful.

Next job shim #4 intake valves and then carb sync.

[PerryJLund]

This is funny - I logged on to ask this same question!

what if there isn't oil in there, and there is plenty of oil otherwise?  If my bike has been sitting on the center stand for a while, will oil drian from the left case (starter clutch)?  thanks

[Cricket]

Perry,

I will tell you that there was only a wet film of oil in the bottom of the left-hand case (the case that holds the starter gear stuff) when I put it up on the center stand.

But when I started up the bike I could see oil coming from behind the starter gear (at or near where the crank shaft is). The oil in the bottom of the case came up to just submerge the teeth at the lowest point of the starter gear and then stayed at that level. I assume because of the flow through the drain hole, which is based on the weight of the oil combined with size of the drain hole (fluid mechanics type stuff).

Take the cover off and fire it up. See if you get oil coming into the starter case. You should be ok as long as you have some kind of flow.

If you don't then I would think you have blockage in the oil passage between the crankcase and your left-hand case cover. The good news is it should be easy to check by removing the l-h case cover without having to crack the cases. You should be able to remove the spark advancer, starter clutch and starter gear fairly easily (without any special tools) and get a good look at everything coming out of or going into the left side of the crankcase.

Let me know how it goes,
Jimbo

[PerryJLund]

Thanks.

I just bought an 81 750C as a parts bike, it still runs great.  I had that one sitting on its center stand and when I tool off the left side cover, there was a film of oil, as you said.  I had my original bike (1980) sitting on its side stand and when I took that side cover off I spilled about a quart of oil. Most of it got in the jar I grabbed, but enough got on the floor to make a mess!  

Because they were so different I thought one of them must be wrong, then I wondered if having them on different stands explainesd it. I couldn't find a description of oil flow in either my Clymer's or shop manual.

Do you think both of them are OK?

Perry

[Cricket]

I did the same thing. The clymer said put it on the center stand, I didn't have one at the time so I left it on the kick stand and then took the cover off. I'd say at least a quart of oil ran out... I was freakin' out!

The clymer doesn't say anything about the oil (unless they say "drain it" in the engine disassembly section).

Anyway, from what you've told me, we can't say anything is wrong with either one. They did just what would be expected, but a quick test will give you piece of mind (and a chance to check your timing).

Get them both up on their center stands (or at least standing upright), put a drain pan under one of them and remove the cover (a little oil might dribble out). Start it up and see what happens. Should be some oil drops splashing out, but I'm sure I lost less than an ounce and I had it running for 20 minutes or so, plus ran it up to 6k rpm to check the advanced timing.

Anyway, if oil comes in around the bottom of the starter gear's teeth but doesn't over flow the case, then you're good. Do it to the other bike.

If either overflows and/or doesn't pool oil then you've got a flow problem. However, I doubt you'll see either based on what you told me.

[PerryJLund]

thanks. I think you're right, and checking it that way sounds like a good idea.

[genesound]

There is supposed to be oil in there. It will run out when on the sidestand, but just drip when on the centerstand.

I've never seen the ignition timing go bad on one of these motors, being direct on the crank.

[Cricket]

Thanks Gene,

I haven't heard back from Perry, but as for my machine, the timing (idle and advanced) was perfect.

It was something I had to do in order to get to the rest of the tune up (particularly carb sync). Knowing the oil is supposed to be there made the process much more pleasant.

I'd like to never have to do the dynamic timing again, but because the Clymer manual wrote a whole section on the spark advancer, I'll probably do it at the beginning of each season out of diligence.

Thanks to guys like you on this forum for letting us newer Honda owners know what to expect.

Jimbo