well, I musta screwed somethin up....

Posted by dave Esch on Jun 16, 2011; 1:38am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/well-I-musta-screwed-somethin-up-tp3070325.html

As many of you know I just did a complete engine rebuild on my 76 k. I got the brake caliper seal and reassembled this afternoon. Finally after months of work I went out on a maiden voyage. I started it up and realized that, just like before the build, I had a misfire. #2 and 3 exhaust pipes were warm to the touch after 3 minutes of nursed idle. I popped the cables off the spark plug and received shocks from both. I started it back up and #3 fired but #1 quit. I shut it down. I gave it a look over, started it again and #2 fired but #1 still didn't. My neighbor came over and we discussed the issue. I started it again and all 4 cylinders fired. So I went for a ride. The power compared to last year was amazing. This bike never pulled that hard for me. I went to the corner (about 10 houses down) and came home to adjust the brakes. That's when I saw the oil leak. It's massive. About a drip every half second or so. The leak is directly over the #1 spark plug. If you look at the valve cover, it would be directly under the 7 that's stamped 750 on the top of the cover. It's dripping straight down into the chamber that holds the plug. So the motor has to come back out again. I am praying the head isn't cracked and it's just a gasket, o-ring or torque issue. I doubt it's torque though as I followed the manual precisely. A leak that bad though, I assume the head split. I have started and ran the bike 4 or 5 times before today and never had any oil leaks. I'm so bummed.