XR628 HRC related - Question to the Gurus here

[rmhrc630]

Many will know I have a HRC engined XR600. Recently I fitted electric start.

I made sure the mech used only genuine Honda gaskets (I insisted)

Now what I have is a small problem.

The are oil "weeps" down near the lower front engine mount. It's nothing major and I'm not worried.

My question is what would cause these weeps? The engine was completely dismantled and reassembled with oem gaskets.

Incidentially it holds about 3 litres of oil becuase it has an extra oil cooler.

Would it be possible that the mech overfilled it with oil? That does not seem to be the case as there is no smoke blowing out and the thing runs like a champ.

I've attached a picture of where it's seeping most: (picture bit blurry but taken from right hand side)

[XR6's_rule]

Bugger mate, your pic defintely is a bit blurry (!) but it looks to me as if the beast's oil weep is coming from the cylinder base gasket, this isnt anything major to worry about with a four-stroke. A friend of mine has a '96 XR6 which is running a wiseco 11:1 628 kit and it has a little oil weep like this except not as bad. The XR6 engine generates a lot of crankcase pressure at the best of times but when you jam a big slug in it magnifies this, this is my theory as to why it would've leaked, unless the barrel and head bolts werent torqued evenly with a torque wrench when re-assembled (they need to be).

[rebelventurer]

I agree the pic is definately blurry, and also its the base gasket, and also that the bolts need to be torqued evenly, I am a big fan of cometic gaskets, they seem to seal under high pressures better than the oem stuff, and thats what you have here. Definately check your crankcase breather to make sure the hose is not pinched.

[rmhrc630]

Thanks Gurus!!!

[XR4DEZ]

You spent money to have a pro fix it, have him fix it right.

[rmhrc630]

You spent money to have a pro fix it, have him fix it right.

True I did XR4 but he also helped me convert it to estart and overcome all the issues.

Spoke to a few others and they all agre with you guys - breather probably

[mickoz]

Hi rmhrc630, A bit off topic but I was curious which type of engine oil you are running in your bike?

Thanks Mick

[rmhrc630]

Hi rmhrc630, A bit off topic but I was curious which type of engine oil you are running in your bike?

Thanks Mick

hey mick

I just run heavy grade diesel!!!

nah - motul I think

[mickoz]

hey mick

I just run heavy grade diesel!!!

nah - motul I think

Almost fell off my chair when I read the first line of that reply.

Reason I ask is I just brought a 1996 XR600. Its been about 9 years since Ive owned one these.(Had a new 97 model sold it in 98)

I cant remember what oil I used to use all I know that it was shell.

So i was curious as to what oil you guys are running, synth or semi synth etc.

My last bike was a KTM520exc about 2.5 years ago. Had Husky 610te and a cr250 before that. People think Im going crazy going back to a 600R. I tell them why I like the XR but they just dont get it.

Mick

[XR4DEZ]

Mine never dripped, leaked or weeped in 20k miles, only thing I didn't have was the Estart. Let us know what fixes it.

[Beyond The Pale]

Almost fell off my chair when I read the first line of that reply.

Reason I ask is I just brought a 1996 XR600. Its been about 9 years since Ive owned one these.(Had a new 97 model sold it in 98)

I cant remember what oil I used to use all I know that it was shell.

So i was curious as to what oil you guys are running, synth or semi synth etc.

My last bike was a KTM520exc about 2.5 years ago. Had Husky 610te and a cr250 before that. People think Im going crazy going back to a 600R. I tell them why I like the XR but they just dont get it.

Mick

I wun the diesel oil too. Shell Rotella T.

[rmhrc630]

I wun the diesel oil too. Shell Rotella T.

Hey Cleonard thought you'd chirp on in with the seepage issue I had.

We dont get get rotella down here - which really sux becuase all the smart guys in the CRF forum run it and rave about it.

Shell Australia seem a lot more backward compared to Shell NA.

For the record I run motul full syn - my mech does the oil changes so leave it to him.

[XR6's_rule]

Almost fell off my chair when I read the first line of that reply.

Reason I ask is I just brought a 1996 XR600. Its been about 9 years since Ive owned one these.(Had a new 97 model sold it in 98)

I cant remember what oil I used to use all I know that it was shell.

So i was curious as to what oil you guys are running, synth or semi synth etc.

My last bike was a KTM520exc about 2.5 years ago. Had Husky 610te and a cr250 before that. People think Im going crazy going back to a 600R. I tell them why I like the XR but they just dont get it.

Mick

I can see where you're coming from here mate! I ride an '06 CRF450R mostly but also own 2 XR6's and I tell you they are still soo much fun to ride I could never sell them! For the record, the best oil i have used is Shell VSX4, if you're broke you could use the SX4 but you'd need to change it more often. Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Mark.

[mickoz]

I can see where you're coming from here mate! I ride an '06 CRF450R mostly but also own 2 XR6's and I tell you they are still soo much fun to ride I could never sell them! For the record, the best oil i have used is Shell VSX4, if you're broke you could use the SX4 but you'd need to change it more often. Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Mark.

Thanks for the reply Mark. I'll give the VSX4 a go.

[mickoz]

Hey Cleonard thought you'd chirp on in with the seepage issue I had.

For the record I run motul full syn - my mech does the oil changes so leave it to him.

Thanks for the reply

Just curious rmhrc628,Did you do all the work to your bike? It would have to be the most modded XR Ive seen.

If so why would you have someone else do the oil changes.

[Beyond The Pale]

Hey Cleonard thought you'd chirp on in with the seepage issue I had.

I would if I could tell you what to do. My 600 is leaking like a British sports car. I blast mine with a pressure washer to clean it when it gets too bad.I'm about to rip mine apart to try and stop it.

Conventional wisdom says it is either a bad gasket, or the gasket surfaces got damaged. It doesn't take much to allow for a leak. The easiest thing to do is use some sealer. There was a Honda product mentioned here a few weeks ago that I may try. Just be careful about it. Excess can break off inside the engine and do bad things in the oil passages.

The other strategy is to fix the gasket surfaces. Get something that is really flat and rigid. Glue some 1000 or so sandpaper to it. Put the gasket surface on there and lightly sand it a little.

[creeky]

I have done work on a number of XRs that were leaking from the base gasket. In about half of the cases, the leak was caused from someone having gouged and nicked the gasket surfaces while trying to remove the jug and didn't repair the damage. If you remove the jug and the gasket surfaces are damaged, usually a fine file will make the repair. If the damage is severe, you can fill the craters with JB Weld and file it smooth. In any event, while working on the engine with the jug off, take great pains to prevent foreign material from entering the crankcase.

[rmhrc630]

Thanks for the reply

Just curious rmhrc628,Did you do all the work to your bike? It would have to be the most modded XR Ive seen.

If so why would you have someone else do the oil changes.

Mate I'm not a mechanic's ahole - I really wouldnt know how to change the oil - fair dinkum!! I'd much rather have someone do he changes for me - plus I have a former HRC mechanic 10 minutes away!!!