Persistent timing cover oil leak

joshtjeerdsma · Oct 22, 2015

I have a leak that i cant seem to fix. The oil leaks at a steady drip/almost stream out of the hole where the ignition wires enter the back of timing cover. The oil leaks right onto my exhaust and smokes. I put a new points oil seal in and it didnt make a difference. Only leaks bad when the engine is running, faster at high rpms. Thanks for your help.

pete.v · Oct 22, 2015

Bowtoy70 said:
I have a leak that i cant seem to fix. The oil leaks at a steady drip/almost stream out of the hole where the ignition wires enter the back of timing cover. The oil leaks right onto my exhaust and smokes. I put a new points oil seal in and it didnt make a difference. Only leaks bad when the engine is running, faster at high rpms. Thanks for your help.

Your timing cover gasket is ruptured in that area. Although you could jam some silicone in from both ends, and people do this anyways to keep water out the point area, the proper thing to do is replace the gasket and pay attention to this area when sealing.

pete.v · Oct 22, 2015

Bowtoy70 said:
Only leaks bad when the engine is running, faster at high rpms. Thanks for your help.

I cannot help thinking that you may have too much crank pressure. Gooping up the ends of your wire tunnel is probably not a good idea for it would blow out on a good hard run. Look into a reed valve that most people now employ. This will be a new thread for sure.

Danno · Oct 22, 2015

Of all the recurring oil leaks I've fought over the years, the timing cover has NEVER been one of them. I agree that something is causing the timing case to either be overfilled and not draining properly or excess crankcase pressure is blowing oil out the ignition wire hole.

Primary chaincase, gearbox inner and outer, mainshaft seal, driveside mainseal, tachometer drive are most likely. Then shift shaft seal, kickstart seal, base gasket, even head gasket and crankcase split. But timing cover? Something's not right.

joshtjeerdsma · Oct 22, 2015

I am really wondering if it has to do with crankcase pressure now. Maybe if I can scrounge up enough pennies, Ill install the CNW breather before I put new seals in again.

pete.v · Oct 22, 2015

Danno said:
Of all the recurring oil leaks I've fought over the years, the timing cover has NEVER been one of them. I agree that something is causing the timing case to either be overfilled and not draining properly or excess crankcase pressure is blowing oil out the ignition wire hole.

Primary chaincase, gearbox inner and outer, mainshaft seal, driveside mainseal, tachometer drive are most likely. Then shift shaft seal, kickstart seal, base gasket, even head gasket and crankcase split. But timing cover? Something's not right.

It's not a mystery. This area is easily missed and if the gasket isn't just right it's easy to blow oil out onto the pipe and into the points area. Gooping around the fastener hole is a no brainer but that thin area around the wire tunnel is easy to miss.

Torontonian · Oct 23, 2015

Yup , pull the cover and fit a new gasket , not an old dried out one that's been sitting in a bin.. Fit a crankcase breather too. Ha.. no info on breathers .. ha. :?: