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| The Honda CA95 / Benly 150 Restoration The little brother to the CA160 in our family of Hondas |
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#1
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Oil Level Question
Hi Everyone:
After my first ride to work (approx 50 mile round trip) there was a small pool of oil about three inches across under the dynamo side of the engine I figured I had a bad seal. I've been keeping an eye on the oil level and it is unchanged. I did the same ride to work last Friday and had no puddle the following morning. Did I originally have the crankcase overfilled and it blew out the excess? Did some new seal miraculously break itself in during the first hundred miles or so? It has been my experience that when a seal leaks, it keeps leaking. I figure this Old Honda Restoration is a pretty obscure hobby because there is no magazine for it nor a reality tv show about it. 
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#2
06-02-2013, 12:00 PM
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[there is no magazine for it nor a reality tv show about it]
You don't need a magazine or TV show Steve, you have us.  There are two seals in there and the inner one keeps most of the oil in the motor. However, there is a small hole in the case above the inner seal that lets a little oil through to lubricate the starter gear wheel. In turn the starter gear wheel runs in the second or outer of the two seals and keeps most of the the oil that is allowed through in there. Any oil that does get through is what escapes through the gear wheel itself. Nothing to worry about. Sam. 
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#3
06-02-2013, 12:24 PM
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If the bike keeps dripping oil, you can just tell your friends that it's an old British bike. (Sorry, Sam).
Are you sure the 3-inch puddle was from your Honda? Did you lube your chain before that first long ride, and could that puddle have come from excess chain lube dripping from that side of the engine? Are you able to detect oil on the engine by wiping with a paper towel? The cam chain is also on that side of the engine, so inspect where the head meets the cylinder, or around the cam sprocket cover on the head. You could always pull the engine's left side cover and inspect for leaks. That side of the engine case should be dry, as opposed to the right side that has the wet clutch and the oil pump.
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#4
06-02-2013, 12:48 PM
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Mine has always leaked a bit through the starter sprocket seals. It's fine at the end of a ride but leaks out after a couple of hours. I changed all the seals but it still does it. It's worth checking your breather pipes are clear and it's not made worse by crankcase pressure but other than that I wouldn't worry about it. It's not going to leak enough for you to run out of oil on a run.
Been a while sine i had it apart but i pretty sure the hole drains any oil back that gets through the first seal back into the sump. Nige
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#5
06-02-2013, 02:24 PM
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I agree Nige that new seals don't make the problem go away.
As my race motors don't run the starter gear, I run two inner seals with the hole blocked off and still have seepage. This might sound ridiculous but over time, the rubber seal really can wear a grove in the crank. I thought that the after market seals that I use might not be quite to the same tolerance of the Honda ones but they were. Although you can't see it or feel it with your finger, with the right equipment it is measurable. Sam.
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#6
06-02-2013, 02:28 PM
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Been a while sine i had it apart but i pretty sure the hole drains any oil back that gets through the first seal back into the sump.
Nige, the hole that lets the oil out to lube the starter sprocket won't let the oil return through it as it is above the crank. Sam.
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#8
06-03-2013, 02:28 AM
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Quote:
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#9
06-03-2013, 06:49 AM
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What a great thread Steve. Ahhh oil leaks! Finding the exact source of a leak is like solving a puzzle. I'm curious how much oil is in the crankcase now that the oil has stopped leaking? It must have come from somewhere else than that seal -my thoughts anyways.
My favorite is when people see oil leaking from under their vehicle and simply think they can take it to a mechanic to tighten up the oil pan. Oil can leak from anywhere on anything. Oil seepage is normal on anything. How much you can live with is another thing. My good friend just put his Norton back together after replacing piston and rings. He was so happy when the bike started the second kick. But he was instantly crushed when the base gasket started leaking INSTANTLY. Haha I said "what are you talking about that's normal!" hahahaha poor guy. He sent the engine up to Raber's to get the treatment- larger head studs and surfacing. PS. I've been sick the last week. Physically sick and sick of looking for a house to buy. Which is where I've been.
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#10
06-03-2013, 01:16 PM
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Get better Ryan. And house shopping aint what it used to be.
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