Kawasaki KLF 220 Bayou OIL leaking HELP!!

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

Hello i was wondering if someone could help me out iv recently got a Kawasaki klf 220 it needed big end bearing changing so i rebuilt the engine and the bike has compression starts first time every time but after i have been riding for about 10 minutes oil starts to leak from the head just below the exhaust so i replaced the gasket still done it so i took it to a shop he done the same and it is still doing it any information would be great thank you

[Frank Angerano]

Welcome to Quadcrazy.  
The top of the head has two valve adjustment caps. Have you checked them? They have small rubber rings underneath them they get flattened out and go bad. I would check them clean them off good put some silicone on them leave the gasket in place and bolt them back down.

When you rebuilt the engine im assuming you changed the valve stem seals ? 

Lastly is the valve cover itself. Have you checked it for any warps or dents where the gasket is not sealing the gap? This can be done by pulling the valve cover off and placing it on a flat surface and slide a piece of paper around the edges  to see if it slips under the cover at any point. 
 

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

the vale adjustment caps have 2 new o rings in them the oil inst coming from there . and yeah i changed the valve seals they is no oil on the valves and the bike inst burning oil .

I have not checked for warps  i know they is no dents or scratches is they anyway i can do this without replacing gaskets everytime

also is they anything i can do with a compression tester to see anything 

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by EoNe Frost Vortex

[Frank Angerano]

You could technically pull the spark plug wire off and crank the engine and spray the head down with windex to see if your getting bubbles or any substantial pressure out of any place but I don't think thats going to show much because its prob a low pressure leak. 
The crank case has a breather hose, have you checked that it's properly venting and not kinked or clogged? 
The only other way i have ever traced an oil leak that I could not see was using graphite or talcum powder. I literally squeezed the tube in the area of the smoke.   The powder sticks to the oil showing a trail.   

Now, aside from and before you do all this you can simply pull the valve cover off, apply a coat of high heat silicone on both sides of the gasket and re install and see if the problem stops.   If so its a warped valve cover. 
Let it dry 12 hours ! 
 

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

so if i get like some sort of clamp to clamp the head down manually see if that works ? 

also the compression on the quad its self is crazy good so it cant be rings or anything 

5 minutes ago, Frank Angerano said:

You could technically pull the spark plug wire off and crank the engine and spray the head down with windex to see if your getting bubbles or any substantial pressure out of any place but I don't think thats going to show much because its prob a low pressure leak. 
The crank case has a breather hose, have you checked that it's properly venting and not kinked or clogged? 
The only other way i have ever traced an oil leak that I could not see was using graphite or talcum powder. I literally squeezed the tube in the area of the smoke.   The powder sticks to the oil showing a trail.   

Now, aside from and before you do all this you can simply pull the valve cover off, apply a coat of high heat silicone on both sides of the gasket and re install and see if the problem stops.   If so its a warped valve cover. 
Let it dry 12 hours ! 
 

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by EoNe Frost Vortex

[Frank Angerano]

Pull the valve cover off and wipe everything down so there is no oil, apply high heat silicone on both sides of the gasket.  Put it all back together and tighten the bolts down in a crisscross pattern and let it dry good.  No clamps or anything.  
 

If rings are bad you would be blowing bluish smoke.  Same for valve seals.  

[MarkinAR]

I replaced all of the top end gaskets on a quad a while back and after about 5 rides it had blown the head gasket and was leaking oil around the valve covers.  The rubber in the orings was just weak and so they crushed when installing and it was leaking.  Ended up replacing most of the gaskets again with OEM and it had no issues.

[Frank Angerano]

I remember that one @MarkinAR. That sucked!! My bayou 220 had the same problem as the one on this topic.  I just pulled the valve cover and caps, added silicone and i was good to go.  
 

Quality gaskets are key in any rebuild! 

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

does anyone have a picture of the O ring yous are on about 

i also payed £25 for just on gasket 

Edited April 10, 2020 by EoNe Frost Vortex

[Frank Angerano]

Depends on the year.  Top of the engine and they look like the pics attached.   Should be two of them.   

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

ah yeah they are all new on the quad so you think i should put some RTV silicone around with the gasket 

[MarkinAR]

Yes, but go light so it doesn't end up with RTV in the head.  You'd be surprised how bad the orings are that come in pretty much all of the kits other than OEM.

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

yeah but the oil isnt  coming from that part of the head its coming from like the gasket part

 

[Frank Angerano]

EoNo if its coming from the gasket at the valve cover  then you have to listen to me and @MarkinAR. Pull the valve cover and add the silicone on both sides of the gasket.   If its coming from the head gasket you would not get a good compression reading like your saying.   

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

turns out my valves are covered in oil but the seals don't seem bad ?

[Frank Angerano]

It's possible the seals you got are bad or for the wrong year or make? 
Sucks but it happens.  

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

its a year 89 what do you recommend? 

[Frank Angerano]

Nothing to really recommend other then verifying that

1. The seals aren't defective.

2. They are the proper seals for that engine. 
3. You installed then properly. 
Ive made simple mistakes like not  seating the seals correctly. 

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

well i amuse they are the correct seals and im not certain i installed them correctly due to lack of videos on how to do it for that quad  

[EoNe Frost Vortex]

right i have another question sorry haha whats the best valve stem seals i should get ?

[Frank Angerano]

Honestly Tusk is good.  You may not have pushed them on all the way. 
Also check out partzilla.com as well.  They have OEM gasket kits that are good.