Honda BF2.3 oil leak

[eddystone]

My Honda has an oil leak - it seeps down the leg and collects on the bottom. However when I look at the oil level it aways seems to be at or above the mark. Any obvious things to check?

 

[jamie N]

A weep from the drain plug?

 

[Sailingman111]

My Honda has an oil leak - it seeps down the leg and collects on the bottom. However when I look at the oil level it aways seems to be at or above the mark. Any obvious things to check?

Hi
There are 2 oil reservoirs.
One for the main engine.
One for the "bottom end" where the (vertical) prop shaft has a bevel gear, and transfers the energy from vertical to horizontal.
The bottom end has 2 bolts holding the plate in place, and there is a gasket between the plate and the bottom.of the leg.
It's possible your gasket on this lower end is leaking.
If it is , you can always get some gasket card and replace it yourself.

 

[eddystone]

It’s coming from the top end - I will check the drain plug

 

[VicS]

It’s coming from the top end - I will check the drain plug

Not the result of laying the engine down incorrectly , I suppose ?

 

[eddystone]

Not drain plug

Not the result of laying the engine down incorrectly , I suppose ?

That would just cause it to leak after the "misuse" event wouldn't it, rather than ongoing seepage?

 

[Keith-i]

We had a similar leak which turned out to be valve cover. They’re made of thin steel and corrode easily.

 

[jamie N]

Breather pipe? Possible slight overfill?

 

[miked259]

Just picking up on this thread - I had some dark oily streaks appearing down the leg, and it looks a lot like thinned grease that sits in the ‘swivel’ area. I wondered if it was a bit of fuel leaking from the carb and thinning down the grease.

I’m hoping it’s not the drain plug, as that has seized solid, and I’m now resorting to using the fill plug for draining!

 

[Steve65]

HI , everyone here has listed correctly the main issues.
Usual culprit as Keith has said is a corroded rocker cover.
PS I have been reported for adverising on the forum again , if anyone is wondering where all of my float bowl messsges have gone to

 

[miked259]

HI , everyone here has listed correctly the main issues.
Usual culprit as Keith has said is a corroded rocker cover.
PS I have been reported for adverising on the forum again , if anyone is wondering where all of my float bowl messsges have gone to

Just in case this is the issue with mine, is it possible to replace the rocker cover without removing the whole power head?

 

[Steve65]

I wouldnt recommend it. The lower bolts heads will be corroded and hard to reach and do tend to break

 

[miked259]

I wouldnt recommend it. The lower bolts heads will be corroded and hard to reach and do tend to break

Oh well - I’d better hope that it’s not the rocker cover then!

Unless it’s a relatively straightforward job?

 

[Steve65]

Yes easy enough, If you do have to do it , its important you reset rocker clearances, they do neez doing on these fairly regularly and are included in a major service.
I dont know any main dealers that do it as its a faff

 

[miked259]

Yes easy enough, If you do have to do it , its important you reset rocker clearances, they do neez doing on these fairly regularly and are included in a major service.
I dont know any main dealers that do it as its a faff

Thanks - do you know if there’s a guide to doing this on the internet?

Also, it looks like I’m still ‘locked down’ as a new member ref using DMs. I can’t find anything on the forums which confirms what I need to do to get this lifted.