Problem with '82 GPZ 550 leaking odd liquid

[reinhart_menken]

Hiya,

I've just recently acquired an '82 GPZ 550 a month ago. I've noticed this problem not long after I got it - it was leaking something; but my friend who was helping me to fix it up (since I'm not a mechanic and is a new rider) just sort of....shall we say, gave me the impression that it wasn't a big problem, so I didn't pay much attention to it.

After a while I show it to him again, and we took a better look at it. It seems to be leaking from somewhere around the transmission - a bolt on the side of the transmission (left) seems drenched in the liquid. The liquid is brownish, and yet it had the consistency of gas or water (flows easily and unlike consistency of oil).

He's worried that it might be a problem with the gas and oil mixing together, although he admits that the problem is out of his league (he's more familiar with other parts of a bike).

I haven't added any anti-freeze (someone told me it could be that leaking, but I haven't added any), and as far as I know, my bike is air-cooled and not liquid cooled (same person asked me about that too). Someone else told me it could be that I left it in the rain for too long and something's flooded (it rain a couple times here before I got around I getting a cover), but my friend rejected the notion because he said a bike doing 60 MPH in the rain would take more abuse than a bike just sitting.

I'd prefer it if we could get some advice on figuring out what's causing the leak and how to fix it, than taking it to a mechanic (here in NY it's expensive and I'm not rich). So, anyone with experience with these bikes have any ideas on what's wrong and how to fix it? (or how to figure out what's wrong)

I'm would really like not have to sell it and get another bike.

Thanks!

[RichLockyer]

Does it smell like gas or does it smell like oil?

[kopcicle]

This may seem odd on the surface but several of the crankcase bolts are subjected to significant oil pressure within their length . If my gray matter hasn't deteriorated completely you are probably looking at case bolt around the counter shaft . One or all three of these 6 x 95mm bolts had copper washers under the bolt head flange (integral washer type) . Try carefully removing the offending bolt , cleaning the threads in the case with solvent and air pressure , installing an annealed copper washer and retorquing to spec . Better if you can post a pic of the offending bolt .
Then again I might have had too many drugs in the 70's . In that case disregard and have a nice day .

[reinhart_menken]

Pictures added : Pic1 Pic2 (larger) If you need a picture that encompasses a larger part of the bike so you can see where the bolt is in relation to the bike, do let me know.

I think it smells like gas, since I also (not based on that, just "also") think it smells like the gas station. I smelled my left over bottle of oil that I recently used to add in there, and I could hardly smell it - well, the smell is less poignant than oil.

Thanks!

[kopcicle]

just a thought ,are there lines hooked up to your carb overflow nipples ? If not no matter , this still applies . That area tends to colect any and all that comes off your chain as its thrown off the chain and onto the sgift shaft and tends to make a small mess . A larger leak would indicate a shift shaft seal . And last but not least I have seen water in amounts large enough to freeze and split a frame sneak in there and escape from a frame or motor mount bolt . hope this helps .