Oil leak from points cover.CB550.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I'm not certain, you might be able to source a seal of the right size without the lip, reading the links on that old thread.

[andy120t]

I certainly don't want to see split the engine...but first thing will be to identify the leak and assess from there. Thanks for the links - interesting reading and it looks like some have fitted seals, where required, without major surgery.

[Johnny4428]

Oops Sorry Steve it was on a 550 thread! 😜

[Oddjob]

Remove the points plate and you can see the crank seal, as TSD has said it's normally a split the cases job to replace, that's because it's lipped on it's outer edge. First off you need to make sure it's that that is leaking, it could be the crankcase sealing itself. You could possibly get away with removing the seal, if it is that, and removing the lip off a new seal and driving it into place, it may work and for the cost of a new seal it may be worth trying first. However that's not without it's risks, the seal is very close to the crank shells and if you hit those you're in a lot of trouble. It has been done though.

Thought we had a thread on this in the anals of forum. Recall as a successful replacement in situ, but could be wrong 

There was Nigel, I remember it well but I've just done a search and nothing comes up. I remember whoever tried it used two self tapping screws drilled into the face of the seal to pull it out. They removed the lip of the new seal when replaceing it. I have no idea if it was a success though.

That's exactly how I remembered it being done, but then I self doubted and wondered if it was perhaps the output seal being done that way, but that has no lip. I do recall it working though so maybe worth considering.

[Robert W]

The seal can be done without splitting the cases even though it is lipped. Lube it up and drive it in with a proper sized socket.

[Robert W]

The seal can be done without splitting the cases. Just have to lube it up with grease and with a proper drift, knock it in. The chamfer on the case allows it to go in without too much trouble and without ripping the lip off.

[Johnny4428]

That’s great to know it can be done without splitting engine or even having to remove engine from frame. Although if it’s an unknown engine it’s good to have a look inside to see what horrors lurk! But the old saying don’t fix it if it ain’t broke stands up well too!😜