Oil is leaking from my primary chain inspection plate, even after I replace the gasket. I don’t want to over tighten for fear of stripping the screws; I also know that the oil is at the right level, any suggestions?

 

Usually when you run into this situation , it is caused by the overtightening of the bolts at some point and the fix is to remove the plate and put it your work bench and check across it with a straight edge and lightly tap down the areas around the bolt holes where you will find they are puckered up from the overtightening in the past. Doesn't take much to leak as you will see with the straight edge. Do it gently till you get the plate as flat as you can and reinstall it. Tap from the side that would be the inside of the cover placing the good side down on the bench, maybe using a thin towel/rag to protect the chrome .You generally will not distort tha plate enough to notice anything once re installed.

 

Mine used to leak. But I used silicone sealant on the gasket surface and the bolt threads. That stopped it.

 

Thanks for the suggestions; I’ll try them both. Ride safe and enjoy the ride.

 

A good torque wrench is insurance that the bolts don't get overtightened again. Use it religiously and it will save from stripped threads as well. Torque specs are in the owner's manual I think and I know they're in the service manual.

 

u might want to put blue loctite thread blocker on the screw threads before reinstalling. my inspection cover had a small leak, and that solved my problem.

 

You want to use white loctite on a drain cover bolt if you are using any. The blue is the next stronger. The white is for oil fittings or drain bolts etc.