Advice on oil leak at head bolt

[T. Cotten]

...I never did find where it was coming from, but it’s gone now!..

So you just took it all the way apart and put it back together, Harry,..

And the gremlin jumped out?

Happens all the time.

....Cotten
PS: Sometimes I wonder if it isn't some raw gas too.
No matter what, the head gasket had to be compromised.

[pisten-bully]

So my questions are:
- What is this problem and how do I fix it?
- Can I leave this and ride the bike until the winter, or is this something I need to address right away?

I’ve had this and waited until the season’s over to address it without a problem. It’s not a lot of oil and the source is the big question. Air flow around the fins and the top of the motor can make a drip of oil be deposited far from the leak. Check your oil level in the tank always (before you go out and when you gas up) and make a note of oil consumption.

I never did find where it was coming from, but it’s gone now!

[Lipdog]

Are your sparkplugs oily, Lipdog?

....Cotten
PS: Your headgaskets can be checked with soapy water, especially over the intake ports, and all you have to do is kick it. (But headgaskets don't make oil unless they suck air enough to burn your rings.)

Plugs look good. Tan/grey and bone dry but with a bit of carbon on the outside ring near the threads. I just sprayed some soapy water on the gaskets and kicked it. They look solid, no bubbles.

[T. Cotten]

Are your sparkplugs oily, Lipdog?

....Cotten
PS: Your headgaskets can be checked with soapy water, especially over the intake ports, and all you have to do is kick it. (But headgaskets don't make oil unless they suck air enough to burn your rings.)

[PanheadFred1]

I'm interested in the answer too.

[Lipdog]

Two of my head bolts seem to be seeping oil after a ride (50 mi today). The first photo below is the rear head, the next one is the front head, and the last a close up of the same one that's seeping on the front head (the one that is used for the upper engine mount). I torqued the bolts when I replaced the gas tanks a few months ago, and the (copper) head gaskets seem to be solid around the perimeter and I don't see any signs of head gasket leaks at the gaskets. At first I thought it was oil that dripped from the Kiwi quick drain and residue from a gas leak I fixed, but it appears it's coming from a couple of the head bolts. I'm a little stumped because, as I understand it, no oil flows through a flattie head. I've been fine tuning the carb and the bike runs great, btw.

So my questions are:
- What is this problem and how do I fix it?
- Can I leave this and ride the bike until the winter, or is this something I need to address right away?