Oil leak

[D-Fuzz]

Now that winter is here and I am spending my time shoveling snow, the Tiger has gone into the corner of the garage for its winter slumber.  With the temps cooling down, I have noticed a slight oil leak coming from the bike.  It appears to be coming for the LH side of the engine.  It first I thought it might be from the sprocket cover since I had changed the sprockets & chain this fall.  I drained the oil (did not drain/remove the filter) and resealed the sprocket cover.  I left the bike like that for a few days, without any oil in it, and I still found some leaking.  It isn't very much, just seems to collect on the fins of the bottom of the sump until a few drops start to fall.  I had a look at the LH side of the engine and it almost looks like seepage from the sump gasket.  I checked to make sure the bolts were all snug and there were no problems there.

Does anyone have any suggestions where to look?  I put over 10,000km on the bike this year and it never leaked a drop, it's just been since it has been parked and the weather cooled off.

[Mustang]

Like this ................

here's tigger two once it's been parked a while



and here's tigger 1 after it's asleep for the winter



don't worry about it unless you are looking at a lake of oil

and on another note tigger 3 which doesn't lean (hacked)has no oil under it
so you are probably correct in that it's the sump gasket

[rf9rider]

Have a looky here, some useful info about oil leaks

http://www.triumphrat.net/t3-sport-tour ... opsis.html (http://www.triumphrat.net/t3-sport-touring-forum/131953-side-cover-area-oil-leak-synopsis.html)

[D-Fuzz]

Yep, that is it exactly.  I'm thinking with the temps going down, the metal shrinks a bit, just enough for it to weep.  During the summer when it's warm and the bike is being run most days, things likely tighten up.  I guess it is British, so I should expect it.  I'll just keep a rag under it, so it doesn't mess up the floor.

[intotheabis]

I just found the same thing on my 98 Tiger. Looks like its coming from the water pump O-ring that seals the shaft going into the motor.
I will clean it up and keep an eye on it.

[D-Fuzz]

I think my problem might have been a small crack in the fuel hose coming off the petcock.  I was working on my bike the other day and noticed it.  No much of a leak, but it was there.  I replaced the hose and the spots on my floor seem to have stopped.