Alright. So I've got some questions related to my buddies bike.  It seemed like a great deal when we were out looking at it, and decided to buy it.

2 months later I'm questioning myself on whether or not my support of him buying it was a good idea.  I've taken some pictures, and spent the last few days laid up in bed after bad clams (never a good idea in the desert, no matter what I tell myself. >< ) had been reading the forums and putting together a list of things I feel I should address.

The bike is a 2012 S40, from what I can tell completely stock.  I have replaced the muffler with a Dyna because the previous owner hacked off the end of the stock one, and pulled the baffles. It was loud, and we kinda respect out neighbors here. We are about a mile up in the mountains in central NM (ABQ, essentially).

I have not done the Raptor petcock yet, but it is sitting in the garage on my work bench ready for this weekend I think, because it has some weird fuel delivery issues, and will occasionally smell like fuel. The other day it died on him turning a corner (with the stock petcock set to reserve) and did not want to restart after switching it back to on. It finally did, and ran rough the last mile to his job. Restarted fine about an hour later with the choke on, and idled fine. Drove him home 7 hours later with zero issues. I did buy a genuine Yamaha Raptor part.


Other than the muffler I did, there are no modifications or upgrades to the bike.  It was clean when we bought it, and supposedly had I thought about 4k miles. When we got the title, it said about 12k miles *(or so, I don't recall exactly) and it was explained it was a mistype from the dealership.  I accepted that because it was a clear, clean original title, FROM the dealership. Naturally this blew up backwards when we went to register and now it's a not actual mileage title. Live and learn, I guess. Moving on.

However, I am noticing oil under the header pipe; not coming FROM the header pipe or exhaust area, but from the bolt beneath it. I took some pictures to clarify what I'm talking about; It doesn't seem to be a flow of oil, but there is definitely oil coming from somewhere.

I have sent an email about the Verslavy mod, because I can clearly see it's something that isn't really an option, but a need for this bike. I will do the oil plug as well. What I'm wondering most is where this oil is coming from, and what I need to do to fix it. *edit* and I have gotten a reply.  I'm just putting money together.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VxxKhIeVGI2W6Q5SsfOIrxMqKoqZMtvr/view?usp=shari
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W-9060OPn4TyqeH7sRXoNNVdrMo_7QJg/view?usp=shari
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And a picture of the bike

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W-S7bQmgrbqndH1Z1OGS3DdMRfZ9OQTI/view?usp=shari
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It did not look like it had 12xxx miles on it, so for 2200 dollars, we thought he was doing great.

Thanks ahead of time, and I'm sure I'll be spending plenty of time here, hahah.

I hope the google image links work.

It sure looks like a head plug leak to me. There is a slight possibility of the nut under the exhaust being loose. You could try tightening it a bit but be careful not to over tighten it. Clean the oil off the head thoroughly before you try to identify the leak.

I think you will be having a conversation with Mr Verslagen before it is all over. It is not a very big deal to repair.

Be sure to let us all know how it turns out.

DragBikeMike wrote on 07/11/20 at 11:47:34:



Thank for the reply!  He really likes this bike considering his first one was a Kawasaki Eliminator 125, and he's 6' 230, and that's what he's been riding for a year and a ... half or so.

I did lots of reading and looking; and other peoples leaks for the head plug did not seem to match up with this one, and that's initially what made me anxious it could be bad. I did take a picture up in that port before, but I didn't post it. Here it is now.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W-puXwHC9f9KmjiUADuUSjph99vVF_tt/view?usp=shari
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It's really clean up in there, and that made me think it WASN'T the head plug. So here I am, haha.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/11/20 at 12:41:46:



I forgot to mention he HAS been riding it; for a couple months. It's USUALLY without issue. There was one morning when it was a reallllllly rough start and idle, and blew blue smoke like no tomorrow (it was WAAAAAY rich) The rest of that ride and day he had no issues with it, and it has not done that since.   It seems to run flawlessly otherwise. He and I have gone on some rides and it definitely pulls and doesn't seem to have issues really. It's just these weird things that I see and make me say "hmmm I should do these maintenance things" petcock, and what not.

I have to pull the left (sitting on the bike) side to check the tensioner, right? Do I need to buy a specific gasket for that, or can I use RTV?


*edit* thanks for reminding me about the cardboard! I had seen that when I was reading something else and I'd meant to make a note of it; I'd have totally forgotten if you hadn't. I'm 36 and still don't make templates. XD

That nut under the exhaust can leak.  I believe it comes from the right rear of the cylinder where the oil supply pumps up to the head.  The oil can evidently move in between the head gasket plies, and seep out that nut.

Remove the nut, clean the oil off the nut and stud - then apply a small amount of sealer under the nut.....and get a little bit on the threads as well.

Then forget about it!

Dave wrote on 07/11/20 at 17:34:26:


It really seems like you all think alike; the oil that is there seems to come ONLY from the nut/stud/bolt that is there, and no where else. Everywhere else it is seems to be just what's blown from him riding.

I'm gonna get into it tomorrow, and see if I can look at the adjuster while I'm doing things.

I'll keep everyone posted!

I'm nearly positive I almost bought that bike a few months ago for a trip home across the country. Somebody snatched it out from under me and I wound up buying a 2009 s40 up in Denver! Small world