Checked MCCT a couple of days back. When the plugs where pulled, saw that they had a wet look all over the plug. Not on the insulator, but the threads and such.

Bike has always been fairly hard to start, takes a few turns of the starter to get going, and then it sits on 2 then 3 then finally 4 cylinders, at which point I can let go of the starter...always dies if I let it go earlier.

The bike also very slowly consumes oil. After about 4000kms I have to give it a small top up. Maybe 300 odd ml's, never measured it.

So whats this sound like? Valve seals? :dunno


Edit: Running NGK Iridium plugs, CR9E, gap all good. I also got some pics, so I'll get them up as soon as.

You should see evidence of valve guide seals leaking on the stems.
Is there oil pooling in the spark plug wells? Remove the plugs and look down the well with a flashlight, it should be dry, if not, likely the rubber seals around the wells need replacing.

You should see evidence of valve guide seals leaking on the stems.
Is there oil pooling in the spark plug wells? Remove the plugs and look down the well with a flashlight, it should be dry, if not, likely the rubber seals around the wells need replacing.

I do remember looking down the inlet and seeing what I can only describe as some "shite" on the valves. That's not very helpful, but yeh.

Oil pooling in the wells? While I was doing the work, I couldn't see anything. I plugged them while faffing round with some other things to stop anything dropping into the cylinder, and the cloth I used came out clean.

Well, that is a tolerable oil loss.
Not uncommon at all to have oil on threads.

The bike also very slowly consumes oil. After about 4000kms I have to give it a small top up. Maybe 300 odd ml's, never measured it.

So whats this sound like? Valve seals? :dunno


Edit: Running NGK Iridium plugs, CR9E, gap all good. I also got some pics, so I'll get them up as soon as.

300ml per 4000 km? I wouldn't bother doing anything unless you have other issues as well (like if you see massive smoke after start up)

Just FYI, CR9E plugs aren't iridium, the iridium ones are called CR9EIX

Well, that is a tolerable oil loss.
Not uncommon at all to have oil on threads.

So is it much of a problem? Do you look at replacing the seals as soon as they leak, or when the leak is real bad?

All 4 plugs looking wet, hard starting and consuming a small amount of oil.
Doesn't smoke while running either.

300ml per 4000 km? I wouldn't bother doing anything unless you have other issues as well (like if you see massive smoke after start up)

Just FYI, CR9E plugs aren't iridium, the iridium ones are called CR9EIX

Nono, I just didnt put the IX on the end as I said Iridium previously :lol

As above, no smoke. Just wasn't too sure about it. I've just done an oil change a few hundred kms ago, so I'll keep an eye on it and measure what I put in.

And old mechanics trick was to run some atf in the (cars) oil to rejuvenate drying valve guide seals and alike.
Marvel mystery oil may be the modern day equivalent of using atf in the oil though.
The only adverse effect I can thing of is it's effect on the clutch plates as I can not say with any certainty if it will effect them.