Motorcycle Repair: 86-shadow engine oil leak- more info, engine oil leak, worn piston rings

Question
Hi Bill- I ordered the #23 seal on the crankcase parts diagram and the rubber seal for the slave cylinder end of the clutch pushrod
The new question is- how to I get to the inner clutch pushrod seal??-
remove side case without needing to remove clutch? or is it from the right hand side? the honda tech said it was mandatory to replace that inner seal if the engine oil comes out the channel behind the slave as it did!
but has not offered install advice ~

Anyone looked at/used the clymer repair book??- I have the other one,, and its written more at a `techs level,` of already knowing the bike-
I need a `shadow maitenance and repair for near dummies`~ book
Anyone?

Whoever has done this seal replacement please email me with words of advice!
thanks to all who help here


Answer
Tom,
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-vt1100c-shadow-1100-1986-us_model7623/partslist/E++10...
It goes in where the 3 bolt hole recess is for the slave cylinder. In most cases, oil seals can be removed and replaced without removal of the engine cases. The seal recess may not have a stop ledge, so over- exertion may drive it all the way into the engine cases. It just needs to be flush with the case surface and no more. If there is a shoulder in the seal recess hole, then that is where it stops.

The seal is to prevent oil from escaping past the pushrod #17 on
http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-vt1100c-shadow-1100-1986-us_model7623/partslist/E++07...

If the bike has a lot of miles on it, there may be excessive blow-by in the crankcases, adding to the oil leak woes. Ensure that the whole engine crankcase breather system is open, cleaned and functioning to its normal capabilities. A collapsed hose or backed up overflow tube, can exacerbate the condition. An engine with many miles and worn piston rings will only worsen with time, causing more leaks at seals and gaskets.

There are websites devoted to Honda Shadows and they may be a greater source of information. If you have the shop manual and can't decipher it, you may want to hire some help. Seal removal may require a hook tool to assist in removal. Seals can often be started by hand, once oiled up a bit. Use of a large socket.. bigger than the OD of the seal can help seat the seal to the proper depth when working in a recessed area. You can put the socket on an extension backwards, so that the flat surface of the socket is being used as a driver for the seal installation.

Bill Silver