Motorcycle Repair: CB750 final drive shaft oil seal, barry carr, drive shaft

Question
Good Morning Chris. I have a 1978 Honda CB750K8 that is leaking oil past the final drive shaft oil seal located behind the final drive sprocket. Conversations with various bike friends suggest two ways to replace the seal. The first and easiest is removal and replacement of the seal from the outside of the crankcase. The second and more complex is to remove the engine and split the crankcase to facilitate the repair. I have two repair manuals, neither of which address this problem. Which fix is correct?
Thanks...Barry Carr

Answer
Hi Barry.

Unfortunately, knowing late 70's Hondas, the more complex solution is most likely the right one.  You can attempt the easier one, but I suspect that you will have to return to the more complex solution.

Sorry I cannot be more specific, but those details are pretty vague in almost every repair manual, unless they show an exploded diagram.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON