Motorcycle Repair: 85 Yamaha XT350 Comperssion release, xt 350, xt350

Question
I just purchased a 1985 XT 350, it leaks oil on the head from a bolt right above where the compression release valve is, this bolt is stripped, what can I do/need to do?  Thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Mike.

When you say the bolt is stripped, do you mean that the bolt head is stripped or the bolt threads are stripped?  Or do you mean that the bolt hole is stripped out?

Each issue has a fix.

Stripped bolt head;
 Drill out the center and use a bolt extractor to remove the bolt.  replace the bolt with a new one.

Stripped out bolt threads;
 Replace the bolt. Sorry, but that one is kind of obvious.

Stripped out bolt hole threads.  There are 2 fixes for this;
1) Helicoil the hole.

2) Rethread the hole with a tap set and replace the bolt with a new one of the correct (new) size.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON