Motorcycle Repair: oil leak 1982 650 xj maxim, pan gasket, filter lines

Question
I have a1982 Yamaha 650 xj maxim, I noticed my bike once it starts it sprays and drips oil from the bottom of the engine.  There seems to be 4 holes on the bottom and its coming from one,  its caked with black stuff and sprays out small black oil I believe.  Is that a seal that's busted? Or something worse?. Please help me out! Thanks!

Answer
Hi Brendan,

It sounds like it shouldn't
be anything too serious but
if it is spraying out with some pressure
it might be either a bad o-ring
on the oil filter cover or a drain
plug gasket or the bottom oil pan
gasket. I would suggest checking
the oil fiter o-rings and then
draining the oil and checking the
drain plug gasket and the oil pan
cover gasket for problems.
All these gaskets are cheap and just
require some work to clean and replace.
Also check the oil filter lines for
bad o-rings where they bolt on.
It should not be anything too hard
to check and replace.
Let me know if you have any follow up
questions.

Good luck!
Wayne S.
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