Oil Leak???

[Crossrodes]

Today I removed the rods that are used for the motor mounts on my '79.  When I removed one rod I noticed a fair bit of oil on it.  I always put some oil on the rod when I insert it bu not this much. I had noticed this before and a friend, a former bike mechanic,  told me that it was not unusual to see a crack in the case where the rod goes.   I'm not sure if he was kidding me and he died a couple of years ago so I can't ask him again.  I hadn't noticed any significant drop in oil level when I was running the bike last year.

Has anyone had any experience with a leak in the case where the rod fits?  Is it common?  

[nhmaf]

I've not experienced it, but it is possible that an oil leak long ago caused oil to seap in there, and it had no easy way to get out?

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I've never heard of this happening, but that means very little.

[Bob_Roller]

I would think that if the case was cracked, that the oil wouldn't stay contained in the area of the mount stud, it would be all over the engine and leave  oil on the floor under the bike .

[Semper Gumby]

There are two oil galley plugs on the LH side of the motor: one below and aft of the oil pressure sensor and one on the aft end of the LH side of the crank case next to the tranny.  These plugs block holes in the sides of the case where oil galleys are drilled during production.
These weep oil.  I'm told (By Nathan at Boxerworks-service.com) that there are extremely hard to remove and seal up again so I have lived with these two plugs weeping oil on the LH side of my 1980 motor.

A little goes a long way.