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[TONUPBOY]

I won't rule that out, papasmurf, but the oil level appears to be between the L/H marks (roughly 3/4 between the two). Granted, it's hard to see the oil on the dipstick when it's fresh. I've been wondering if I can modify my dipstick to make reading easier-- powdercoating black, perhaps?

In any case, the leak's not as bad as it was, but it's annoying as all get-out!

[papasmurf]

But how are you checking the oil level? (This is a serious question by the way because checking the oil level overfilling the oil has made grown men cry.)
There are reams words on this forum about it.

[TONUPBOY]

Yeah, there seems to be some controversy there. My owner's manual states to check it when the engine is cold, with the bike on its center stand (duh). I've heard others in this forum state it should be checked when the engine is hot, just a few minutes after shut-down. But even if the level was high, wouldn't the excess just blow out the crankcase breather? I seem to be getting condensate out the breather, but virtually no oil. What's more, if pressures in the timing chest were high, why would oil seep from the points shaft that I went to great lengths to seal (with both a paper gasket and dressing) but not the timing chest gasket itself (in which I used only a paper gasket, dry)?

[Adrian]

Damaged joint face, perhaps? A small, previously undetected crack in the castings somewhere? Porous casting? A.

[TONUPBOY]

Don't tell me that, Adrian! I'll take it into advisement. I did trim down the gasket with an exacto knife so it couldn't be seen when viewed from the left side of the bike. I hope that wasn't a mistake.