Advice please - leak prevention airhead neutral switch

[GSite]

Hi All
The nasty little sod called neutral light switch is leaking again on my 94 R100GS.
As per usual the leak is not from the threads but through the body of the switch between the wires.
This time thought I would look into sealing it or treating it to prevent or slow down the onset of leaking oil. Have read snowbums prose as per link below, but wondered if anyone has a tried and tested solution, any suggestions guys. Thanks.

https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/neutralswitch.htm

 

[scooter paul]

I’ve never tried to repair them but it can’t be more than removing, thoroughly degreasing and then smearing the core with epoxy resin, same with oil pressure switch.

 

[DrFarkoff]

I’ve never tried to repair them but it can’t be more than removing, thoroughly degreasing and then smearing the core with epoxy resin, same with oil pressure switch.

Its an Airhead Why go to all the bother of removing it cleaning it etc

If you are going to the bother of removing Get a new one and give it a coat of epoxy of you are so worried

Any chance you are running a light fully synth gear oil GSite??

 

[theoneandonly]

Hi All
The nasty little sod called neutral light switch is leaking again on my 94 R100GS.
As per usual the leak is not from the threads but through the body of the switch between the wires.
This time thought I would look into sealing it or treating it to prevent or slow down the onset of leaking oil. Have read snowbums prose as per link below, but wondered if anyone has a tried and tested solution, any suggestions guys. Thanks.

https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/neutralswitch.htm

i cannot believe, you would try to repair an o/p switch . take your bad one , go to a little car shop and cross match it.

 

[GSite]

Thanks, but just to clarify, using a 80w90 GL5 mineral oil.
Not going to repair the old switch, plan to replace it but wish to delay the next time by sealing the new one. Any further ideas, the Epoxy seems a reasonable notion.

 

[Posh Pete]

Check that it's not the oil seal on the gear selector shaft.

 

[Gelandestrasse]

Thanks, but just to clarify, using a 80w90 GL5 mineral oil.
Not going to repair the old switch, plan to replace it but wish to delay the next time by sealing the new one. Any further ideas, the Epoxy seems a reasonable notion.

I might have been lucky with the 10 or so airheads I've owned the past 13 years (still got 5, don't panic) but I've never had a switch leak before, only leaks have been from the threads/sealing washer and a quick tweak (not to much) helped that. AFAI remember the epoxy you can see / repair is only on the outside because the plunger runs co-ax to the mounting threads. I don't often say replace if it could be repaired, but that's the best way here. I don't think any seal you could put on the outside will stop a leak for long, as the working parts are in a housing that's peened over. Nothing for it to stick to. But reading Snowbum's article there appears to be a real issue! All his examples seem to come from Tom Cutter (respect) back in 2015 where maybe there was a bad batch?

I can see how such a leak can be irritating, though.

 

[SteveHop]

Im sure i knocked one of mine when i lifted the gearbox in and it started leaking.
The new brass ones look much better.
On the one im doing at the moment ive decided to remove the tube spacer first put the gearbox in and then screw in the neutral switch.