And so it begins.....?

[Rich21044]

1 week into owning my 1st GS1200 (a used 06 model with 8.5k on the clock). After riding about 100 miles last week I noticed an oil film on the RHS rocker cover but couldnt trace the source. Did the usual things like checking the rocker cover bolt tightness etc and convinced myself that it was gasket that was weeping.

Yesterday I took the rocker cover off cleaned and reassembled the cover and gaskets with a smear of blue hylomar (non setting gasket gunk) on each surface. I noticed oil down by the spark plug but couldnt go any further as I dont have the spark plug spanner. All seemed OK after an in-garage test at normal engine temps.

Put 250 miles on it today and returned to find that I had an oily boot. The oil film is back and appears, judging by the pattern, to be coming from the spark plug hole which could mean the donut seal is not still not seating or something (gulp) much worse...

Has anyone ever encountered this before? Bike has had all previous services by a BMW Motorad dealership (Chester/Blue Bell).

 

[Wicker]

My used 2008 bike developed a similar oil leak within the first couple of hundred miles. Deler also intiaily thought mis-seated seal but this did not fix the problem. Has the bike ever been on its side? Even a stationery or low speed fall onto the magnesium rocker cover can cause a hairline crack in the area of the spark plug and the symptoms you describe; a fine mist of oil after a run.

I had noticed acouple of minor scratches on the bottm edge of one pannier and the edge of a mirror when I bought the bike. After the oil leak I phoned the previous owner to get the story. A road rage incident where a driver had kicked the stationery bike onto its side. Previous owner had sanded the scratches and painted both rocker covers 'to match' the bike before trading it into a main BMW dealer. As I had bought the bike from a BMW dealer they had to replace both rocker covers under warranty as the now painted undamaged rocker cover would then not have matched the new one. Suffice to say, an unhappy BMW dealer.

Also highlights that it is worth fitting BMW or Touratech rocker cover protectors.

 

[Rich21044]

Gulp that sounds like a similar story. The bike has been over on both sides. Apparently dropped in carparks , the RH side (the one thats leaking) is the worst but as no other damage is visible I assumed that fall to be light and not damaging other than the cosmetics. The covers have been painted to "stop corrosion of the magnesium" in the affected areas.

I wonder if I cant get some NDE done locally to see if there is a crack. Dont want to have to buy a new rocker cover if all I really need is a new gasket.

 

[PBoy]

Had the same on an 1100. Mine was the round seal under the rocker cover, looked ok but kinda folded in during refitting after I'd done valve clearances.

Whip it off and have a look and be sure there's no crud under there. Recommend getting a torque wrench for re-tightening as they're easily stripped, don't ask me how I know, or what I did about it

 

[Rich21044]

And the winner is ... Wicker.

NDE not required. I've just had another look as I had the prospect of some free NDE at work and (with suspicions aroused by Wicker) discovered a hairline crack.

Anybody know if it can be welded (is it worth it)

I've taken some photos and will post them once I've worked out how to do it.

 

[swissrob]

think its about £90 for a new part?

 

[Rich21044]

Photos here (hope this works..)

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/u_jJB-eiW3BR4KQS8w7CI4p-fL21odKDsLV42K7k7No?feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/TsQ01VU9yx9Ogo6dAufJjIp-fL21odKDsLV42K7k7No?feat=directlink

 

[Captain Beaky]

I have, in the past, sealed small cracks like that with a smear of sealant, or glue - in both ally engine cases and coolant system parts.

Yeah yeah - I know it's a bodge - but if you thoroughly degrease the area, and force in a small amount of something very sticky, like a good quality sealant - one that's OK with engine oil, like Hylomar blue, or some epoxy glue - like Evo Stick, it should seal up the crack.

Definitely worth a try if it's only a small crack.

 

[Rich21044]

A new cover has been ordered. £120 from Motoworks. Apparently they do have used ones (£60) as well but in the words of the guy I spoke to.."..theyre all bit rough people tend to use them as second side stands."

In the mean time I've managed to stem the flow somewhat with a combination of blue hylomar pushed into the crack from the inside and milliput (2 part epoxy filler) on the outside. I didn't want to put milliput on ths inside incase the bond failed and it went for a wander around the engine.