Another oil leak !!

[Gecko]

Having just had my shaft drive seals replaced to enable me to get to Lands End I have acquired a new oil leak.
This time it looks to be coming from the oil sight glass or maybe the oil teperature or is it pressure sensor under the left cylinder. It's all got a bit mucky with oil weeping from somewhere. It's not a lot of oil but enough to know that I need to get it sorted before I get a hot left foot .

If it is the sensor it looks like a simple unscrew and fit a new seal but if it's the sight glass - how do you get them out ?
Anyone had similar grief and can offer any meaningful advice ?
Cheers
Gecko

 

[Hillhound]

Oil pressure sensor

Gecko

If it is the oli pressure switch then it is probably best to replace the complete switch. I did mine a few weeks ago (£8) and is just as simple as it looks. A new copper sealing washer comes fitted to the switch.

HH

 

[Guzzler]

More than likely it IS the sight glass. BMW isn't the only manufacture with problems with sight glasses weeping (then eventually blowing out).

From the shop manual on replacing the sight glass:

Replacing oil level sight glass
• Pierce the plastic disc with a large screwdriver and lever out the oil level sight glass.
• Coat the sealing face of the new oil level sight glass with engine oil and drive it in with drift

Basicly, you break the clear plastic. Then just lever out the whole unit (rubber seal and the metal backer) with a screwdriver. You then lube and then tap in the new unit. A large socket can be used as drift. Just make sure that it is large enough to sit on the rubber seal.

 

[Gecko]

Cheers guys
I've ordered both the oil pressure switch and a new sight glass and seal today so I can get down to it at the weekend. The oil switch looks easy enough but I must admit getting the sight glass out worries me a tad - I can imagine it is possible to knock it inwards and then what .....must remember to be very careful and not go near the lump hammer

 

[Guzzler]

Cheers guys
I've ordered both the oil pressure switch and a new sight glass and seal today so I can get down to it at the weekend. The oil switch looks easy enough but I must admit getting the sight glass out worries me a tad - I can imagine it is possible to knock it inwards and then what .....must remember to be very careful and not go near the lump hammer

I always worry when I have to break the plastic window. But it isn't that bad. They generally break in large pieces. And the metal plate (which is part of sight glass assembly) with the little holes around the edge help prevent shards going down into the sump.

One thing that always suprises me, is how sharp those plastic shards are!! You can cut yourself on them. Just be careful.

 

[Gecko]

Job done....thanks for the tips guys. Oil pressure switch and sight glass both replaced.
Having seen that the sight glass just sits wedged in the hole I'm now not surprised to hear about them popping out sometimes. There is nothing holding them in other than the rubber seal around the edge of the glass.....very 'blue peter' IMHO. Anyway it's done and I didn't cut myself or knock the broken bits into the sump and it all seems to be nice and tight. The proof will be in the road test which is hopefully in the morning.

 

[Guzzler]

Originally posted by Gecko
Having seen that the sight glass just sits wedged in the hole I'm now not surprised to hear about them popping out sometimes. There is nothing holding them in other than the rubber seal around the edge of the glass.....very 'blue peter' IMHO.

It's not just BMW, alot of other bike manufactueres use the same method.

It is nice to see the new 1200GS has a retaining clip added to keep the sight glass in place.

 

[Gecko]

Road test proved to be fine - I did 120km into Brussels and back today and I'm quite pleased with myself for having sorted it out. There is something distinctly satisfying about not having to pay B#W labour costs