Driveway spill (fluid leak)

[Pegscrapr]

Short story:

I dropped my 1200 GS on it's right side, on a steep hill. After picking the bike up, I noticed fluid spilled. After a "smell check" I realized it was not motor oil.
After putting the bike on it's center stand, I noticed fluid dropped on the exhaust and center stand from the left side of the bike.
I assume it to be clutch fluid. The reservoir is empty.
If it is in fact clutch fluid, why would it leak out during a tip over?

After starting the bike and riding it for a couple miles, it seems to be running fine. However, I've got a long trip home from my friends house, and I'm concerned I may have lost too much fluid. I don't want to damage the bike.

Any suggestions for comments?
I would normally call the dealer, but they're closed Sunday's and Monday's.

Thanks in advance for any help.



Patrick

 

[Mr K]

I wouldn't claim to be an expert, but if you tipped your bike over you wouldn't expect the hydraulic brakes to leak so I'm not sure why the clutch fluid would leak.
If the bike seems okay top up the fluid when you can and continue with your journey??

Bon voyage

 

[schnauzer]

hydraulic things such as brakes and clutches are sealed units so they shouldn't spill out at all ( air and hydraulic fluid don't mix!)... unless the bike landed on a clutch or brake part ( but youd soon notice! )so assuming this to be the case, you say it wasn't oil? it obviously wasn't petrol as you'd smell that.... leaves two options....... battery fluid? do 1200's have gel batteries?? and if it was you'd have some stains on your stand etc..... or had you just washed it or done big puddles???? could have just been water that was trapped ... maybe even condensation in the zorst if you'd not been riding long on a cold day.... that would be my thought???

 

[Pegscrapr]

Okay, I think I may have figured it out.

After looking more extensively, I noticed that the shift linkage was saturated in fluid. I noticed right above the shift linkage were 3 rubber overflow or purging hoses. I'm not exactly sure what the right name for them is. I noticed of the 3, there was a shorter one that was noticably wet. It makes sense to me that whatever happened, that hope purged excess fluid that got somewhere it wasn't supposed to as a result of falling over.

I agree that it wasn't clutch or brake fluid. After taking the cap off the clutch reservoir, I realized it was full... of green fluid. I guess so that's not to confuse it with another type of fluid.

I also took off the oil filler cap, and compared it to the droppings on the driveway. The comparison of the 2 is quite close. It threw me off at first, because it didn't spell like motor oil. The odor was faint.
I'm not sure what kind of oil the dealer put into my bike after the break-in period, but I'll find out and get to the bottom of where the oil came from on Tuesday when the dealer opens.

Thanks for your responses.

 

[Pegscrapr]

Okay, I think I may have figured it out.

After looking more extensively, I noticed that the shift linkage was saturated in fluid. I noticed right above the shift linkage were 3 rubber overflow or purging hoses. I'm not exactly sure what the right name for them is. I noticed of the 3, there was a shorter one that was noticably wet. It makes sense to me that whatever happened, that hose purged excess fluid that got somewhere it wasn't supposed to as a result of falling over.

I agree that it wasn't clutch or brake fluid. After taking the cap off the clutch reservoir, I realized it was full... of green fluid. I guess so that's not to confuse it with another type of fluid.

I also took off the oil filler cap, and compared it to the droppings on the driveway. The comparison of the 2 is quite close. It threw me off at first, because it didn't spell like motor oil. The odor was faint.
I'm not sure what kind of oil the dealer put into my bike after the break-in period, but I'll find out and get to the bottom of where the oil came from on Tuesday when the dealer opens.

Thanks for your responses.