Gearbox leaking, so do I need a new clutch?

[GrinningGSer]

Gearbox started to leak at the sides 5,000 miles ago, but now the engine is quite oily underneath and will shortly be fixed under warranty. 11,000miles.

I do not know if it is input or output seals cos I dont know how to tell.

Question is- does leak of either of these seals contaminate the clutch for certain and should I insist on replacement? At one stage I thought that I had a clutch slip, but that now seems to have stopped.

I do not want the dealer to dismantle half of the bike... then discover that the clutch needs replacing... then discover a wait of 4 weeks for a clutch (as per another recent thread)

 

[Nordkapper]

There was a leak between the gearbox and engine on my 1200 GS at around 18,000 miles. It was a gearbox seal causing the problem. Yes I had a new clutch.

 

[Dahoum]

I would think you will. Mine just got a new one under warranty

 

[Marco]

Mine got exactly the same small oil leak and the clutch slipped only twice; so I decided to call my dealer; bike has been dismantled (very impressive) and waited two weeks to get a new clutch; everything done under warranty; I have been told that if you have an oil leak there it is sure that your clutch is or will shortly be contaminated with oil; you therefore need a clutch replacement

 

[Parky]

Had mine done last week, it was the balancer shaft seal rather than the crankshaft oil seal and the clutch wasn't contaminated so not replaced. The balancer shaft runs below the crank and presumably below the clutch plate so it doesn't necessarily get contaminated, depends which seal has gone.

 

[GrinningGSer]

I am told that you cannot tell , just by looking, which seal has gone, because the oil always runs out of the front.

 

[Parky]

I am told that you cannot tell , just by looking, which seal has gone, because the oil always runs out of the front.

I'd go along with that. Jefferies ordered up both oil seals and a clutch plate before stripping it down to cover all eventualities.

 

[VAL. H.]

I am told that you cannot tell , just by looking, which seal has gone, because the oil always runs out of the front.

Mine is being replaced in a couple of weeks, a new cluch has been orderd as I said there was cluch slip.

I live in a farming village so it gets a bit dusty around here when it's dry. I have the oil soaked sump, but if you look at the side of the bell housing you can see oil stained dust residue right up to the top of the motor so I'm gessing the cluch seal is gone on mine and it's only a matter of time before the cluch gets contaminated, so I said it was slipping. At least if it is contaminated they will have a replacement to fit if needed.

 

[yellofello]

Mine is in at the moment.

Reported the seal gone and was booked in on tuesday to get seal/s replaced under warranty. When I handed the bike in, I reported that I thought the clutch slipped whilst on holiday.

When they stripped the bike down, they discovered a slight amount of oil on the clutch friction plates.

As a precaution, they are replacing, but unfortunately they wouldn't get the plates until today, at the earliest.

When I phoned this afternoon, Steve the mechanic was putting bike together after receiving the plates and hopefully ready tomorrow.

In my opinion, top service from Motorrad East in Dalkieth.

Listened to what I said, took it on board when stripping the bike, as in their words and as previously mentioned, "we won't know until we get in about it" and I was constantly kept up to date.

Cheers

 

[ktmmark]

Would like to think the new seals are improved items as there are a large number of leaking seals

 

[yellofello]

Yup

Me too

 

[cookie]

I do not know if it is input or output seals cos I dont know how to tell.

if there's enough, smell it. gearbox oil smells quite different to engine oil and is usually cleaner looking.