HELP NEEDED - OIL LEAK!!

[the falconer]

Recently purchased an '05 1150 GSA, have done approx 3000 miles on her, taking the total to 19600 miles.
Got home today to find oil weeping from from the gater before the final drive on the rear wheel.
Having the availability of a full workshop and I am reasonably mechanically minded, I want to tackle it myself.
But before wading in would like some advice, ie. like where could it be coming from, what is the cause, and best plan of attack.

Regards

The Falconer

 

[littleredrooster]

The most likely cause is from pressure washing the bike which forces water into the gaiter joint. It is often not oil, but black crud which starts to escape after washing the bike. Pull the gaiter back and clean the residue out and monitor again, if it persists it needs further investigation.

The worst possible scenario is oil coming down the shaft from a leaky gearbox seal, or oil escaping from the final drive through a leaky input seal; both are much less likely than dirty water. Mine did it!

 

[the falconer]

Cheers Littleredrooster for the advice.

I don't actually use a pressure washer, however not long since I washed her, so I'll take your advise, pull back the gaiter and have a squint, hoping for the best.

 

[gas boy]

The same thing happened to mine - first run out after being stood for a while - take off the zip ties and pull back the gaitor and clean the inside -
re-attach gaitors and forget about it

 

[MikeP]

Agreed, don't worry too much about it but after cleaning I'd keep close look at the final-drive and gearbox oil levels because the seals can fail at both ends of the drive-shaft.

They don't tend to do more than weep a little oil and monitoring the oil levels is just good sense until you are certain that neither is leaking.

I've had both seals fail at one time or another on mine.

 

[the falconer]

Thanks for that lads took your advice checked oil levels there ok,pulled the gaiter back bit of watery oily rubbish in it. Cleaned it all out put it back keep my fingers crossed but i think your likely to be right .

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Cheers Littleredrooster for the advice.

I don't actually use a pressure washer, however not long since I washed her, so I'll take your advise, pull back the gaiter and have a squint, hoping for the best.

Dont forget about the 16'000 miles on her before you met her

 

[iftikartaxis]

oil leak

mine did the same i changed the oil in the gearbox for fully synthetic
cleaned out the gaiter changed back to the thick stuff
not had a problem since