Identifying a leak

[stowei]

Got back from the usual commute one day this week to discover strange staining down the offside of the gearbox (2002 1150GS non-ABS). Can't immediately identify either what the staining is (it won't easily wash off and doesn't seem sticky/oily).

Hasn't got any worse on subsequent days.

There is a slight oil leak around the cam-bolt cover on the pot on the same side, but it seems hard to understand how this could find its way onto the gearbox.

Please can someone identify the cause? Thanks

 

[Loiq]

stinky tramp piss?

 

[ianf]

It's in the right place for a leaky fuel line to have done it... Shows up as a yellow stain on a silver gearbox. Would have expected it sooner on a 2002 bike.

 

[Brian O]

You will probably find a damaged o ring if you have QR fittings on your fuel lines.

 

[slalom]

Just had the same thing on my 2000 1150. Tank off I'm afraid. Re-new both petrol lines while you're at it and replace the crimp type fasteners with small jubilee clips.

 

[Steptoe]

It's the clamps on the fuel line. Just squeeze them tighter or replace with jubilee style clips.

It was a dealer recall job sometime ago. Check yours was done.

 

[stowei]

Thanks all. Won't have time to lift the tank until the weekend. Am I safe to keep running until then, or will I have been incinerated?

 

[Womble]

Yeah sure, your tank is leaking petrol over something hot and there are sparks nearby

 

[cookie]

Thanks all. Won't have time to lift the tank until the weekend. Am I safe to keep running until then, or will I have been incinerated?

not sure if they are the problem clamps, but 2 of them (where they join the hard plastic pipes to the flexible) are easily accessible without disturbing the tank

 

[Steptoe]

not sure if they are the problem clamps, but 2 of them (where they join the hard plastic pipes to the flexible) are easily accessible without disturbing the tank

I'll second that - They were the only ones that used to leak.

 

[stowei]

Thanks. Can't see anything obvious in the service record to suggest any recall work. Took the side panel off to look at the fuel plumbing and I could identify where the flexible hose meets the hard. Absolutely no signs of any leaks/weeping and not immediately obvious how I can tighten the crimped clamps any further (or indeed remove them??).

Here is the best picture I could take. Please can anyone identify whether this is the original plumbing or whether the recall work has been undertaken? The picture isn't actually of the flexible/hard pipe join, but I couldn't get my camera to focus on that part. The crimped clamp at the flexi/hard join is the same design as the one shown here though, but whereas there is some scope for making it a bit tighter at the joint in the picture, there is no slack left to take up at the flexi/hard join.

One other thing; this looks like a lot of plumbing compared to what is in the (admittedly very shabby) drawings in my workshop manual. Are these QR fittings in the picture? If so, can anyone advise how they do the QR bit and whether they are likely to have any sort of cut-off device if I decide to split them to see how they work? If they are a retro-fit upgrade it seems odd to have used these suspect crimped clamps instead of jubilee clips.

Thanks

 

[cookie]

follow the pipes back from the pictured QD connectors to where the flexible pipes join to two stiffer pipes which disappear into the area above the gearbox.

those are the joints to which i was referring, not the ones pictured.

 

[stowei]

Thanks Cookie - yes I know that - its pitch black outside and these were the only connectors I could get my camera to focus on. I used these as examples because they have got the same kind of crimped clamp as the ones I can't point my camera at, and I wondered whether someone could identify whether these are the defective sort or whether the recall work has been done.

 

[Brian O]

Thanks. Can't see anything obvious in the service record to suggest any recall work. Took the side panel off to look at the fuel plumbing and I could identify where the flexible hose meets the hard. Absolutely no signs of any leaks/weeping and not immediately obvious how I can tighten the crimped clamps any further (or indeed remove them??).

Here is the best picture I could take. Please can anyone identify whether this is the original plumbing or whether the recall work has been undertaken? The picture isn't actually of the flexible/hard pipe join, but I couldn't get my camera to focus on that part. The crimped clamp at the flexi/hard join is the same design as the one shown here though, but whereas there is some scope for making it a bit tighter at the joint in the picture, there is no slack left to take up at the flexi/hard join.

One other thing; this looks like a lot of plumbing compared to what is in the (admittedly very shabby) drawings in my workshop manual. Are these QR fittings in the picture? If so, can anyone advise how they do the QR bit and whether they are likely to have any sort of cut-off device if I decide to split them to see how they work? If they are a retro-fit upgrade it seems odd to have used these suspect crimped clamps instead of jubilee clips.

Thanks

They are QD fittings, they are released by pressing the metal disc part, when they are seperated both halves should seal, in the male half there is a small o ring which is very easily damaged. I personally always put a small amount of vaseline on mine when reconnecting. I dont know if they were standard on a bike the age of yours but the oetiker clips suggest they may well have been fitted by a dealer. They are fitted with special pliers similar to nail puller pliers, which are used by crimping the rectangular part, you may be able to tighten them but would probably be better replacing them with jubilee type clips if the problem is not a damaged o ring.

HTH

B