Hi … need advice, I’m 8 days into a trip to south Morocco and the main seal is letting go… how long before the clutch gets covered and loses it? Best to drive slow and head home?
Main seal leaking
- Thread starter Jem Wilton
- Start date
Should have said … ‘89 R100gs… main crankshaft seal… doh
I would say, if it is a small leak, keep going. But you don't state how long you have to go. One week - keep going. 6 months - think again.
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It really is 'how long is a piece of string'. If very slight drip you may finish a brief holiday before the dreaded clutch slip evolves; me, I'd probably ride back to Blighty to be on the safe side. Enjoy 
Weird that it should just "Start"
Any chance you changed oil recently and put in Fully Synth or a 10W40 semi ???
The older bikes have been known to leak with lower viscosity oils in hot temps
So might it be worth the OP draining and refilling with a more viscous oil in the hope that it might stop the leak?
you could trey a tin of this,i have used once and it did work
Wynns Engine Oil Stop Leak Sealer Treatment Additive For All Engine Types 325ml | eBay
Will have no effect on the viscosity or performance of engine oil, and does not harm catalytic converters.
www.ebay.co.uk
Thanks lads… thought as much, not much I can do about it by the roadside, so will carry on… got a week here to rest it, then week home.
Good thought, it might give me a little more time…
One step at at time !
What changed??
Did you do an Oil change/service ??
Did you top up with a low viscosity oil??
Did you work it harder than usual ??
I would avoid the Wyn's unless you pull out the paper filter!!
as a side note that engine was designed to use 20W50 dino oil
Good luck with your trip.
Hope the clutch manages to get you home.
Ive just recently had to replace my rear main seal (R80st) and also the clutch….. not a huge job, but time consuming getting everything cleaned up before reassembly.
Hope the clutch manages to get you home.
Ive just recently had to replace my rear main seal (R80st) and also the clutch….. not a huge job, but time consuming getting everything cleaned up before reassembly.
Yup 20/50 in but yes been doing 80-90 through Spain and Morocco… it went in Fes, but I am now 250m further south and had been dripping when riding… stops after stopping! So far no probs with clutch! Bush mechanic in Merzouga thought gear box, filler, neutral, but no… it’s engine oil… ha what fun… gonna keep topping up (but only with thick oil… I was given 10/40 to top up but that’ll be worse… )
You sure it’s the mail seal?
Gearbox neutral switches known to go and leak oil….. as does the oil sensor switch on the left side of the engine.
Both easy fixes.
Main seal will leak onto the “shelf” at the back of the engine, ….mine did.
Hope you get back okay and the trip isn’t spoiled.
Gearbox neutral switches known to go and leak oil….. as does the oil sensor switch on the left side of the engine.
Both easy fixes.
Main seal will leak onto the “shelf” at the back of the engine, ….mine did.
Hope you get back okay and the trip isn’t spoiled.
Got home... weirdly, the battery stopped getting a charge and so I had to hightail it up the A34 at night with dwindling lights... that was fun... the old boy stopped 200 yards from my front door... pushed it home! now to strip him down and sort it out...
You did well!
Charge light on dash …. If bulb fails and there is no resistor inline, then even with a functioning alternator you won’t get charge to battery….. you can hope it’s this simple and inexpensive!
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