Not ideal. Gearbox oil seal leak.

[ThreeDawg]

Seems like my gearbox is doing its best to empty itself of oil. I noticed a misting of oil on the FD around the torque arm mount, so I took the circlip off and popped the boot. To my dismay some gearbox oil dribbled out. Not a lot, but...

Because the bike is dirty I didn't take the smaller end of the boot off, but maybe there is more in there.

Anyway, given that I am in the middle of Spain, do I just buy some oil and top up the gearbox, or is oil running down possibly into the FD area a problem?

We probably have only a couple of thousand miles more to do. My feeling is as long as a bit of oil dribbling out (couldn't have been more than a third of a teaspoon max) isn't going to cause issues elsewhere we should just leave it

Handy for me a specialist has moved in just down the road from me.

 

[boatman]

Seems like my gearbox is doing its best to empty itself of oil. I noticed a misting of oil on the FD around the torque arm mount, so I took the circlip off and popped the boot. To my dismay some gearbox oil dribbled out. Not a lot, but...

Because the bike is dirty I didn't take the smaller end of the boot off, but maybe there is more in there.

Anyway, given that I am in the middle of Spain, do I just buy some oil and top up the gearbox, or is oil running down possibly into the FD area a problem?

We probably have only a couple of thousand miles more to do. My feeling is as long as a bit of oil dribbling out (couldn't have been more than a third of a teaspoon max) isn't going to cause issues elsewhere we should just leave it

Handy for me a specialist has moved in just down the road from me.

Aye ,, yer man will get you sorted out no bother

 

[ThreeDawg]

Indeed. Just need to get the thing home.

 

[theoneandonly]

top it off . wash the area . monitor. don't panic.

 

[Riceburner]

I read somewhere (may have been here, years ago) that the gearbox output shaft is above (or "just on") the upper surface of the oil when it's full, so, when (if? HA!) the seal leaks, it only really leaks an "excess", ie, it's just some of the oil that gets thrown about when running, it won't leak enough to lower the level more than a little bit, so you might end up with slightly less oil than specced, but you won't lose "all" the oil in the box.

TLDR : it won't leak out much, just top it up if it worries you.

 

[DrFarkoff]

@ThreeDawg Over the years I have come across this and had phone calls about it from quite worried travellers but bottom line:- They appear to "burp!" and it may not happen for a very long time again (if Ever) !

Just monitor Gearbox oil level and unless you have disastrous leakage?? Leave it be

Sort of a "Not all" but, "Quite a few do that Sir!" type situation

 

[ThreeDawg]

Thanks for all the replies. I will keep an eye on it, but will still get the box overhauled as we are off on a very long and potentially remote trip next year.

 

[MickeyMoto]

Thanks for all the replies. I will keep an eye on it, but will still get the box overhauled as we are off on a very long and potentially remote trip next year.

Rutland?

 

[ThreeDawg]

Rutland?

No, that would be madness! Have booked flights to Almaty is Kazakhstan...

 

[ThreeDawg]

Managed to take a look at the oil level this afternoon - looks fine. . Amazing how far a few drops can spread. Onwards!

 

[DrFarkoff]

Managed to take a look at the oil level this afternoon - looks fine. . Amazing how far a few drops can spread. Onwards!

Told Yaaa!!

 

[Wrigsby1]

Managed to take a look at the oil level this afternoon - looks fine. . Amazing how far a few drops can spread. Onwards!

The difference between a weep and a leak... GB oil looks and smells ugly and seems to go a long way for very little...