Oil Leak

[Ob1]

Just completed the west coast of Scotland (IN 3 DAYS!!)setting off from Yorkshire and on the middle day notice oil marks running down from the gaiter on the rear drive arm. Bike only done 8000 miles. Check the oil level in the rear hub and it seems fine. Cleaned off the oil marks and nothing since. Anybody else had this problem and does it need new a new seal. Off to Spain in a few weeks and don.t fancy the ride back in a truck!

 

[Steptoe]

Try doing a "search"

check levels in gearbox and final drive. if both ok, don't worry about it. Whattons was the same going to morrocco , no problems whatsoever

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I've just removed the tie wrap on the gearbox side, about two teaspoons worth of oil came out. Oil appears to be coming from the gearbox side, as there did not appear ?! to be any oil on the smaller internal diameters of the gaiter on the diff side. I take it that this is the kiss of death for the relevant seal, says he already knowing the answer.

Edit.

Levels in both gearbox & diff. are OK.

Read more about this after doing several searches, some have left it & just topped up if necessary. Steptoe has commented about the seal 'breathing', perhaps I'll replace the tie wraps with jubilee clips & fret less.

Steptoe, I e-mailed you earlier, probably answered my own question, just enjoy the paranioa thingy.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Steptoe,
Thanks for replying to me e-mail. You're a gentleman sir.

 

[Mzokk]

I found the same when I changed the paralever bearings in my final drive before I went to Scotland. The bike was fine and the gearbox and bevel drive levels remained constant.........still give me the willies though

 

[ELIMINATOR]

How many miles ago was this then, says I looking for a hint of optimism.

 

[Mzokk]

How many miles ago was this then, says I looking for a hint of optimism.

About 1600miles ago now. Most of it fairly fast running.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Hopefully & not then.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

It's back again. Cut off tie wraps, little drop off oil came out. Checked the diff level....full. Checked the gearbox, oil pissed out of the filler????????????????????? Engine was hot, I assume / hope that the oil was churned up & aerated so overflowed. Thoughts anyone?

 

[artman975]

Hi

Stop being so paranoid and get on with the ride. just keep a regular check on the levels say once a week or every 500miles.

In reality its not that big a job to change the seals.

have fun

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Paranoid, you talking about me. Oh my God, now everyone will know. ME, paranoid? Suffer from paranoia, but not paranoid. Nah, not me. Oooh, the fd looks damp again. Paranoid........Bah!

Anyway, if I had a Suzuki tl1000s, then I really would have something to be paranoid about. Rotary rear damper, cracking sub-frames, tank slappers. No, I've got NOTHING to be paranoid about........................................compared to some

 

[Sprout]

Leaky Leaky

'03 just turned 14000 miles;recently started the same leak down the rear torque arm as above.
Local BM dealer suggested combi of recent hot weather, hard/fast riding expanding the oil in the final drive. Plenty of oil in there when I checked. Plus they have had experience of oil "working its way down the thread".....whatever that means
So.......my own personal paranoia aside, I will keep an eye on it as the alternative is to replace the seal (which apparently gets destroyed when you try to remove it so you can't work out whether the seal was the culprit in the first place)

 

[pomm001]

'03 just turned 14000 miles;recently started the same leak down the rear torque arm as above.
Local BM dealer suggested combi of recent hot weather, hard/fast riding expanding the oil in the final drive. Plenty of oil in there when I checked. Plus they have had experience of oil "working its way down the thread".....whatever that means
So.......my own personal paranoia aside, I will keep an eye on it as the alternative is to replace the seal (which apparently gets destroyed when you try to remove it so you can't work out whether the seal was the culprit in the first place)

Best leave it alone
The problem with oil leaks and rotary seals is that the root cause of the leak is difficult to determine...... Yes oil maybe coming out of the seal but is the shaft the correct size ? is the machined finish correct ? is there too much play in the bearing which makes the joint active ?
Lots of things to consider, hence pub stories of some unfortunate replacing the same seal over and over again.
Considering its quite a job to replace , keep you eye on it and leave it alone .

 

[Sprout]

cheers Pomm. agreed - let it alone.....unless I am prepared to pay a Dealer to do it (which I am not)

 

[Ob1]

Got my bike in for a service on Monday, and asked them to sort this problem out (under warranty??). Been to the Pyranees for 2 weeks and still getting the oil marks - Its no good payin all that money for a bike then other bikers saying `you got an oil leak there mate!!` Will let you know.

 

[<<Mark_C>>]

'03 just turned 14000 miles;recently started the same leak down the rear torque arm as above.
Local BM dealer suggested combi of recent hot weather, hard/fast riding expanding the oil in the final drive. Plenty of oil in there when I checked. Plus they have had experience of oil "working its way down the thread".....whatever that means
So.......my own personal paranoia aside, I will keep an eye on it as the alternative is to replace the seal (which apparently gets destroyed when you try to remove it so you can't work out whether the seal was the culprit in the first place)

If you took it to Wollastons it was probably my bike they were talking about "working its way down the thread". Its been in 3 times since the spring for a leaking final drive.

Turns out the first two times they just replaced the input shaft seal on the FD. Third time, they put locktight on the threads in the carrier thingy the seal fits into (??) and replaced the sealing ring that fits on the shaft that runs within the seal. - Which is exactly what Steptoe said to do here

700 miles later so far so good........

 

[<<Mark_C>>]

Just to add, the second time it went I was in Milau. I then spent a week in the Alps with a wet FD casing and did at least 1500 miles before I got back and had the seal done again. During that time, it looked pretty bad (although oil never made it to the wheel rim) but the oil levels in the FD and gearbox didn't drop hardly at all. It seems a little oil goes a very long way. I would say, if its just a few streaks of oil now and again, and you can't afford or can't be bothered to fix it then don't lose any sleep over it. Just keep an eye out and top up when needed. However, be careful oil doesn't drip onto the tyre rim when parked on the side stand. Mine did first time round (see link above) - could be nasty

 

[Sprout]

Mark/Obi

Cheers for the posts.

Mark - interesting comments re the ins and outs at Wollaston. Mine now out of warranty - if yours is the same, what's been the '£ kerching' factor so far with Wollastons - it doesn't sound a cheap exercise....

 

[<<Mark_C>>]

it doesn't sound a cheap exercise....

It wasn't - for them!, thankfully bike is still covered by their used bike warranty (but only for another two months )