Oil on my wheel rim

[<<Mark_C>>]

I've been out for a 250mile ride today. When I got back, I noticed some nasty looking oil stains on the rear wheel rim:-

Closer inspection reveled some oil around the rubber gaiter:-

During the ride I parked up two or three times on the side stand for 20 mins. I assume, thats when the oil dripped onto the wheel. I guess some sort of oil seal has gone as this has never happened before.

Even more worrying is that since arriving home, no further oil has dripped out. I therefore assume that its been running out gradually all day and has now run out completely! If so, do you think any expensive damage has been done??

Expensive for BMW, that is - the bikes still under warranty at the mo

late 2002 1150, BTW - 12,000 miles

 

[jonnie comet]

Would someone please tell Mark " they all do that....nowt to worry about.....little oil seal, only costs 2p....forget it "

My 'bike ?.....................Late 2002, 1150, pushing 12,000 miles..........

 

[MikeP]

Mark,

It's likely to be either the final drive oil seal or the gearbox output shaft seal or both.

Mine went one after the other (both covered by warranty).

If you are concerned about the amount of oil loss, check gearbox oil level and FD level, top up as required.

My FD seal started going in the Vosges last year. Bought some oil and topped it up when needed (not often. A little oil goes a long way) and had it repaired when I got home.

I rode back from Germany, through Luxembourg, Belgium and France to Devon in one hop, it only needed a smidge of oil once in that distance.

That's the output shaft seal leak.

 

[<<Mark_C>>]

Thanks Mike,

You were right. Wollastons diagnosed the problem as a blown final drive oil seal, which they replaced with a new one under warranty. I've only ridden about 80 miles since, but so far so good.

 

[Steptoe]

Thanks Mike,

You were right. Wollastons diagnosed the problem as a blown final drive oil seal, which they replaced with a new one under warranty.

Can i just add, for those are going to DIY this job at any point , also replace the sealing ring that fits inside the seal .

 

[Jimb]

Mark

Get it fixed ASAP, the oil will make its way to the side of the rear tyre and you run the risk of losing it on a right hand bend due to tyre being
" lubricated ".

 

[<<Mark_C>>]

Get it fixed ASAP, the oil will make its way to the side of the rear tyre and you run the risk of losing it on a right hand bend due to tyre being
" lubricated ".

Err thanks for the advice, but see post #4

 

[asnore]

Final drive input seal

Can the seal be changed without going to workshop? I could try to make a wrench from tube to open that ring with thread. If I will remove this ring
3 in the http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/DiagramsMid/B0004847.png
can I take out input pinion with all bearings or I also need to remove the nut (36mm)?

 

[steveuk]

Mark,

It's likely to be either the final drive oil seal or the gearbox output shaft seal or both.

i have a 1200 - i had a similar probpem - oil on the rear wheel rim......i took it to the main dealer and they diagnosed final drive oil seal, took it back a few days later (once they had the £700 part? ) and they replaced it under warranty....(the entire final drive - you can't just do the seal on a 12?) ....but they didn't clean the oil stains off the wheel....so it took me another 1000 miles or so (one week) to realise oil was still dripping onto the rear wheel rim.....they again diagnosed final drive failure so ordered a new second new one - i thought this a little fishy at the time.....when they came to finaly fit the 2nd replacement final drive they re-diagnosed the problem as gearbox output shaft seal.

rubbish!

i have to wait another 3 days for them to order the part and to be fitted - i only have the one bike at the moment so i am screwed - it has already cost me £600 in lost work....

why am i paying their "trained mecahnics" a higher hourly rate than i charge even though i have 15 years experience in the same job!!??

they did give me a courtesey bike for 3 days.....and have always been spot on with service in the past - which is why i have not given them a hard time about this utter let down. (and why i will not name the dealer here).

if "mike p" can diagnose a similar problem (or possibility that t could be the gearbox output seal) from a post on the net - surely BMW's trained mechanics should be able to do the same when they have the bike right there in front of them??

rubbish!

i am currently shopping for a "spare" bike - one is clearly not enough to rely on.......