So it starts ... with a leak

[lunc]

Sigh. All was well until I cleaned the bike yesterday to discoverer oil patches between each spoke of the rear wheel. I was not totally sure where it came from so I cleaned it all off and went to work and back today as normal. This made the situation pretty clear:-

I'm guessing that this is the oft spoken of FD RHS bearing seal leak? Can someone confirm that - and what is required to replace it? I'm going to try to get the (non BMW) dealer to fix it but nothings certain at this point.

I'm also assuming that not riding the bike is best, since the FD will be missing oil and I expect most FD implosions start this way with an unnoticed leak pissing away all the oil until it runs dry and sticks together like the bread in a cold porridge sandwich.

 

[Timolgra]

Get the black cover off and it's a straight forward oil seal change

I've seen one removed with a thin allen key pushed inside the seal then pulling it out

 

[Maddock]

I've seen one removed with a thin allen key pushed inside the seal then pulling it out

I've seen a BMW mechanic doing it and it needed a new final drive that way

 

[SilverFish]

One way to check if the FD bearings are knackered is to do the following:

1. Put bike on centre stand.
2. Engine off, in neutral.
3. Kneel down by the rear wheel and place two finger tips on top of the bevel cover.
4. With the other hand, rotate the wheel as fast as you can.
5. If you feel grinding under your two fingers, you'll probably need a new FD and shouldnt ride the bike anymore.

That said, I rode for a week or two (had too, no other choice) and it was 'ok'. But I was prepared to stop at the side the road and get recovered...

Mike

 

[GSmonkey]

Mines doing the same. Been riding it like that for the last two weeks and will be doing so for another two weeks to come until its in for its service. It'll just be the outer seal.

 

[RickG]

It's extremely unlikely that it's anything more than just the seal. It's easy to fix from the outside with the FD in situ

 

[lunc]

Been riding it like that for the last two weeks and will be doing so for another two weeks to come until its in for its service.

Aren't you worried that it will run dry?

 

[GOOSEVULCAN]

It's an £12 part from a dealer and very easy to change.
A very common failure they told me, probably why it's not covered on the extended warranty!

Also the oil could well be contaminating your rear brake pads if it got as far as your discs. So check them out as well. Mine needed to be changed

 

[GSmonkey]

It only a smear like yours. If it was spraying over the back tyre and pooling in the rims at standstill I'd be topping it up.

 

[smartbear]

brake improver

It's an £12 part from a dealer and very easy to change.
A very common failure they told me, probably why it's not covered on the extended warranty!

Also the oil could well be contaminating your rear brake pads if it got as far as your discs. So check them out as well. Mine needed to be changed

thats probably good news as it will make the (oil drenched) pads last longer than 6k miles

 

[lunc]

Thanks for the replies - all useful stuff.

The bike is with the dealer who's going to change the seal, FD oil and rear pads and they've even given me a loaner until the work is finished - now you can't say fairer than that I reckon.

 

[GSband]

I had the exact same thing happening to my 12/'07 bike last August in the Auvergne region in France.

I called 4 different BMW dealers in the region : 1 on holiday, 1 able to help me 1 week later, 1 having to order the seal unable to tell me when he'd be able to change it. I was giving up hope, but didn't feel like interrupting my HOLIDAY (precious to me), so kept on calling, and finally the 4th dealer said 'come around we'll fix it immediately'. The responding dealers knew immediately what I was talking about.

Drove some 100 miles one way. Was told that the original seal was a bad design, and that since then the part number had changed. They had several of these seals in stock, because of the frequency.

Since my bike was still in warranty the change didn't cost me a thing. But I missed a days' ride with friends.

Perhaps overly cautious, but with all these stories of collapsing FD's I did not want to ride around with a leaky FD. I think the FD needs the oil.

 

[lunc]

The dealer was great - In Tuesday back Thursday - new seal, pads and FD oil and no charge. The loaner they gave me was my old R1100R and after riding it again I'm positive I did the right thing well I traded it in.

Kudos to the Dealer - Norfolk Triumph who sorted it, no questions asked. The Triumph financial year runs July - June so the annual target for new sales must be met this month and so if you have a hankering for a new Rocket III tourer Bob will give you a good deal this month - and if you trade in a 2010 GSA he already knows a bloke who'll take it.