Suspected leak from FD....

[leasky]

Guys, I appreciate that this is not a new issue but it is for me.

After a "spirited" blast on my 2006 GSA (12k on clock), I was cleaning the bike and noticed what appeared to be a slight leak / release of very fine oil from around the Final Drive.

I gave the local BMW stealer a quick bell to be told:

"Dont worry, they are designed to release oil".

Is he talking shite or am I due him an apology???

The bike is covered by the BMW warranty.

Thanks in advance,

Colin.

 

[R17GSR]

Colin, he's not talking shite.......he's talkin utter bollox. Mine started weeping about 12,000 miles ago, have fitted 3 seals now. No play in wheel bearings. This last seal has yet to be tested, will be going to Sweden Tuesday for a week, let the challenge begin. This time We've filled up with the BMW 'new' 180ml. Basically it's a sealed unit, with no breather.
I asked the nice BMW man in the North Belfast dealership about the prob. He had fitted 3 seals to a bike, found the inner tube that the seal runs on to be eliptical, or running 'out of true'.
The main prob with running with the leak is that it coats ya rear disc with oil so you loose the rear brake/////////////////BUT IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS A RECALL

 

[Mr K]

Once my bike was a couple of years out of warranty it would develop that mist after a long hot run in Spain or such like.
I accepted this because I knew it was only a slight weep..... however it started to do it back home and leak a bit more and I changed the seal myself.

A £17 part and a 30 minute job at most.

Tell your lazy dealer to change the seal or contact BMW UK direct and ask what you should do

 

[IanNicky]

I have a 2009 and on its 600 mile service they had to replace the FD seal as it was weeping, I never noticed it myself

 

[Sgt Bilco]

The main prob with running with the leak is that it coats ya rear disc with oil so you loose the rear brake/////////////////BUT IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS A RECALL

Don't be so melodramatic

The seals do leak on occasion but it's generally only misting so you aren't losing much. This is generally caused by overfilling of the FD and the oil pressurising and looking for a way out. BuMW have reduced the capacity to 180ml to try and stop this and that seems to have sorted the issue. Remember, it's a seal and won't last forever.

A leaking seal does not mean your FD will go bang but get it into your dealer to repair. It's a simple fix and even if it's not a warranty claim (why would it be) it won't cost much.

For info, we had 2 bikes with leaking seals on my recent bimble across the US. They misted for a couple of days then stopped and carried on for 6500 miles with no problem. I'm 99% sure they were just overfilled.

 

[R17GSR]

Seal is about 8 quid from Motorworks, or from any industrial bearing supplier. You can stipulate 'Viton' rubber with them, it's a higher running temp than standard Neprene black seals.
I've put a bead of silicon rubber solution around the bottom of the FD this time, so if it leaks again the silicon should trap the oil and blow it off before it reaches the brake disc.

 

[Stretchamus]

Don't be so melodramatic
.

Sgt. sounds like you're on the payroll

 

[R17GSR]

Tosser... is that a ukGSer term? Sgt is a Moderator so can say what he wants.....my bimble around the UK and Northern Europe came up with a similar conclusion, 12,000 miles and no FD issues, just an oil coated disc......no rear brake. OK I know the rear brake is generally crap but sometimes it's just that little bit extra that you need to stop.
Or maybe Moderators get good rear brakes too ?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

What has me been a moderator got to do with anything The great thing about this site is anyone can say what they like and thanks goodness we all have differing opinions about things.

I'm a realist about the GS and when something breaks, it gets mended. I don't expect the bike to be perfect and never have an issue so I don't worry. I'm lucky enough to have ridden GS's in very extreme conditions and they are as tough as old boots. I average 20k a year so I know how good these bikes are and am happy to fix something when it goes up the wazoo rather than blame the bike/dealer or anyone else.

Some folk just seem to make a mountain out of a molehill when there really is no need.

I had a rear oil seal go on my 1200 a couple of years ago and did 1500 miles before I got to change it. There was oil on my disc but it's hardly a deal breaker because the front brakes are so good. In my view, it's only an easily replacable seal which won't stop you going anywhere. It's NOT a safety issue that's for sure.

The OP's dealer is an idiot to say what he did but the fact remains, it's only a seal. If I were him, I would try it under warranty but not be surprised if they don't do it and he has to pay. They may offer to pay the labour of something in the worst scenario.

Oh, tosser is a term of endearment on here

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Sgt. sounds like you're on the payroll

Nope, not on the payroll but i'm a realist about the GS and about the up's and down's of ownership.

 

[Dahoum]

Tosser... is that a ukGSer term? Sgt is a Moderator so can say what he wants....

TOSSsssSSEERRRRRRRR

 

[R17GSR]

I concurr Sgt. just dont like peeps saying that seals, bearings etc go for no reason. I deal with then in every day life in much harsher enviroments, seals fail yes, after 10 years.
Had a similar problem with moderators on the Guzzi forum, the Stelvio was erupting before peeps eyes and the mods thought it quite normal.
Sorry I do around 28k a year through all Eurpoes crap weather, still run a Pan Euro in the winter 3 months, ( Dec, Jan, Feb) with no issues at all. My last Pan did 273K miles, original running gear.
My Drive shaft went last week @40K on the GS. Considering it's got no lube nipple I think that's ok, even the £280 for a new shaft, when a UJ spider is about £50.
Rant over...........for now.
Ride safe
Gary

 

[GSband]

The same seal on my '07 R12GS went at around 45000km on a holiday trip in the Auvergne region in France. Bike was still in its' 2 year warranty period. Was replaced by French dealer FOC. He had more spares in stock since this is a common problem. Told me that the part number had changed, his guess was that the design had been improved on.

Why would it not be replaced FOC in the warranty period ? Beats me.

 

[velofelo29]

Fitting Seals

Please don't knock me here for stating"the bleeding obvios". One point worth noting is that when fitting any seal it should be fitted with a smear of lubrication to the sealing face. Most garter style seals use a knife edge to the actual sealing face and if this is assembled and operated dry, the damage to the seal occurs in the first few seconds of its life. It is not enough to think that the fact it is holding oil back will lubricate the contact area during its initial start up. Clearly however this should not be an issue on a new factory assembled item, but I have certainly witnessed parts under repair washed off with solvent and then assembled "dry". Again the higher the shaft speed the the more likely immediate damage would be caused. Just my pet tuppence worth

 

[Nick dj]

Seal is about 8 quid from Motorworks, or from any industrial bearing supplier. You can stipulate 'Viton' rubber with them, it's a higher running temp than standard Neprene black seals.


Shouldn`t BMW know of the `Viton` seal and fit it as standard?

There appears to be more and more simple faults on a design that has hardly changed. Would people accept it on a Jap bike?

 

[Stretchamus]

What has me been a moderator got to do with anything The great thing about this site is anyone can say what they like and thanks goodness we all have differing opinions about things.

Some folk just seem to make a mountain out of a molehill when there really is no need.
Oh, tosser is a term of endearment on here

Thank goodness for that, indeed.

Best regards Stretch

 

[leasky]

Guys, thanks for the pointers.

I took the liberty of going into the local stealer this afternoon and they have agreed to replace the FD seal and fix the faulty fuel gauge.

Bike is booked in for Tuesday of next week; so a full update shall be posted.

Leasky.