Hi Guys

Digging around in the joy that is the underside of an 87K bike . While removing the exhaust (that I hasd fantasies of welding up good as new that were a bit short lived...) I noticed a couple of oily areas underneath.

Front one loooks like it's seeping a little from the hole and rear one again from the hole I would think.

Not much coming from either. Do I need to take any action?

Any useful advice gratefully received. One step forward two steps back at the moment....

Best

Dave

If it were me, I'd clean/degrease the area and go for a ride. Then I'd check to see just how much it is leaking.

From that, I'd gauge how soon I'd have to repair it. A tiny bit of oil can make you think you have a huge problem.

Thanks Blakey, I was planning to clean it all up and repaint before I put everything back together and your suggestion sounds a good idea. There can't be much from the front hole as there's nothing ever in the undertray. Not sure about the back one; I'm probably just getting paranoid

When my R series started to leak a bit i explained to people that i had taught her to speak English !

Ghost who rides wrote:When my R series started to leak a bit i explained to people that i had taught her to speak English !

You could be right Ghost, that this bike's spent too long around Brit classics!

My Vincent has been around BM's for too long.......never a drop under it.

Don't forget sidecar that the Vincent is at least half Australian !

That oily and dirty mess in the front of the motor might be from a leaking oil pressure switch, which is buried within the debris. A quick clean and a keen eye will confirm whether it is coming from there. Otherwise, it could be leakage from the bottom edge of the timing chain cover.

As for the weep hole on the 'bell housing', mine has a whole shite load of oil surrounding it - but it never drips. So much so that the seam between the casings is discoloured with a slimy grey oily film after a clean and then a long ride.

Time for a lube of all of the splines anyway so I will be sure to have every seal contained within that space at hand before I head in there soon. The clutch is nowhere near slippage though that can happen at any time if it decides to become a gusher at some stage.

Thanks Guest, that's good info mate, much appreciated. No spline lube due so will keep an eye on it and only venture in if it starts to look bad.
Best
Dave

I've cleaned all this up now (but forgot tot ake a photo) and there is a slight weep from the hole in the centre of the shot below (if you view the oil filter cover as a clock it's at 11 o'clock position). Would appreciate a diagnosis of where it's coming from and what, if anything it means. Thanks


[/quote]

im afraid oil - water pump seals are on the cards dave ...

Thanks Charlie, darn it! I've read the new seals posts and think a new/or secondhand oil/water pump will have to be bought or stolen or otherwise aquired .

Cheers
Dave

When I see this picture, it reminds me that I earlier was up to send a post in this thread.....but forgotten (as a lot of other things).

What I earlier did notice, was that "clean" look around the weep hole to the oil/water pump, and that it seems like outcoming oil cleans the area around the hole.

Search Charlie`s thread about overhauling the pump.

Edit: To slow....again....have to blame my english teacher....can`t do in person since....six feet...long time gone.

its not that hard to do mate ...

and won't cost an arm and a leg , just allow yourself a few hours and carefull about the sealant

http://k100rt.aforumfree.com/t1833p250-85-rt-resto-my-attempt-hey-im-not-into-making-a-show-bike#34154

Thanks Inge! I found out recently my English tea who was a bit of a hero was actually about 20 years younger than I am now when he taught my class - bloody hell.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'll look at the options but am not sure I have the time, skill or inclination to attempt what Charlie went through!

There is no oil in the waetr - not a sheen in the filler neck nor a trace when I recently drained the cooling system. The seep is also very slow. So is this something that will be OK for a while and gradually deteriorate or suddenly turn catastrophic? I know it's not always easy to predict but I am wondering if I need to do this before a couple of weekend ride-outs this summer or if it can wait until fall?

Thanks
Dave

MT350Explorer wrote:There is no oil in the waetr - not a sheen in the filler neck nor a trace when I recently drained the cooling system. The seep is also very slow. So is this something that will be OK for a while and gradually deteriorate or suddenly turn catastrophic?

Oil entering the cooling system would only be caused by a blocked pump seep hole or a blown head gasket (quite seldom).

If the leak is just minor, I wouldn`t be in a hurry...just keep an eye on it.

The leak would normaly gradually increase, if it not have a history that it have been stored in a longer amount of time recently.

Thanks Inge, the bike was stood for a few (maybe 2 or 3) years with a broken shaft (I guess it needs a Corbin seat..... ) but had the basics fixed by the last owner who put a couple of thousand miles on it. I'm counting on it being a noce gradual decline!

All the Best
Dave