Triumphrat

jonkull

So I had a total noob moment and thought I was in 5th when I was actually in 4th...on the freeway...doing approx. 60-65mph. My new helmet does such a great job at blocking out noise that I couldn't hear my engine screaming. I road about 7 miles like this before I realized I was only in 4th. I don't really know how high my rpms were during that time (tach needs rebuilding) but I'm assuming the worst given that I'm usually in 5th gear for anything over 45mph.

I exited the freeway shortly after shifting up to 5th and when I stopped I noticed that the left hand side of the gearbox was completely covered in oil. I wiped it down and slowly rode home (on the back roads). No more oil came out.

I haven't had a chance to wash the bike yet to see where all that oil was leaking from. The strange thing is that it sat for 2 days in my garage (after my freeway event) and not a single drop of oil came out of it the whole time...yes, it still has oil in it.

The bike seems to run fine...it got me home that day with no problems. Idles fine. Moves through the gears fine. Doesn't really seem to be running any different than before. So my question is after 7 miles of very high rpms am I looking at possible damage and a rebuild? Besides figuring out where the leak is what else should be checked?

Thanks.

panda

I would be very surprised if the bike even noticed. I have no answer to the oil leak however.

Ride it again and see if it still happens.

A slight possibility is the gearbox seal is 'weak' and as you were in the gears a long time maybe a lot more oil was washed up there. Normally in top gear, no power is transmitted through the gears as the gearbox sprocket is 'pegged' to the clutch shaft which is also the gearbox input shaft, so the other shaft just idles.

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OzBloke

Was it engine oil or gearbox oil?

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jimballard

Does your bike have the breather coming out of the inner top of the primary case? Is the hose tight? Also, the alternator wire comes out of the same area, those grommets have been known to leak. I'm going by the design of my '70, but I don't think they changed them. With the increased revs, I guess it would be possible for some oil to be pushed out under the higher crankcase pressure.

Just a thought: Jim

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jonkull

Well I was a little concerned because I was doing 65mph for about 7 or 8 minutes before I realized I was in 4th gear and shifted up to 5th. When my tach was working I would have shifted around 5000 to 5500 rpm and been going around 45mph (then again when the tach was working my clutch was fried). I was worried that going 65 in 4th gear had the rpms outside of a safe level. All the oil didn't make me feel any better.

I think it's engine oil. After wiping everything down it was still a little wet by the rocker box, push rod tube and along the bottom edge of the cylinder block. Without hosing everything off it's hard to tell what's leaking and what's simply collecting what's been leaking. If that makes sense.

I'll take a look at this stuff when I get home though I'm leaning more towards the cylinder block as the source.

jonkull

Not sure if this is related or not but I've noticed two things that weren't there before...

When I let off the throttle my engine now makes a clunking sound similar to the sound the bike makes when taking it off the center stand. And at lower speeds there is a rattling sound coming from the left side of the engine. It gets louder when the bike leans left.

TR6

'And at lower speeds there is a rattling sound coming from the left side of the engine. It gets louder when the bike leans left. '

Did you check the clearance on the primary chain (1/2" of play is the proper adjustment).

Did you do damage to the motor? Probably not. You probably simply got the motor a bit hot and it developed a leak, probably nothing more. To be sure, do a compression test. Regardless, change the engine oil. If you have an after-market filter installed (if you don't have one get one right away), cut it open it up and check the pleats for excessive metal (doubt you'll find a problem). If the bike has normal power, and the compression is good, just ride it and do routine maintenance as you rack up the miles (tappet adjustment, oil change). Good luck.

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TRI-AL

I suggest a complete re-build and while at it, CLEAN OUT THAT SLUDGE TRAP!!!

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Tbirdnz

I agree with TR6, check out the tension on the primary chain and adjust if necessary. It might be a co-incidence but it could be the source of your oil blow out too as JB indicates.

I wouldn't run the bike until you check it out.

Let us know your findings.


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Ride on !

panda

[quote=jonkull;1050876]Well I was a little concerned because I was doing 65mph for about 7 or 8 minutes before I realized I was in 4th gear and shifted up to 5th. When my tach was working I would have shifted around 5000 to 5500 rpm and been going around 45mph (then again when the tach was working my clutch was fried). I was worried that going 65 in 4th gear had the rpms outside of a safe level. All the oil didn't make me feel any better.


Do not worry, You were nowhere near safe limits.. These things geared down often pulled sidecars. My old t100 was habitually run out to 75mph in second gear I think if you really try, it will do about 100 in fourth so you probably only at 65% max revs

The oil leak is probably unrelated, but check out the primary rattle, these thing tell you when they want attention.

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A wise man learns from his mistakes..
A genius learns from other peoples mistakes.