Triumphrat

TThruxton · 10-24-2005

I spotted that the oil seal on the output shaft is leaking a bit. Oil gets onto the sprocket, and there is oil drops hanging under the sprocket cover.

I suspect that on the last service the chain might have been overtighted, the bike had a "stiff" feel, slight vibration on certain speeds. This has gone away now, chain slack was measured yesterday; 35mm, which is in the upper end of the tolerance. I have driven it 500 miles since the service. Not could the chain have been that tight after the service, since it is 35mm now?

This seal is easy replaceable I guess?

Anyone else got this problem? My Thruxton has now covered abt. 12.500 miles.

bluesjeans · 10-24-2005

Quote:

On 2005-10-24 01:07, TThruxton wrote:
I spotted that the oil seal on the output shaft is leaking a bit. Oil gets onto the sprocket..

Surely that's not a problem, that's one of those built-in "features"..

An automatic chain oiler

;-)

Mancha · 10-24-2005

*****, I think this has happened to my bike as well. I found oil leaking out from under the sprocket cover. Removed the cover, decided it was gunk thrown up from the chain, cleaned it and replaced the cover. It always seemed like an overly easy answer though, and a suspicious amount of gunk as well. This explanation makes more sense. My oil level isn't suspiciously low though???

How do I check to determine that it really is this "leaking oil seal on the output shaft"?

badrufus · 10-25-2005

A few Bonnie riders have posted about this problem on the Twins forum, myself included. I noticed the same type of oil leak at around 4500, took it to the dealer for them to verify, they ordered a new countershaft seal, under warranty. When I returned for the repair, the mechanic (not the one who originally verified the leak) concluded that there was no further leak and that whatever I noticed had been cosmolene. I knew this was not the case, but have just figured that I will have to take the bike in when the Triumph mechanic is there in order to prove it to him. I haven't been pushing this because the repair requires splitting the cases in order to properly replace the seal, which I would rather wait until December/January to do. The actual amount of the leak is quite small, so you might not notice it in your oil level sight glass. Some folks have reported replacing the seal or having the dealer do it, without splitting the cases, and the problem reoccurs in short order. So, yes, this problem exists. I read somewhere that it may also have been a problem on earlier Americas. Another reason that I haven't been too hurried about this repair is that I do not know if the cause of the problem has been determined, and I'm not interested in such a major repair if the fault lies in a poorly designed seal. I do keep a close eye on it though, as little leaks can become big leaks.

Mancha · 10-25-2005

Thanks for the feedback. So as long as it's not a GREAT amount of oil (ie: as long as it's not a noticeable shortage in the oil window), this is not a critical problem?