Triumphrat

Jack_T_Bird

Hey guys!

Haven't posted much here since I joined, but your help would be much appreciated...

My 95 Thunderbird appears to be leaking oil somewhere under the airbox (gear leaver side) and dripping down over the starter motor and all down the sidestand.

Any ideas whats wrong/what I need to do?

All the Best
Jack

BigVinny

I have been meaning to post a thread on this for a while. I have had three mystery oil leaks on the gearchange side over the years on T300 Triumph's.

In every case the leak was caused by the same alternator "O" ring seal failing. If the alternator "O" ring oil seal is nipped during assembly or splits through old age a trickle of oil runs out from the bottom of the alternator past the chain drive sprocket cover/water pump and onto the ground on the left hand side. If you dont know what the cause is its almost impossible to fathom out by inspection only.

This is what I did to sort the leak out:

1. Remove the Alternator finisher (cover). If there is fresh engine oil at the bottom you have probably got the failed "O" ring seal leak.





You can see some engine oil on the chrome chain drive cover here. You will need a 8mm long reach socket to remove the three finisher cover nuts and a long reach Torx T-40 to remove the three torx bolts holding the alternator in. Be carefull one of the Torx bolts has an earth strap connection.

Then hand pull the alternator out:



See the trickle of oil at the bottom. Take a look at the split alternator "O" ring seal:



And the seal removed from the alternator:



Heres the tools, they must be slim (1/4 in drive) and long reach:



The part number for the "O" ring is 3600100-T0301. I reckon I can replace one of these in less than half an hour given the tools. Im quite good at this procedure now.

Before people start laughing about Triumph's and oil leaks, I stress the failed component is a Japanese one !

Jack_T_Bird

Hi

Thanks for your helpful reply, however the leak doesn't acutually appear to be coming from the area you have mentioned.

The oil is seems to be dripping from somewhere under the chrome airbox cover. It is also only leaking while the engine cools down after a run.

All the Best
Jack

Blackhead

Check other threads on this topic. Based on my own experience and that of others it is likely that the oil is coming from the airbox. If the oil is overfilled (more than half way up the sight glass) some of it ends up in the airbox. When you place the bike on the side stand the oil in the airbox flows to one side and leaks out from the joint where the two halves of the airbox are joined. This oil runs out exactly where you describe.

Gdsila

It's true that overfilling will cause an "oil leak" I know the Haynes manual says use 4 liters of oil for the Legend/T Bird/ Adventurer. And 3.75 Liters for the Trophy 1200.
Which makes no sense and is a typo. It should be 3.75 For the Legend/T Bird/Adventurer as well. 4 liters of oil will put you 6-8 ounces overfull.
Hope this helps.

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No quarter asked, none given

TravelinManOhio

You said that the leak appears to be coming from under the chrome airbox cover. With oil over-fill, if you have any kind of a crack in your airbox, as I do from the screws being overtightened on the plastic (factory) you will get leaking from the crack before the drain tube can let it all drain. I overfilled once and tracked to airbox.

I also had what looked like oil dripping onto my exhuast right below the shifter/ side-stand. I didn't find the cause of this until replacing my front sprocket. I have tried a couple of different chain lubes..... some work great for staying on and other don't. some look just like WD-40. after getting my front sprocket cover off I found chain lube dark as oil and an inch thick around the inside of my sprocket cover, after I ride for a while the engine heat loosens/melts the lube, dripping it down onto my exhaust.

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whats the coldest you rode?

Jack_T_Bird

I think you've cracked it guys, I did just put 3 litres of oil in, and the level in the sight glass is more than half full...

Wil this oil in the airbox cause any damge?

What do you suggest I do?

All the Best
Jack

parrycm

NOTE: After chenging the oil - always recheck the oil level after running the engine.

Oil in the airbox will clog the filter. You could try removing/disassembling the airbox and cleaning out the excess. This would also allow you to check if the filter needs replacement which means either replacing the whole airbox with the Triumph part or putting K&N filters in the existing airbox.

By the way, a couple of tips for doing the alternator:

One, to prevent the alternator seal from being nipped or cut: Put the seal on the alternator and then smear a little STP additive or silicon lubricant all round the seal. You can also smear it on the mating surfaces on the engine before offering up the alternator. That provides enough slip that the alternator should mount with no problems.

Two, to hold the rubber blocks in the anti-shock drive (nicely illustrated in BV's pictures) - coat them with a little grease. That makes them sticky enough to hold to the drive before you offer up the alternator.

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Chris

"Panniers can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need."

t-birder

This has been very informative. Thanks, guys!

WoodsieIII

Never ever fit an "o"ring dry. All "o" ring need to be lubricated. Instead of the genuine Triumph part go to a hydraulics place and match it up for a replacement one of 90 duro hardness. This will last heaps longer than the original "soft" "o"ring of 70 duro.

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I believe there is no such thing as accidents. When I ride I must leave enough room for others stupid mistakes, added to that is enough room to make my own.