2001 Sprint Oil and mystery part

[wesalexleft]

I just recently bought a 2001 Sprint ST with 1100 miles on the clock. I've put about 400 miles on it so far since I've owned it and have been smelling oil burning as I sit at stoplights. I took her skins off this weekend and had oil around the clutch cover gasket and leaking down to the pan. It's not enough to leave a spot on the ground, but is landing on the exhaust. I cleaned her up a bit and the oil appears to be coming from a recessed torx nut which is screwed into the block just above the clutch cover and just forward of the clutch cable lever. The nut looks the same as the engine mounting nuts, but this one is in the side of the motor. I haven't found a good pic in the Triumph Service Manual yet to give me an idea what it's for? Can anyone tell me its function and also give any advice on possible sources for the oil leak on a motor this "unused"? Again, this is clutch side...

thanks,

[ExKellick]

G'day Wes, I'm not 100% sure but it looks to me as if the bolt you are referring to just goes into the oil galleries. It may just be there because the block had to be crossdrilled during manufacture. The only reference I can find in the Haynes manual is that these are to be removed and blown through is you do a full rebuild but there are no indicated pictures.

I would say that given the incredibly low mileage of you bike the gaskets may be completely dry and are now seeping oil, it may stop naturally but would probably be better if the seal (whatever it is) is replaced.

BTW, that mileage is insane, who would buy a bike like the Sprint and ride it so little in 7 years. Mad. I think I rode that much in the first two weeks.

[oldndumb]

wes, If you are not already aware of bikebandit, they have an online parts fische that you can reference. Three things to remember about them though, the part numers are their own system, not Triumph, orders for Triumph parts take a loong time from them, and their customer service is not as good as other online vendors. But is is a good resource for us.

If this is not your correct vin/sn, you can correct the selection.

www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/triumph-motorcycle-sprint-st-serial-number-139277-to-208166/o/m6907

[wesalexleft]

Thanks to both. I hadn't considered a plug for manufacure. I was concerned that it may be to tension an inner part. I'll know more this evening. After de-greasing the engine this weekend, I wanted to ride it today and then look for fresh oil to trace the location of the leak. If its just a paper gasket here and there, then no big deal, I'll replace on the next oil change until I narrow them down. The "mystery" plug has me worried as does a head gasket leak. I've not been able to find any info on the plug and before I start loosening or tigthening it, I'd like to know what it does. I'll have to dig a little deeper. I may try to get a picture up on it tomorrow or the next.

I agree fully that 1100 miles on a 7 year old bike it ridiculous!!! What a waste. I've put 400 miles on it in just a few weeks and while it was down for fuel fittings too.

P.S. Bike Bandit and I are old friends, that and the Triumph Service Manual.

[wesalexleft]

Okay, I've uploaded the image of the mystery bolt to the member gallery and if there's another place I should put the image, please just let me know. Can anyone please identify this bolt, what it's for, and what to do if it's leaking oil? I can loosen, locktite and reinstall, but I don't have a torque spec. Thanks for anything you can do.

[ExKellick]

Wes, got your PM. I was just thinking about this plug - even went down and had a look on my bike. As far as I can tell it is the oil gallery plug as stated earlier. Yours looks to be the same as mine, which is most likely an M14 plug. If it is this then it looks like it should have a washer of some sort behind it. If it's anything like the sump plug it may be copper. If so then you could just anneal it over a gas flame (heat red hot and quench) which will restore its softness and it will probably seal just fine again. That said, a little sealant smeared on the seal and perhaps on the thread should make it never want to leak again. The emphasis being on a little - just enough to fill the threads (start 1 or 2 back on the plug) but not too much that a bit of it could break off and contaminate your oil system. You should use something compatible with oil like a gasket sealant or purpose made thread seal. I am really slack (and I spent a few years at sea making do) so use whatever I have that suits best. I sometimes use a tiny bit of silicon sealant (red high temp stuff that I happen to have in my toolbox) and that usually works fine.

I had a look at some torque calculations and you should be safe using around 30-35Nm of torque. I rarely use torque settings (I will probably be flamed by the purists out there) because they are wildly inaccurate usually depending on friction and a million other things - I also spent quite number of years fixing diesel engines and other stuff so I have a bit of a feel for tightening things up. They are a reasonable guide though.

Let us know how you get on. Good luck.