Triumphrat

ncdave · 05-05-2009, 09:52 AM

After my track day, I've noticed an oil leak on the left hand side of the motor. It's a slight leak, but I'll need to address it before another track day rolls around. Before I dig into it, I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced something similar and how much of an issue I might be getting into. Does the cover on that side hold oil in? Other bikes I'm familiar with have a cover there for timing purposes. I don't have a manual yet, so just checking for advice/experience.

Will · 05-05-2009, 01:13 PM

The big cover on the left side? It's your stator. Take a look at the top of the cover. It's where the wiring goes to your alternator. My guess is it's the source of your leak if you haven't dropped the bike. There's a rubber plug surrounding the wire where it penetrates the case. Yes, it's got oil in it. The cover is a bit of a beast to get off, since the magnets involved are plenty strong, but if you have to replace the gasket, it's pretty straight forward. I generally use some Permatex on the gasket to keep it in place during reassembly and to make sure everything seals up properly. If you do something like this, make sure you use the Permatex sparingly but completely so you don't get it spooging into the inside of the motor. I doubt it would cause problems, since the stator doesn't rotate, but why take the chance?

ncdave · 05-05-2009, 05:11 PM

Thanks...I'll take a look. Depending on weather and other things on the list, I may pull the plastics tonight. It looked like the leak could be coming from somewhere underneath that general area. Anything down there to suspect?

BombFactory · 05-05-2009, 11:28 PM

There are a few things to look for. As Will said, take a close look at the wire grommet on top of the stator cover, and check the surrounding stator cover gasket.

Also, take a look up on the transmission top and side of the engine block/cylinder head. If the cam cover gasket is leaking, oil can run down and drip off the stator cover, making it appear to be the cover.

If you cannot find any issue there, I hate to say it because it sounds so simple, but it could be the chain oil or shift shaft seal. If a chain is really lubed up, the oil can pool in the sprocket cover and drip down, appearing to be a leak. If oil is coming from that cover, it could be that or a leaking shift shaft seal.

A bunch of stuff, but better to look at them all with the fairings off.

ncdave · 05-06-2009, 09:43 AM

Thanks for the tips guys. I had a LOUSY night last night. Everything I touched seemed to go wrong. I started taking the plastic off the Triumph to get another look at were I had a leak. Well, I couldn’t find anything that looked out of line. I decided to take the tank off and check out the air filter. So, the fuel hoses are a quick-connect type. I took them out and gas starts gushing. I plugged the holes with my fingers and yelled for my son to come give me a hand with the other connections on the tank. First mess.

So the fuel is still coming out even with the tank tipped up. I decided to grab a bucket to catch the spill. I set it on the garage floor over the bucket. I had enough for the time being. I needed to run to wally world, so I grabbed my keys. On the way out the garage, I noticed that someone didn’t put away the water hose properly. Yet another frustration. So I stopped to roll it up. It was a bit tangled and I tossed the nozzle behind me and part of the hose hit the motorcycle tank enough to tip it over and it went rolling onto the concrete. Lots of scuffs and a dent in the tank. My god how could the night get worse. I left.

When I got home I decided to not touch anything else the rest of the night. Well, I couldn’t help myself and went back out into the garage to put the tank back on the bike. So when I was putting one of the quick connects back on (with gas still flowing out), I broke it. I quit. I just quit. I’m STILL frustrated about it today. I ordered new parts off of bikebandit.com. Hopefully it won’t take too long to get them in. Does anyone have a gun I can borrow? I only need to use it once.

BombFactory · 05-06-2009, 11:17 AM

That does sound like a wild night! Sorry to hear of the troubles. The fuel fittings can be a pain, but the female connectors in the tank should have closed up once the male fittings were removed. When you fix the fitting(s) check to see if there is something sticking the females fittings open.

Hopefully the scratches in the tank are only in the clear coat. You should be able to have them buffed out if that is the case. As for the dents, they'll just add character

I hope the project goes smoothly from here on out. Keep us posted.

ncdave · 05-06-2009, 05:00 PM

the female ended definitely didn't seal up. That would have made FAR more sense to me. Any idea on how to get them loose?

More importantly, any idea how long it takes to get TT600 parts?

Oh...as for the scratches....they are through the paint. The tank basically fell on it's side (dent) and then rolled from one side to the other, scratching along the way. ugh.....

ncdave · 05-06-2009, 10:57 PM

well, the good news is that the female fittings are now holding the fuel in. I can't explain how or why other than just tinkering with them. New male fitting on order, so as soon as it arrives, I can get it back on the road. By the way...those clamps are kinda funky, huh.

Will · 05-12-2009, 02:07 PM

I'm guessing there was dirt or something in the fittings.

ncdave · 05-12-2009, 07:53 PM

Not totally sure, but you may be right. I'm still waiting on parts to get it back together. Seems they are on a slow boat from England.