Triumphrat

meatwagon · 08-15-2005

I rode pretty hard Saturday night .When I went out to hop on the bike Sunday morn.....OIL on the Ground..( I geuss this makes me a REAL Triumph owner) The leak seems to be from the primary drive case..whatta bummer..seems like a few drops around the breather pipe bottom too..Oh well ,taking it in to the dealer tomorrow.Any comments(yes I rode at night with only a permit,Philip,so save it) or like experiences you'd like to share ..let's hear about leaks and resolution.Thanks

meatwagon · 08-16-2005

Bump...Nobody has had any leaks to report?I know ar least one person had a problem with the breather tube O-ring leak..what was the end result?I read that just the O-ring replacement would require head removal..alot of work;I am wondering if this was done on warranty with no problem..I have at least two leaks which may need more than bolt tightening to fix and could use some advice.I got a Hinckley because I wanted the oil to stay in the engine..not on my driveway.PS It ain't cosmolene..

Paul · 08-16-2005

No leaks yet at 18k. A few weeps on some of the seams, but nothing that even comes close to looking like a leak.

meatwagon · 08-16-2005

Perhaps I should clarify what I see...a few drops seeping at the bottom of the breather tube,collecting dirt......a silver dollar sized oil patch under the chain drive with evidence of leaks all around the inner gasket at the crank case.If it hits the ground,it's a leak!

cal6n · 08-16-2005

Just wondering about the mileage on the bike? Also, how tight is your chain? If it's over-tightened, then the bearing can shag-out and take the oil seal with it. The result would be exactly as you describe for the drive chain leak.

TrumpetPlayer · 08-16-2005

By "breather tube", you mean?

If you're referring to the crankcase breather tube that eminates from the clutch cover, I can't imagine why the head would need to be removed.

If you're referring to the oil return tube at the front of the engine, that kind of looks like a fake-o push rod tube, then you may be able to fix it by simply grabbing the tube and rotating it a smidge. They sometimes are not seated quite right, and a half turn in either direction will make them seal up. It's a common, and minor, issue.

If you're referring to the airbox drain tube, then it might mean that you need to remove the airfilter and confirm that your airbox is not full of oil.

meatwagon · 08-16-2005

By 'Breather tube " I meant the oil return tube at the front of the engine.(oops)Small amount of oil visible at the base.Cal6n I have 1300 miles on it,chain was adjusted at 700 mile service.Two weeks ago I put it up on the center stand and cleaned the chain,sprayed on some Bel-Ray and checked tension with finger..seemed ok,about 1.25 inch play(did not actually measure with straight edge and ruler).I took it in to the shop today,while I was there someone gave a message to the service manager about a bike with drive bearing oil seal leak.He said that could be me too.Then again the service manager is not a mechanic..neither am I. I leave it to the pro's if it involves opening engine cases,etc.Especially while the warranty is in effect.I think it's just a bad gasket or seal down there..No one else had this problem?I must be special.

bosoxrider · 08-16-2005

Could it actually be from the gas overflow? Is it just a quarter size dried stain?

dazco · 08-16-2005

Another thing to consider is the oil lines where they connect to the cooler. I had the top line leak and the oil blows back to the engine while riding so you don't realize it's coming from the cooler connections. there are copper washers where the oil lines connect and they can leak. I just took the line off and sanded the washers smooth by running them back and fourth over a piece of 600 wet and dry sandpaper flat on a desk. This did the trick. I had even tightened the heck out of it to no avail, but once the washers were smooth it stopped. At first i thought the cam cover gasket was leaking because the oils was blowing back onto it. If your lower oil line is leaking the oil could maybe blow back onto the bottom of that oil return tube at the front you mentioned. Just a thought.

meatwagon · 08-16-2005

Bosoxrider,no,it's definitely nice clean engine oil.It is however covering the evap cannister or whatever that is down there(zip tied on?!)alittle blew onto the center stand.Look at the right side of a Bonnie engine..on the left you see an oval shaped cover which is the sprocket drive cover,no?Below and to the right (and set back) is another cover;that's where the leak is...between the primary drive and the main crank case (where the oil sight glass is).Some part of the trans mission..wish I could be more specific.Dazco I was cleaning the bike a few weeks ago and noticed a very little seepage on the braided oil cooler lines..I didn't want to tighten the fitting any more for fear of making it worse..it was exceedingly minor.The spot at the bottom of the chrome oil return tube is something else..a couple drops.Hey I was on vacation with out the bike for almost two weeks ,then my wife went on a business trip last weekend...I rode the bike alot Fri night..all day Sat :-D ,Rode out to a punk show Sat night...Trying to put some miles on..ended up with a leak(or two).I am curious to hear what the mechanics say :hammer: