Oil Leaks

[gleno]

I was very happy NOT to find a thread devoted to oil leaks. That’s got to be a good sign right?

After arriving home from a 2,500km trip I noticed spots of oil on the garage floor that appeared over night.

Now if there is one thing that drives me crazy, its oil leaks (and unidentified squeaks) from the motor or gearbox.

It really spins me out when the offending oil has a drip or two onto a hot exhaust while you are idling at the lights and sends an exaggerated plume of smoke billowing around your growling monster max. That blows all street cred straight out the window. (much to the amusement and delight of the cagers idling either side of you).

NOW IT HAS TO BE FIXED AT ANY COST.

I degreased the bike and got to work finding the leak.

It seemed to come from around the gear change shaft but I had replaced the seal before I went away. Removed the middle gear side cover and the gear selector shaft seal showed no signs of leakage when inspected.

Maybe the neutral switch had worked loose and the O-ring was leaking? No, no leaking there either.

Clutch slave cylinder? No, this is engine oil not hydraulic fluid.

Consulted the Yamaha Manual to see if there are any other seals, bolts or gaskets that might be a source of my slow leak.

At the bottom of page 3-58 of my Yamaha Manual I find a diagram of a crankcase with a hand inserting a push rod bearing oil seal (and seal) but wait a minute, what bike is that?

Take a look at the close up of the drawing in the second pic and pay close attention to the numbered labels. What side of your V-max are you looking at?

The diagram appears to have been reversed and should look like the third picture. Yes that is how the right side of your V-max should look.

Whatever you do don’t look too hard at the fourth picture and try to match the numbered labels to the parts in the diagram. From about part 18 onward it’ll give you BRAIN DAMAGE. You have been warned.

And so, my quest has led me to a question for forum members experienced in tracking oil leaks.

Before I go through the agro of removing the clutch slave cylinder to inspect the seal, has anybody had to replace the seal on the clutch push rod? This seal looks like I might have to split the cases to replace it.

[FONT=&quot]Any advice apart from read the manual?[/FONT]

 

[Neil-3446]

Re: Oils Leaks

I was very happy NOT to find a thread devoted to oil leaks. That?s got to be a good sign right?

After arriving home from a 2,500km trip I noticed spots of oil on the garage floor that appeared over night.

Now if there is one thing that drives me crazy, its oil leaks (and unidentified squeaks) from the motor or gearbox.

It really spins me out when the offending oil has a drip or two onto a hot exhaust while you are idling at the lights and sends an exaggerated plume of smoke billowing around your growling monster max. That blows all street cred straight out the window. (much to the amusement and delight of the cagers idling either side of you).

NOW IT HAS TO BE FIXED AT ANY COST.

I degreased the bike and got to work finding the leak.

It seemed to come from around the gear change shaft but I had replaced the seal before I went away. Removed the middle gear side cover and the gear selector shaft seal showed no signs of leakage when inspected.

Maybe the neutral switch had worked loose and the O-ring was leaking? No, no leaking there either.

Clutch slave cylinder? No, this is engine oil not hydraulic fluid.

Consulted the Yamaha Manual to see if there are any other seals, bolts or gaskets that might be a source of my slow leak.

At the bottom of page 3-58 of my Yamaha Manual I find a diagram of a crankcase with a hand inserting a push rod bearing oil seal (and seal) but wait a minute, what bike is that?

Take a look at the close up of the drawing in the second pic and pay close attention to the numbered labels. What side of your V-max are you looking at?

The diagram appears to have been reversed and should look like the third picture. Yes that is how the right side of your V-max should look.

Whatever you do don?t look too hard at the fourth picture and try to match the numbered labels to the parts in the diagram. From about part 18 onward it?ll give you BRAIN DAMAGE. You have been warned.

And so, my quest has led me to a question for forum members experienced in tracking oil leaks.

Before I go through the agro of removing the clutch slave cylinder to inspect the seal, has anybody had to replace the seal on the clutch push rod? This seal looks like I might have to split the cases to replace it.

[FONT=&quot]Any advice apart from read the manual?[/FONT]

Fuel or crank over flow, unless you're sure the spill is total weighted oil. Is it pure oil or not?

Neil

 

[Buster Hymen]

Re: Oils Leaks

I've had oil leaks on that side and it usually comes from 1 of the following areas. First check if there is an oil in your airbox. Oil can get up in there under long vboost conditions and then runs down the side of the motor and drips down by the side kickstand. Depending on what year your VMax is, the wires from your stator may be wrapped in a cloth insulation. This acts like a wick and oil soaks along this and drips near the gear shift. Another spot is on the stator cover, I think the bolt at the 6 o'clock position needs a crush washer on it or you get a small leak around the bolt and will drip near the gear shifter. Good luck in your search!

 

[gleno]

Re: Oils Leaks

I've had oil leaks on that side and it usually comes from 1 of the following areas. First check if there is an oil in your airbox. Oil can get up in there under long vboost conditions and then runs down the side of the motor and drips down by the side kickstand. Depending on what year your VMax is, the wires from your stator may be wrapped in a cloth insulation. This acts like a wick and oil soaks along this and drips near the gear shift. Another spot is on the stator cover, I think the bolt at the 6 o'clock position needs a crush washer on it or you get a small leak around the bolt and will drip near the gear shifter. Good luck in your search!

Thanks Buster. I'll start a check list and update the thread a bit later

 

[gleno]

Re: Oils Leaks

Yep, total weighted oil.

 

[shawn kloker]

Re: Oils Leaks

I was very happy NOT to find a thread devoted to oil leaks. That?s got to be a good sign right?

After arriving home from a 2,500km trip I noticed spots of oil on the garage floor that appeared over night.

Now if there is one thing that drives me crazy, its oil leaks (and unidentified squeaks) from the motor or gearbox.

It really spins me out when the offending oil has a drip or two onto a hot exhaust while you are idling at the lights and sends an exaggerated plume of smoke billowing around your growling monster max. That blows all street cred straight out the window. (much to the amusement and delight of the cagers idling either side of you).

NOW IT HAS TO BE FIXED AT ANY COST.

I degreased the bike and got to work finding the leak.

It seemed to come from around the gear change shaft but I had replaced the seal before I went away. Removed the middle gear side cover and the gear selector shaft seal showed no signs of leakage when inspected.

Maybe the neutral switch had worked loose and the O-ring was leaking? No, no leaking there either.

Clutch slave cylinder? No, this is engine oil not hydraulic fluid.

Consulted the Yamaha Manual to see if there are any other seals, bolts or gaskets that might be a source of my slow leak.

At the bottom of page 3-58 of my Yamaha Manual I find a diagram of a crankcase with a hand inserting a push rod bearing oil seal (and seal) but wait a minute, what bike is that?

Take a look at the close up of the drawing in the second pic and pay close attention to the numbered labels. What side of your V-max are you looking at?

The diagram appears to have been reversed and should look like the third picture. Yes that is how the right side of your V-max should look.

Whatever you do don?t look too hard at the fourth picture and try to match the numbered labels to the parts in the diagram. From about part 18 onward it?ll give you BRAIN DAMAGE. You have been warned.

And so, my quest has led me to a question for forum members experienced in tracking oil leaks.

Before I go through the agro of removing the clutch slave cylinder to inspect the seal, has anybody had to replace the seal on the clutch push rod? This seal looks like I might have to split the cases to replace it.

[FONT=&quot]Any advice apart from read the manual?[/FONT]

You are right the pushrod seal is in the middle of the motor. Not much fun to change.

 

[gleno]

Re: Oils Leaks

Hey Sean. What kind of an idiot would design a motor that requires the case to be split to replace a seal?

Do you mean I have to remove the clutch slave cylinder to replace the seal or split the cases?

 

[one2dmax]

Re: Oils Leaks

That seal is hardly ever bad. There is another seal on the outside of the block in front of that pushaft shaftguide. It's easily replaced by removing the slave and using a screwdriver to "pop" it out. Use some Yamabond or sealer on the outside surface and push the new one back in. It's not a super snug fit and is held in place by the slave itself.

Sean

 

[gleno]

Re: Oils Leaks

Thanks Sean. That's a relief.

 

[gleno]

Re: Oils Leaks

That seal is hardly ever bad. There is another seal on the outside of the block in front of that pushaft shaftguide. It's easily replaced by removing the slave and using a screwdriver to "pop" it out. Use some Yamabond or sealer on the outside surface and push the new one back in. It's not a super snug fit and is held in place by the slave itself.

Sean

What is Yamabond?

What sealer would you use to seal the seals?

 

[shawn kloker]

Re: Oils Leaks

Yamabond is what Yamaha uses to put the two crankcases together. Gray sealer.

 

[gleno]

Re: Oils Leaks

Yamabond is what Yamaha uses to put the two crankcases together. Gray sealer.

Thanks for the info Shawn. While I'm here I may as well pick your brain clean.

Do you know what the dimensions of the external oil seal for the clutch push rod are?

For example the oil seal on the gear shift arm is; Inside diameter 12mm outside diameter 22mm thickness 5mm.

It's 100% cheaper to buy these from the bearing wholesalers than from the Yamaha dealerships.