Let's play "Figure out why my bike is leaking oil"

[pete]

http://bwringer.com/gs/camchaintens.html

Not a 450, but this might help.

That's the one! I believe it's the same tensioner on most of the different GS' regardless of capacity...

[Charlie G]

That's the one! I believe it's the same tensioner on most of the different GS' regardless of capacity...

This is the one I used to rebuild my tensioner. The parts numbers apply to the GS450. The oil seperation screens in the breather cover on the head, if missing will cause oil to dump out of the bottom of the air box.

cg

[Mike]

Alright - replaced the gasket on the tensioner and took it out.

Still leaking. It's definitely coming right out of the airbox. Where do I start looking tomorrow?

[Mike]

I assume I need to take the breather off, but what am I looking for?

[pete]

If it's coming out of the airbox, it could simply be a build up of oil blow by over a number of years, or it could mean there's something wrong with the oil separators in the breather cover.

First thing would be to clean all the oil out of the airbox, then run the bike and see if it gets oil real quick or not.

If there's no noticeable oil after a run, I'd suggest it was just a build up over time.

Alternatively, you need to take the breather cover off the valve cover and check out the oil separators to make sure they're still in there.

Breather cover is number 7 and the oil separators are 10 and 11, and note there are four in total, two 10's in the valve cover and two 11's in the breather cover:

[Mike]

I have a feeling it isn't just a build up because it's been happening for a couple weeks now. Plus, the puddle is bigger after longer rides. After my 30 minute ride to work, there was a pretty big spot, but last night I only rode it for about 10 minutes, and the spot was a lot smaller.

[pete]

Shoot some pic's up if you can too, might help us if we're missing something...

[Mike]

Shoot some pic's up if you can too, might help us if we're missing something...

Of anything in particular? Here's the breather cover and underneath it. All four of the wire mesh things are there and nothing is glaringly obvious as being messed up.

[pete]

That does look right to me.

I was thinking more of where the oil is pooling etc. to see if there's something visual we're missing that looks out of place.

[Mike]

That does look right to me.

I was thinking more of where the oil is pooling etc. to see if there's something visual we're missing that looks out of place.

The oil is basically dripping out of the drain tube from the airbox, and getting all over everything underneath it. I think what initially led me to the clutch pushrod seal was oil getting on the chain and spraying around under the cover.

I'm going to try and get the airbox out, who knows how much of a pain that'll be.

[pete]

Apopleptic just did this video for airbox removal:

http://s78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/apopleptic/GSResources%20forum%20pictures/?action=view&current=Airboxremoval.mp4

[Mike]

Alright - got the airbox out, and there's definitely oil sprayed all over behind where the breather tube comes in.

Also found out that the PO decided not to bother with an air filter :\

[pete]

Hmmm here's a thought... did you over fill the oil level? Given the oil separators look good, I'm surprised it's blowing so much through there.

Alternatively, are you sure it's all oil? Is there fuel mixed in with the oil? If your fuel tap is bad it could be leaking fuel into your oil too which may explain an excess of "oil"...

As for the air filter, well... time for a newbie one there

Oh, you do know when checking the oil level you don't screw the dipstick in, you just sit it on top of the threads right?

[Mike]

Hmmm here's a thought... did you over fill the oil level? Given the oil separators look good, I'm surprised it's blowing so much through there.

Alternatively, are you sure it's all oil? Is there fuel mixed in with the oil? If your fuel tap is bad it could be leaking fuel into your oil too which may explain an excess of "oil"...

As for the air filter, well... time for a newbie one there

Oh, you do know when checking the oil level you don't screw the dipstick in, you just sit it on top of the threads right?

I definitely didn't know that about checking the oil. I guess I'll just put it all back together (once I get a filter in), and check the oil and see how it does.

Thanks for all the help so far!

[apopleptic]

hope the video helped.
I'm starting to wonder if my bike is getting gas in the oil too since the oil level has never gone down but I know it's oil leaking somewhere... (100 places maybe)