Does one NEED to fix oil leaks?

[cowboyup3371]

I meant the sprocket cover that the clutch pushrod is under. There's no gasket there, though - could the bit where the pushrod goes in be leaking?

I added the extra word but to answer your question it is possible that seal is leaking. Clean up the area you believe the leak is coming from and spray it down with Athlete's Foot powder; you'll see where the leak is really coming from.

[earlfor]

I meant the cover that the clutch pushrod is under. There's no gasket there, though - could the bit where the pushrod goes in be leaking?

On my 450L, under the counter shaft sprocket cover was the clutch pushrod and the foot gear shift shaft. There is a small round rubber doughnut that slides over the shifter shaft and presses into a recess and is the oil seal. Ten to 1, that is the source of your oil leak. A new doughnut will cost you about $3 and you can pick/pull/remove the old one with a hook and some small pliers. Press the new one in using a socket of appropriate size. Put a smear of oil on the new one before pressing it in.

[FLHGSRay]

[QUOTE000lee;2097392]Besides what everybody else said, who said I was a man?[/QUOTE]

I did actually look at your handle before I said "man up". I have 2 daughters so I'm sensitive to that sort of thing. When I saw sam, I assumed you were a man. No insult intended, and I apologize. Now, yes, you need to fix your oil leak. It probably won't hurt your engine, though, so do it at your leisure. Don't think you need to immediately park the bike.

[sam000lee]

Ok thanks all - got some good tips!

[Gorminrider]

Just get a Triumph badge for the tank. All fixed!

FYI "sam"= Samantha possibly.

[stetracer]

since it is a girls bike maybe it just that time of the month and it will stop leaking in a week

[sam000lee]

Found it with help from the footpowder trick! It's coming from the clutch pushrod which becomes quite apparent if you put a bit of paper towel against where it goes in:.




Thinking it could be #20 in this.

[Allie]

I did actually look at your handle before I said "man up". I have 2 daughters so I'm sensitive to that sort of thing. When I saw sam, I assumed you were a man. No insult intended, and I apologize. Now, yes, you need to fix your oil leak. It probably won't hurt your engine, though, so do it at your leisure. Don't think you need to immediately park the bike.

It's kind of off putting no matter who it's addressed to, It's kind of like, hey what am I, chopped liver?

I will say one thing though, if you're going to hang out in a place with such a male heavy population you're going to have to get used to hearing some crass comments now and then - st(re)etracer illustrates this point beautifully.

[sam000lee]

Are #21-#29 part of the assembly that is on the cover where the clutch cable goes into? It almost looks as if I could replace the #20 part by removing the #22 cover from under the sprocket cover instead of having to remove the whole clutch.

[81GS850]

You all seem to be getting bent out of shape on a comment that sounded to me like it was jokingly made.


You should fix the leak when you get the chance like it looks like you're doing. Although when I read the thread title I thought you were asking for acceptance to be lazy

[Gorminrider]

.... if I were you, I would ride on until the weather turns. I think that drip is below the oil level and only leaks when you ride. Therefore, not crucial in my book. Of course, it needs doing but maybe not in the good weather..? Putting the bike on the centre stand might help the slow the drip.

[Allie]

.... if I were you, I would ride on until the weather turns. I think that drip is below the oil level and only leaks when you ride. Therefore, not crucial in my book. Of course, it needs doing but maybe not in the good weather..? Putting the bike on the centre stand might help the slow the drip.

I get a bit of weepage around the base/head gaskets, I'm convinced it mainly comes out while the bike is running, and on the side stand. It's not enough that you actually see a drop of oil anywhere, but eventually it starts to look sooty in front of the engine.

[SVSooke]

I can't remember the number but an amazing amount of water is contaminated by a drop of oil.

[Gorminrider]

That is an excellent point. Ideally, a motorcycle saves gasoline and doesn't drip oil either.
...Just being facetious now, Does a bike with a drip that's mostly contained on cardboard (which can be burned as heating fuel) or recycled from a drip tray save enough contamination to justify the fuel it saves?
SV, your point reminds me; Does anyone else of a certain age think the center of the road is much cleaner nowadays with modern vehicles that aren't constantly dripping as the old cars seemed to?

[winfield]

SV, your point reminds me; Does anyone else of a certain age think the center of the road is much cleaner nowadays with modern vehicles that aren't constantly dripping as the old cars seemed to?

That's what they claimed in the Basic Rider Course I took in May. I still don't ride in the center of the lane. I don't trust it. My Pappy told me the center has oil and such dropped from vehicles and he was never wrong