1980 GS550 Oil leaking from clutch?

[jbrown]

Hey so I just found the site today. I have been looking for an oil leak answer, but haven't been able to find one. Hopefully you guys can help out.

I just bought my 1980 GS550L (first bike by the way ) about a week ago for 450! And I love it! It has 31,500 miles on it. I bought it knowing there was an oil leak, it didn't seem too bad so i didn't worry too much about it, plus i thought that i got it at a great price.

Now I'm trying to figure that oil leak out. At initial glance I thought that it was the oil pan gasket, I took the clutch cover off and found that (excuse the lack of bike term knowledge) it was leaking from the clutch shaft that goes into the engine (or whatever it's called ).

Not knowing any better I put in some Lucas oil stop in it... reading the forums I think that i need to change my oil asap...

The question is: what do i do?!?!

Thnx all

[tkent02]

The clutch cover is on the right side of the engine, you are talking about the sprocket cover. That pushrod seal is very easy to change, do you have a manual for the bike yet?

The Lucas stuff, is it some stop-leak that you put in the oil?

[Nessism]

Get a new clutch pushrod seal from a dealer or a place like bikebandit.com You are going to have to carefully pry out the old seal with a screwdriver or seal puller so go easy not to scratch the metal bore in the case holding the seal. The clutch pushrod itself pulls out from the opposite side of the engine so it will be a little tricky to remove the seal with the pushrod in place. Take your time and you will get it.

Good luck and enjoy your GS.

[jbrown]

so, the leak is on the left side, so yes the sprocket cover (thank you for helping me with knowing what i'm looking at, while not even being here), and it's leaking out of the push rod.

I just took the cover off again and cleaned it out just to make sure that is where the leak is from.

Yes, the Lucas stuff i put in there was a stop leak that you put in the oil.

is there any place that i can just download the manual?

this is honestly the best site ever!, i've been on here for hours reading...

[kparkfan]

Try here for your manual download.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

[jbrown]

I just snapped a picture of it

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab241/Jaybrown21/IMG_0254.jpg

[Nessism]

Looks like you are going to have to remove the sprocket before removing the seal retainer.

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. jbrown,

See if this helps you at all (just something I collected)...

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/storagecliff1/images/Gearbox_Sprocket_Oil_Seal_Replacement_GS550.htm

And let me welcome you...

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[jbrown]

here is one from further away:



and thanks for the manual i looked for a download for a few hours... all i had to do was ask! thanks!

[Nessism]

here is one from further away:



and thanks for the manual i looked for a download for a few hours... all i had to do was ask! thanks!

Your sprocket looks worn. Might be time for a new chain and sprocket set.

[jbrown]

so i've been doing some reading and it seems as though i have to take the push rod out first and then replace the seal. Or can i put the seal in by taking the sprocket and the 2 bolts off the casing?

[jbrown]

maybe the question should be which is easier??

[Nessism]

As stated above, the clutch pushrod needs to come out from the other side of the engine so it's not easier per say. I suggest trying to remove the seal with the pushrod in place. If you can't get it that way, you can always remove the clutch cover and pull out the pushrod at that point.

[jbrown]

I couldn't figure out how it could be physically possible to take the seal out with the pushrod in place.... so i had no luck in taking it out... (maybe because i don't know what i'm doing). I ended up cleaning it out real good putting it all back together... it doesn't leak that bad for now, but...

Another thing i discovered is that the pushrod has worn some grooves in it... so i'm thinking that I might have to have to replace the pushrod too.... Is this the case?

If i go through the right side do I have to take the clutch apart?

are there any good instructions on how to replace it that you guys know of?

[jbrown]

For those who don't know how to do this...

so i finally did it i replaced the seal! It's actually quite easy

you'll need a gasket for the clutch cover the push rod seal and/or a new pushrod, you might as well change the oil filter because your going to end up having to take all the oil out anyway. also you might as well replace the clutch plates if you haven't already... 20 years is a long time, your going to be in there anyways. the pushrod is shaped in such a way that it is impossible to pull out through the sprocket cover. so...

your going to have to take the oil out, take the filter out too, then the sprocket cover; in there your going to have to loosen the bolts holding the metal bore that holds the seal in place, there are 3, the 3rd is behind the chain/sprocket, so take the chain off. next is the clutch cover take that off unbolt the clutch, there is something like 8 bolts that are spring loaded, take those off then pull that cover off. after that the push rod just slides out the clutch side (right side).

take a screwdriver and pry out the old seal and put the new one in, you'll have to be forceful with that new one, I used a big socket and a hammer... again be careful not to damage the metal covering there. this is where you can replace the clutch plates. the clutch covers old gasket might be stuck on the cover really good so i had to take a knife to it to get it all the way off, so take the old gasket all the way off, put the knew one on and put everything back together; fill her up with oil and giver her a ride! should work fine...

so that's what i did... it's worked great! sorry no pics...