filthy oil leak from gearshifter shaft

[Anonymous]

I'm getting a filthy oil leak from the gearshifter shaft. The oil pan is full of nice, clean oil. Where is this nasty stuff coming from, and how do you stop it?




Michael

[Mastiff]

I recently bought a 1980 GS450lL that had been in beautiful shape....until the seal on the gearshifter let go and dumped all the oil out of the sump at speed. The engine seized up. And I got another parts bike. Actually I'm just swapping my good engine into the great looking bike. If you are getting an oil leak by that shifter I would replace that seal. It is a lot cheaper than a seized engine.

[Anonymous]

Take off the left side cover and check the oil seals. Looks like one of them is leaking and needs to be replaced.

[Anonymous]

Will I need to drain the oil first or is the side cover not involved with the oil pan?

Michael

[Anonymous]

No need to drain the oil when you want to take off the rear cover.
You'll have to remove the gear shift lever (and perhaps the left footrest) first though.

The oil seals are behind the cover, in the crank case.