Author Topic: Pls help identifying this oil leak (Read 1302 times)

CB750wannabe · « **on:** September 25, 2020, 11:37:08 AM »

Just noticed this on my K1. Any ideas on the source of this? I plugged the automatic chain oiler years ago so not coming from there. Any help greatly appreciated. Pics from above and below.

754 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2020, 11:39:27 AM »

Gonna guess neutral switch...

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2020, 12:18:46 PM »

Replace?

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2020, 12:29:26 PM »

Would it make sense that oil is pooling up here if the switch is below?

newday777 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2020, 01:53:15 PM »

Did yo pull the sprocket cover off and wash down that are then ride to see where the leak is? Hard to tell exactly from those pictures.

754 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2020, 02:06:22 PM »

Pull sprocket covers could be sprocket seal.

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2020, 02:25:32 PM »

I don't see oil leaking from the sprocket seal area.

andy750 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2020, 05:35:56 PM »

Quote from: 754 on September 25, 2020, 11:39:27 AM

Gonna guess neutral switch...

Agree

gpzkat · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2020, 06:14:58 PM »

I've had pretty good luck with the dye and UV light method, clean it all off and put the stuff in, then in dark garage after a ride it will glow. It's only about $8 for the dye and about the same for a light. With all my old vehicles I have made good use of it.

HondaMan · « **Reply #9 on:** September 26, 2020, 12:56:40 PM »

I'm supposing the cases have not had a chain pitched thru them, and a big 'plug' of epoxy (JB Weld, often) filled in the hole? I had 4 of those last year...

I've seen a countershaft seal lip torn from a tiny piece of gravel that probably rode the chain up into the area, then fell off and found its way into the seal lip. It tore a little slot on the lip, letting it weep when running.

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #10 on:** September 26, 2020, 03:53:15 PM »

Thanks, Mark. No history of chain break damage and the oiler plug is well intact and seems stable. Is it normal for there to be a very small amount of play in the sprocket?

754 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 26, 2020, 04:19:52 PM »

It's normal to have a lot if play on the sprocket.
Oil can blow across, up...down... into the strangest places.. one place it will a most never land on is your chain..

evinrude7 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 26, 2020, 07:18:40 PM »

from the orientation in the photo it looks like that oil drop is on pipe 1. i had something similar a couple few years ago. i pulled the stator and trans cover. replaced both gaskets and reset the rubber grommet with some honda bond that routes the wires from stator cover to trans cover. haven't has an issue since.

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2020, 08:39:53 PM »

Thanks for the replies. It's really hard to find the cause especially since I don't have a lift. I'll likely replace the neutral switch and the sprocket seal. If that doesn't solve it, I'll just wipe down the oil mess after each ride and keep checking my oil level. I doubt anything would catch fire with a little oil dripping onto the pipe. I'm at the point in life where I want to ride more than I want to be frustrated by this leak mystery.

Primus · « **Reply #14 on:** October 01, 2020, 03:56:39 AM »

Quote from: evinrude7 on September 26, 2020, 07:18:40 PM

from the orientation in the photo it looks like that oil drop is on pipe 1. i had something similar a couple few years ago. i pulled the stator and trans cover. replaced both gaskets and reset the rubber grommet with some honda bond that routes the wires from stator cover to trans cover. haven't has an issue since.

That's exactly what I did a couple of weeks ago. Problem now resolved. Looking at it from a glass have full aspect, my shed floor will never rot with all the oil that has leaked out recently.

Paul

HondaMan · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2020, 07:00:23 PM »

Quote from: CB750wannabe on September 29, 2020, 08:39:53 PM

Thanks for the replies. It's really hard to find the cause especially since I don't have a lift. I'll likely replace the neutral switch and the sprocket seal. If that doesn't solve it, I'll just wipe down the oil mess after each ride and keep checking my oil level. I doubt anything would catch fire with a little oil dripping onto the pipe. I'm at the point in life where I want to ride more than I want to be frustrated by this leak mystery.

Umm...replacing the sprocket seal must be done by opening the cases. It is a captured seal.

There's one other possibility, which is cropping up now because of age: there is a small rubber plug along the bottom of the tranny cover where the oil pump send oil to the countershaft bearing. The rubber plugs are starting to shrink from age now, and the paper gasket next to it can only hold out so long before it saturates and weeps. The plugs are unobtainium now, but it is possible to use an O-ring at the site that is thicker enough to contain it. I'll have to go measure one to remember how big the O-ring must be: I just kept testing them until I got the right one last time (I have nearly 1000 O-rings around here now...).

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2020, 12:14:55 PM »

Mark and Paul, can you guys (or anyone) please confirm that the only way to replace the sprocket seal is by opening the cases? I really don't want to do that and I thought I read elsewhere that it was doable. Mark, if possible can you pls send a pic of the "small rubber plug along the bottom of the tranny cover where the oil pump send oil to the countershaft bearing?" I've got a mechanic lined up for tomorrow Thanks in advance to all!

754 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2020, 12:55:00 PM »

Seal is installed by clamping cases together. You may get it out , and another in, but it will likely leak.
Not only that, you can't get a straight shot to drive it in.
If you feel like paying someone to confirm this...go ahead..

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2020, 09:24:55 PM »

Quote from: 754 on October 08, 2020, 12:55:00 PM

Seal is installed by clamping cases together. You may get it out , and another in, but it will likely leak.
Not only that, you can't get a straight shot to drive it in.
If you feel like paying someone to confirm this...go ahead..

I guess "grumpy and sarcastic really old timer who makes assumptions" username was already taken

754 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2020, 10:24:20 PM »

How so ? We tell you what the procedure is, and you keep asking... ...

PeWe · « **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2020, 12:26:27 AM »

The rubber plug in the end of oil channel is available.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/163365177287

Order with oil pump kit, another good upgrade.

CB750wannabe · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2020, 04:39:43 PM »

Quote from: PeWe on October 09, 2020, 12:26:27 AM

The rubber plug in the end of oil channel is available.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/163365177287

Order with oil pump kit, another good upgrade.

Thank for that tip PeWe! I'll check it out. I've ruled out the neutral switch and the sprocket seal as sources of the leak. I'm going to try the dye and UV light method. Just in time for Halloween!

PeWe · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2020, 10:05:11 PM »

Regardless of reason, good to have for future use.
I was close to loose that plug when I cleaned the cases with my high pressure washer. I saw where it landed.
I added this to my oil pump kit order.

Boring to wait for a part losing important time. Gaskets, seal, and o-rings a must on the shelves together with all other engine parts.
An extra bike too.

HondaMan · « **Reply #23 on:** October 10, 2020, 07:42:10 PM »

The 750K1 from the Old Factory did not have the rubber seal in this channel, and this leak came after a while on many of those bikes (and the K0). Because of that, the channel's opening does not have the little relief where the plug aligns and seats. I have, in the past, drilled/tapped the site and threaded in a piece of a bolt (very short, about 3mm long) in which I cut a slot for the screwdriver to screw it in with. This also got Loctite on it, and a bit of [careful] hand-sanding to make it flat so the paper gasket would seal it. Since there is a hole more than 6mm diameter behind it and the flow is not a lot, it worked fine.

PeWe · « **Reply #24 on:** October 10, 2020, 11:28:45 PM »

A short allen stop screw might work too. M6 probably too small, next is M8. (M7 not common thread.)
Make a short thread, but burrs, chips to be sucked out.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/M8-M10-Brass-Socket-Headless-GRUB-Screws-Set-Screws-Cup-Point-Stop-Screw-/173618602169

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Author Topic: Pls help identifying this oil leak (Read 1302 times)