Topic: CB550 oil leak at shifter?

[AngryGreek]

So I took my bike for a ride today, and when I got done I noticed a pretty decent oil coming from the shift lever.  The previous owner said he just changed the oil to synthetic for the first time yesterday, and that previously it would occasionally have a few drips if he ran the bike really hard.  Is Synthetic more prone to leaking on these bikes?

[WFO]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=search2

[robe0531]

might be shift shaft seal

[AngryGreek]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=search2

Wasn't having much luck with search, but thanks anyway!

[shizzomynizzo]

Check this out.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=51535.0

If it is the shifter seal, they are still available from honda and are a cheap fix.
not sure if synthetic is prone to leak more.
I wore my nice new K-swiss shoes on my 550 k0 a couple days ago and when I got back there was some very nice oil stains

with the new seal i have not had the same problem

[AngryGreek]

Gotcha.  Relatively easy fix I take it?  I ask because I lack a garage so I have work on the bike in the warehouse at my office.  I think my boss might get a little upset if I tore the bike apart back there.

[robe0531]

should only yake a few minutes just pop out old one and the replace new use a socket to push it on with

[AngryGreek]

So I realize I am bumping my own (very old) thread, but I hope to save someone a bit of a headache.  Turned out my oil leak was not the shifter shaft seal.  It was my oil pressure switch and my oil pump.  On a 550, apparently if your switch an/or oil pump leaks, it pools in the cover over that area which the shifter shaft also passes through.  Eventually the oil will get high enough that it runs out on the shifter.

Replaced the pressure switch and the o-rings on the pump inlets and no more oil leaks.

Hope that saves someone else the headache I went through.

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

I got the same deal going on, where did you get the switch?

[AngryGreek]

Ordered it from my local Honda Dealer.  I don't have the piece of paper with the part number, but if you go into one and try and order 35500-313-014, that should get you the correct one.  Its actually a different part number now, but it cross-references to that one.  

At first I thought my shifter-seal was leaking.  I took my bike to Hondaman and we replaced it with a 750 switch (which worked) but it still leaked a little.  Mark pulled my oil pump and noticed all the O-Rings were flattened out and cooked, which was an additional source of oil.  It might be worth pulling the pump and checking those while you are in there.

My CB550 is now leak-free.