Leak near the side stand... WHY???

[annguyen1981]

Every once in a while, I find a small puddle of something near the side stand after it's been sitting for a couple hours.

What is this?  Should I be concerned?

[blue05twin]

NM

[ducati_nolan]

When I over lube my chain and then go for a ride, sometimes I get some chain lube on the top of my sidestand  from when it flings off the chain under the cover and drips down. I bet you're probally experiencing the same thing. However, if your chain is too tight, you could screw up the oil seal of the output shaft, in which case engine oil could leak out arround the output shaft (where the front sprocket attaches)

[WildBlue]

What does it look like the puddle is of?  Oil?  Fuel?  It could be what ducati_nolan said, coming from the chain.  Or could be fuel from the tank, via either the overflow drain hose which goes down to near one of the footpegs (can't remember which one), or via some small leak in your tank from rust (my friend found just such a thing, and his tank had a tiny hole on the bottom.

[annguyen1981]

Defintely not fuel.

I haven't experienced this ever since I stopped using lube.  I've been using WD-40 only.  Ghain looks great and no gunk build-up

[WildBlue]

Hmmm... it'd be best if you could try and see where it's coming from.  Let's see, if it's not fuel or oil, what other fluids are on the bike?  There's brake fluid, which could maybe be leaking through the rear brake reservoir under the seat.  There's the battery acid, which would leak if the battery body had damage of some sort.  It could also maybe be condensation, if the weather has been kinda chilly and humid -- isn't there a drain hole on the bottom of the exhaust for water to fall out?  Only other thing I can think of is that your left crankcase cover could be leaking oil because of either a faulty gasket or a loose bolt.  But did you say the puddle doesn't look like oil?

Just thinking outloud here... 

[ducati_nolan]

WD-40 will fling off of the chain immediatly if it dosn't just evaporate, that's probally what it is. WD-40 should only be used to clean the chain before using a good chain lube, WD-40 will provide virtually no lubrication and your chain won't last long. I've had good results with Maxim chain wax, it has very little fling off and my chain seems to last long enough. When I do over lube or don't allow it to set up long enough before riding I get a little pile of gooey poo looking stuff on my kickstand pivot bolt. Gear oil will work in a pinch on your chain but it will fling off. Get some good lube. Anyways, it looks like your problem is a non-problem.

[annguyen1981]

We've had this discussion here about WD-40 before...

I'm just gonna say one thing...  using a lube or wax attracts all that gunk.  Using only WD-40 (and idea I got from a "senior" member here) lubes it a bit, but I have an o-ring chain.  no lube or wax is gonna get in there anyway.) will minimize the gunk effect dramatically...

Every 600 miles I spray WD-40, the chain looks in great condition without the dirt and everything else.

[MarkusN]

WD-40 is sufficient if you only ride in fair weather. If your chain sees rain once in a while you probably need more protection.

[annguyen1981]

WD-40 is sufficient if you only ride in fair weather. If your chain sees rain once in a while you probably need more protection.

This is correct

[tussey]

We've had this discussion here about WD-40 before...

I'm just gonna say one thing...  using a lube or wax attracts all that gunk.  Using only WD-40 (and idea I got from a "senior" member here) lubes it a bit, but I have an o-ring chain.  no lube or wax is gonna get in there anyway.) will minimize the gunk effect dramatically...

Every 600 miles I spray WD-40, the chain looks in great condition without the dirt and everything else.

Yea I always wondered about that. The wax I use seems to get tons of dirt on the chain. When I clean it I won't ever get all the dirt off b/c the wax has gotten it in every knook and cranny. I tried not waxing my chain and it developed rust though. I don't ride in the rain but the bike is stored out doors under a roof, so I'm confused how it would rust? humidity?

[groff22]

Humidity will do it too... It's probably a buildup of wd-40.. I have the same problem, but I use castrol chainwax

[annguyen1981]

It doesn't sound like Tussey uses WD-40.

Tussey - You should start using it to clean the clean.  IMO, you don't really need to lube or wax it you have o-rings, but it doesn't hurt to put SOME on...  I'm trying a method of using WD-40 to clean the chain, and then spray some lube on.  After I'm done, I wipe as much of it off as possible.

I just started this today.  I'll post up results after a couple cleanings.

[MarkusN]

IMO, you don't really need to lube or wax it you have o-rings, but it doesn't hurt to put SOME on...

True for the rollers on the pins. Not so much for the rollers on the sprockets. There's considerable wear there as well, which you can reduce by properly lubing your chain.

[red_phil]

Regarding the use of WD40 on o-ring chains.
I thought WD40 and rubber didn't play well together.
I'd be worried about desroying the o-rings.
Perhaps a light spray oil woould have the advantages without the risks?

As for the pool.
1st stage in diagnosing it's cause is to identify the fluid.


petrol = fuel leak = bad 
I had a fuel leak that dribbled down behind the sprocket cover and washed out the crud back there, so it looked like oil.

acid = battery leak = bad

water = rain / condensation. = who cares
possibly a badly routed drain hose from the tank filler drain.

thin oily tupe stuff = check the brakes
either a leak from the rear brake fluid or chain flung lubricant.

thicker / dark oil = either chain fling or an oil leak.

suspects for the an oil leak are the Clutch pushrod oil seal and the sprocket carrier oil seal.
If the leak only occurs after riding but doesn't keep going for long then it's probably the clutch
push rod oil seal as it only gets oil behind it when the engine is running.