Oil leak: bottom of engine, front sprocket?

[kininja]

This is embarrassing. Especially anytime I park at work or anywhere else in public.

Here's a shot of the underside of my engine, transmission side (side stand is pictured on the right side of the image):




I've circled what I believe to be the source of the oil leak. It ends up in small drops on the pavement where ever I park her as well as covering the surrounding engine area, side and center stands.

After reading a few other fluid leak posts, I want to try and at least take a look at the front sprocket if I can. I've circled the bolts I believe I'll need to remove to get at the front sprocket, one being hidden by the gear shift lever:




Is this something I can take off myself without draining any fluid? And what do I do about the wire going into the top (which I think is the neutral indicator sensor)?

On the advice of the local motorcycle mechanic (who has been gaining my trust) I've ordered some gaskets/seals for my engine as I have a slow oil leak. Apparently, at least one seal is back-ordered from Japan and will be here in a couple weeks. I guess the earthquake and tsunami didn't totally destroy whatever factory or warehouse this is coming from.

I'm still working on getting a service manual. Everyone seems to suggest the Clymer manual but it doesn't look like they cover past the 2002 model year.

[Paulcet]

Yes, remove those screws you have marked. After you remove the shift lever (remove the pinch bolt completely). You will probably find an astonishing quantity of chain lube and dirt. Clean thoroughly then ride. Then remove the cover again to see if the oil is coming from one of these: counter shaft seal, clutch push rod seal, or shifter shaft seal.

From your picture, it looks like you actually have a leak forward of the sprocket cover. You should probably remove the fairing and have a look.

[xanthras]

I wonder if you got two things going on, slow leak from the oil filter cover and a butt load of chain lube on the sprocket as others suggested. I would start with the easy stuff first. Hopefully no need for those gaskets. Good luck.

[kininja]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully removing some of the buildup will help but I'm thinking it may be the shifter shaft seal. I removed the fairing a week or so ago (that's actually where I got the first photo) and I don't think it's coming from the oil filter. But I can't say for certain it's not coming from some point forward of where I'm looking. I don't know. I'm hoping the mechanic can fix it.


Before cleaning:



After cleaning:



After short ride:



In the last photo you can see where I snapped off one of the bolts that holds the cover in place when I was over-tightening it.

At least, after cleaning it, I don't have to keep a rag underneath the bike while it's stowed in the garage.

Also, it turns out that what I thought was the neutral indicator sensor is actually the clutch cable. I have no idea how that actually moves the clutch itself... can't wait to get my hands on a service manual!

[Big Rich]

Tough about the busted bolt......might be able to get some pliers on it or maybe slot it with a Dremel. Then just a flat head screwdriver.

It does look like your shifter seal- should be able to pry the old one out and get a new one in fairly easily though.

Far as the clutch goes- that rod goes clear through the engine and pushes on a cap in the center of the clutch basket. That separates the clutch discs, which "disconnects" the engine crankshaft from the transmission.