GS "blew," oil everywhere

Watevaman · December 14, 2011, 11:24:11 AM

So I was riding just now, decided to get some gas through the carbs and see how things are going, when I came to a stop sign. Took off from the stop sign, back end flew out and I thought "that's not good" so I pulled over to look at the tire and what I see instead is oil everywhere. It seems to have "exploded" from somewhere behind the main block, so I'm in the process of taking the tank off to get a better look at it, but is there anything you guys think might be the culprit?

Here's a video I took of the bike:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vOqBDbBuow

Nick89 · December 14, 2011, 11:47:08 AM

Check the oil level, add more oil, turn it on and see if you can spot where its coming from after you add more oil.

Otherwise clean up most of the oil to make it easier to spot.

Also that oil is black, whats the last time you changed the oil?

Watevaman · December 14, 2011, 11:50:35 AM

Taking off the tank, there's a hose that seems to have disconnected. Probably the culprit.

As for changing the oil, I plan to change it as soon as I can get the V&H headers off. In my other thread I went into more detail about how the left header's screws/bolts won't budge at all so I'm waiting for my cousin to come over and see if he can use some of his tricks to get it off.

Edit: Ok, that hose, according to Kerry's valve adjustment video, should be going to the airbox. That's one thing I'm curious about. The PO put on a K&N lunchbox air filter, but it doesn't have an airbox at all. Does it 100% need one?

It's the hose that should go to the breather box to the airbox that is off at the airbox end.

BaltimoreGS · December 14, 2011, 04:05:17 PM

You can get a little filter for that breather hose if you are not running an air box, looks like a mini K+N cone. That hose should not have oil "gushing" out of it though unless something is really wrong. I think your leak is coming from somewhere else. As others said, get some brake clean and clean everything off, add oil, and run the engine to see where the oil is coming from.

-Jessie

adidasguy · December 14, 2011, 04:37:24 PM

A mechanic at Aurora Suzuki told me how to find an oil leak:
1. Clean everything off
2. DRY everything
3. Sprinkle baby powder all over the place
4. The source of the oil leak will be obvious in the powder

Wash bike and fix the leak.

Repeat to see if it was fixed and no new leaks show up.

ohgood · December 14, 2011, 05:09:52 PM

mmm, clutch push rod o-ring ?
mmmmaybe front sprocket seal ?

iirc, either one of those will freaking GUSH oil with the engine running. check your oil by removing the dipstick, wipe, then just set it back on the threads. do not screw it in to check. (sorry, it needs said every time)

+1 for checking your level and running the bike to find the source. personally i'd wipe it down as best as possible, then wash it with dish soap, dry, then powder it. (baby powder, starch, whatever). i'd bet on the two i mentioned above.

GET A FLASHLIGHT, it will help to show the oil leak well.

i'd wish you luck, but you already are lucky - this didn't happen at speed, but at a stop sign. count your stars homie.

Watevaman · December 14, 2011, 05:24:27 PM

Yeah I'm hopeful I found it when I did. It's gonna be a pain to clean, as the oil is all over the rear shock and everything. Not going to be able to touch the bike until Saturday afternoon at the earliest, though, as it's finals week.

What should I be doing with the air filter? From the looks of it, oil got up onto there pretty good.

And from what I can tell, I don't think the oil came out of the sprocket cover. My pants were completely clean, but the oil somehow got onto the wheel, which is why I'm wondering if there were any hoses that could've come off.

Edit: And for clarification, this wasn't a "drip drip drip" leak, it was a full blown gush from the looks of it similar to what ohgood mentioned.

adidasguy · December 14, 2011, 05:55:11 PM

If it just blew straight back, maybe the cam chain tensioner?

Watevaman · December 14, 2011, 06:02:10 PM

Would that affect performance? Because I was still able to ride it back home (a couple blocks thankfully) and it was fine performance wise, just leaking oil.

Suzuki Stevo · December 14, 2011, 06:12:16 PM

Quote from: Nick89 on December 14, 2011, 11:47:08 AMAlso that oil is black, whats the last time you changed the oil?

This is what oil looks like after 350 miles in a water cooled bike, an air cooled bike might even be darker?

Dr.McNinja · December 14, 2011, 08:52:12 PM

Quote from: Watevaman on December 14, 2011, 06:02:10 PM
Would that affect performance? Because I was still able to ride it back home (a couple blocks thankfully) and it was fine performance wise, just leaking oil.

if you're gushing oil it's obviously going to affect performance. A cooled engine runs much better than a hot engine and as you get closer to running out of oil your engine verges on seizing. According to my Hayne's manual the sound you'll be looking for is a howl coming from your crankcase which indicates you're just about empty on oil. I can't confirm/deny this, I've never had a bike spray oil everywhere - nor do I ever want one to.

Watevaman · December 15, 2011, 05:33:34 AM

Well yeah, I know running no oil isn't a good thing lol, but I was more talking about the actually bike not running right because of the cam chain tensioner or maybe running rough, because other than it losing oil like mad, it was still ok.

I appreciate all the help guys. I know from the info I've given you, it could be a million things, but when I can check the bike out again this weekend I'll document what I see and bump this thread if needed.

Tombstones81 · December 15, 2011, 08:04:37 AM

Quote from: adidasguy on December 14, 2011, 05:55:11 PM
If it just blew straight back, maybe the cam chain tensioner?

I 2nd that one.
I thought of that out of the blue driving to work last night.

Kijona · December 16, 2011, 05:17:24 PM

I cringed when I saw that video man.

Obviously it's a seal. Wash the bike with a little degreaser, clean it up, and as the others said, sprinkle baby powder and fill'er up and figure out where that thing is gushing from.

knowles · December 16, 2011, 09:47:26 PM

The only time I had this happen is when I had the oil filter o-ring blow out. If you weren't going any where it would be localized to the area behind the rear if the motor.

Big Rich · December 16, 2011, 09:55:22 PM

Hopefully your breather tube was clogged - but any oil from that tube should just be more of a watery "residue".

If your CCT would have fallen off, you would hear a LOT if clicking from the motor. Probably just blew a gasket around it or the head cover gasket. Nothing should have made the oil shoot up - so it probably just went straight back and down (from the wind).

Watevaman · December 25, 2011, 07:34:13 PM

I know it's been awhile, but finally got to look at the bike today (merry christmas!) with a few uncles who know their way around bike engines. Turns out there was a bunch of gas mixed in with the oil, which would explain the smell.

One of them said it's possibly a float issue since the right plug is pretty fouled and smells pretty bad. Is it something easy to check for someone without much experience with carbs? I don't want to pull them off and find I can't put them back together if I need to.

Edit: PO said he rejetted for the V&H exhaust but I don't know what size they are unfortunately. If that's even relevant.

Kijona · December 26, 2011, 03:11:38 PM

Quote from: Watevaman on December 25, 2011, 07:34:13 PM
I know it's been awhile, but finally got to look at the bike today (merry christmas!) with a few uncles who know their way around bike engines. Turns out there was a bunch of gas mixed in with the oil, which would explain the smell.

One of them said it's possibly a float issue since the right plug is pretty fouled and smells pretty bad. Is it something easy to check for someone without much experience with carbs? I don't want to pull them off and find I can't put them back together if I need to.

Edit: PO said he rejetted for the V&H exhaust but I don't know what size they are unfortunately. If that's even relevant.

If you're getting gas into the crank there's only two things that could cause this. One is that the o-ring around the float needle seat is worn out or your floats/float needles are messed up. More than likely your float needle(s) are beat up.

I would recommend, before you go ANY further, getting yourself a shop manual for the bike. Clymer is pretty good from my experience. Not as good as a dealer's manual but they're pretty damn expensive comparatively. The Clymer will have all of the information on how to adjust the floats and what they need to be set to.

List of possible problems:

Float sticking?
Float level not set correctly?
Float-needle-seat o-rings old/worn out?
Float-needles worn out? (This is easy to figure out. All they are are little brass "weights" with a rubber, conical tip. The tips should be COMPLETELY free of defect of any kind. If they're not they need to be replaced. If one is okay and the other isn't, it's probably a good idea just to replace both)

I've seen a few carb rebuild kits with o-rings, new float bowl gaskets, and a set of new float needles. ABSOLUTELY, every time, replace the float bowl gaskets. While you're at it, replace the JIS screws on the float bowls with allen/hex bolts. The JIS screws are worthless. I got mine from home depot. Just take the old ones in and ask them (if you don't know how) find you a new set with the aforementioned allen/hex heads.

Kijona · December 26, 2011, 03:14:28 PM

A picture is worth a thousand words:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=56601.0

Take a good look over that. Scroll down and it'll show what the float "needle seat" looks like and also what the needles themselves look like.

BaltimoreGS · December 26, 2011, 03:35:49 PM

Is there gas actually in the oil?? Does the oil on the dipstick smell like gas? Maybe I'm missing something but i don't see how a stuck/leaking float would cause an oil leak...

-Jessie

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GS "blew," oil everywhere