Oil leak or Chain lube drip saga

[tricky]

So about a month ago, I did a chain adjustment and switched to a new kind of chain lube. My previous stuff had never dripped from the front sprocket cover after a ride, so when that started happening I was worried. Lots of looking through GSTwins and I was at ease, figuring it was just the new lube accumulating and dripping. About two weeks ago (after taking a day or two off riding) I went down to my parking spot to find it looking like a battleground, there was a rather large amount of something pooling under the kickstand area and all under the chain as well. I couldn't tell what was what, but I checked my oil and it didn't even register on the dipstick. Now my GS does burn the stuff like it's going out of style, and I was a few thousand kilometers from my last top up, so I poured more in and decided to keep an eye on it. I rode all day and checked that night, no loss in oil.

Yesterday I decided to head out for a ride, warmed the bike up for a few minutes and realized that I forgot to check the oil. I shut it off and let it cool for a few minutes, checked the oil, and it was at low. I was disappointed, but remembered that oil can take time to pool at the bottom of the engine after it's been running. I checked this morning and it seems to be at full.

I am still skeptical.. for the first while after my chain lube, it was a few drips here or there after a ride. Why is my bike constantly leaking like a sieve now (I assume even when the engine's cold)?

I put my oil pan under it to stop it from covering the parking spot. I want to go down later today to clean out the area around the front sprocket and see if that helps the problem at all

[skunkteeth]

How are you checking your oil? Side-stand? Center-stand? Holding bike upright?

It would make things easier if you clean your engine and surrounding area thoroughly, it makes it easier to trace the leak.

[X-ray]

If I recall I had slow leak from the seal that the clutch rod goes through.  Its about 1 inch in diameter and an easy fix if thats the source. The rod pulls straight out by hand. Then you can pop out the seal and pop in the new one.  Slide the rod back and your done.


Its part #21 on the parts fiche under "clutch" and it's actually behind a metal piece that rotates out of the way after removing one screw.