Finally figured out where it was coming from.
(http://i.imgur.com/8hQ1rl.jpg)
I'm guessing it's the seal all around. What's the best way to go about fixing this up? I switched to synthetic a few years ago and I think it finally pushed it's way through the seals.
Buy a gasket and replace it
Quote from: slipperymongoose on March 13, 2012, 02:12:39 PM
Buy a gasket and replace it
Would you mind elaborating a little? What gasket am I looking for? Looking at Bike Bandit I can't quite figure out which item I need as the diagrams aren't helpful in this case.
Clutch side gasket, it's about $10-20, if you go to the video tutorial section and watch my clutch seal replacement video it will show you what to do in conjunction with your manual. You will obviously skip the seal replacement part of the movie.
Looks like the clutch cover (right side engine cover) gasket leaking to me. Suzuki part #11482-44110
-Jessie
If you switched to a thinner weight oil, that an be the issue. These bikes call for 10-W-40. I ran Rotella 5-W-40 in mine and got some leakage. I gotta switch to the 15-W-40 and hopefully it will stop. I think I recall reading somewhere that GSjack had a similar leak issue when switching to a certain oil that was cured when switching back.
Thanks for all your replies. For anyone else who comes across this, so you don't have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out where these videos/sections are:
Clutch Seal Replacement Video: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59135.msg674831#msg674831 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59135.msg674831#msg674831)
Video Section: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58403.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58403.0)
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on March 13, 2012, 03:14:21 PM
Looks like the clutch cover (right side engine cover) gasket leaking to me. Suzuki part #11482-44110
-Jessie
Perfect. Thanks!
Quote from: Raydr on March 13, 2012, 08:34:35 PM
Thanks for all your replies. For anyone else who comes across this, so you don't have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out where these videos/sections are:
Clutch Seal Replacement Video: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59135.msg674831#msg674831 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59135.msg674831#msg674831)
Video Section: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58403.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58403.0)
Great timing, I have the same oil leak and my gasket just came in yesterday and I was about to look for a tutorial for taking the clutch cover off. :cheers:
Quote from: Flux Maven on March 13, 2012, 10:31:49 PM
Great timing, I have the same oil leak and my gasket just came in yesterday and I was about to look for a tutorial for taking the clutch cover off. :cheers:
Would you mind coming back and posting any "lessons learned"? I just ordered mine and won't have it for a week, but would like to be prepared. I watched the video and honestly it looks pretty quick and simple, but you never know. Thanks!
Quote from: Raydr on March 13, 2012, 10:40:11 PM
Would you mind coming back and posting any "lessons learned"? I just ordered mine and won't have it for a week, but would like to be prepared. I watched the video and honestly it looks pretty quick and simple, but you never know. Thanks!
Sure, although it might include, lesson learned: dont be a cheap ass and go rent a torque wrench, when I go to put it back together and break something. :icon_rolleyes:
Trust me it's as easy as you see in the video I did it in real time
I replaced that gasket today. It took forever to scrape off the old gasket, but other than that it was just like in the video.
Quote from: Flux Maven on March 16, 2012, 09:51:20 PM
I replaced that gasket today. It took forever to scrape off the old gasket, but other than that it was just like in the video.
Thanks for the update. I started the process today hoping it would be a 30 minute job, but also ran in to that gasket issue. After about 10 minutes of mucking around with it I decided to go to AutoZone and pick up some Gasket Remover (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Permatex-4-oz-113-4-g-low-volatile-organic-compound-gasket-remover-with-brush/_/N-262b;jsessionid=2A77966A483FFA42DB238318031BA1EF.diyprod2-b2c12?itemIdentifier=35009_0_0_). I'll give it a shot tomorrow and post an update to let you guys know whether or not it's worth it.
Do not forget you'll need to remove the electrical pickup aswell. Makes sense to purchase some threadlock for when it goes back together. You don't want that metal pickup coming loose at speed.
Overall it's a very easy job. Just a little time consuming.
Just a word of caution using gasket remover. It's also an excellent and very aggressive paint stripper! There's a very good chance it will damage the paint on your side cover and engine. Don't use it on anything but bare metal.
A Perspex scraper works best. Hard plastic but softer than aluminium so the sealing surface isn't damaged. A green Scotchbrite pad is useful too.
Quote from: mitch79 on March 21, 2012, 06:39:20 AM
A Perspex scraper works best. Hard plastic but softer than aluminium so the sealing surface isn't damaged. A green Scotchbrite pad is useful too.
Yea I used a razor blade scraper and It nicked the metal in a few spots. I sanded it down a bit to smooth it back out and so far it hasn't leaked.
Another thing I was wondering though Is when I was done I just tried to wipe off as many of the tiny bits as I could but there were probably still some tiny pieces of gasket and fine dust from sanding it down that stayed in the engine. I put it back together and ran some oil straight through it before putting the oil plug in and filling it. Should the new oil filter catch any little bits left in there alright? I was thinking I would just change the oil sooner than usual to account for the extra crap that was in there.
Quote from: Raydr on March 21, 2012, 12:01:14 AM
Quote from: Flux Maven on March 16, 2012, 09:51:20 PM
I replaced that gasket today. It took forever to scrape off the old gasket, but other than that it was just like in the video.
Thanks for the update. I started the process today hoping it would be a 30 minute job, but also ran in to that gasket issue. After about 10 minutes of mucking around with it I decided to go to AutoZone and pick up some Gasket Remover (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Permatex-4-oz-113-4-g-low-volatile-organic-compound-gasket-remover-with-brush/_/N-262b;jsessionid=2A77966A483FFA42DB238318031BA1EF.diyprod2-b2c12?itemIdentifier=35009_0_0_). I'll give it a shot tomorrow and post an update to let you guys know whether or not it's worth it.
Alright, it's done. The Gasket Remover stuff was useless on most of the gasket, but it definitely helped remove remnants from scraping. I'm also kind of a perfectionist so I spent 2-3 hours scraping and cleaning. No leaks (so far) and all seems well. After an oil change, new spark plugs, and fixing the exhaust issue (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59506.msg682204#msg682204), she's running very nicely.
Just need to find a shop to put on the new tires, and she's ready for lots and lots of riding. I'm excited.
Thanks everyone!
Your welcome
yeah, that was the very first thing I did to my bike after I bought it. (with no motorcycle mechanical experience either)
if its not leaking now, I wouldnt worry about it anymore.
just peek at it from time to time until you forget about it. haha