My tachometer cable has been leaking oil for a while.  Not a huge amount, but whenever I stop and look there's a drop hanging there.

My question is, is it possible to fix it without taking the engine block apart?  Is it possible to put a sealant or a new gasket from the outside somehow?  Also is it dangerous to keep riding with this condition?

Thanks!

yes.  remove the bolt holding the tach cable housing to the cylinder head.  wiggle the cable out.  tighten down the collar holding the cable into the housing.  replace the o-ring, and then use some sealant around the mating surface when you re-insert the cable.  be careful not to over-tighten the bolt when re-attaching or you will strip the hole.

that happens t 99% of all bikes.

Mine does the same thing.  I changed the o-ring but have to put on the teflon tape also.

A couple of follow up questions:

- Is the o-ring supposed to be there initially? because there was no o-ring on mine.  Since I don't have it, I don't know what size to get.  Could you possibly point me out to this item on microfiche or give me its parameters?  Also is this o-ring supposed to be between the end of tacho-cable and the cylinder head?
- what kind of sealant would you recommend?

Thanks again

It's not really a round o-ring.
It's made from a while plastic, at least on my 2002.
It's beveled and pressed in, sort of hard to see.
You have to dig it out with a jewlers screwdriver or something small.
If you buy the new one you will see what I am talking about.
Try putting on the teflon tape first.  If it's a small leak it might take care
of the problem.

mine has been doing the same thing ever since I've had it. Excuse the dumb question, but why exactly is there oil in the cable and where does it come from (e.g., is it the regular engine oil?) I know, pretty dumb question.

well, all i can tell you is MINE had an o-ring.  it's on the shaft and should fit inside the cylinder head. i used some flavor of permatex.  just go to your local autoparts store and find something that can stand up to high temperatures.  just read the packaging.

mp183, are you sure we are talking about the same thing?  there are two connections here.  there is one where the actual cable part gets attached to the housing with a collar, and then there is the hole where the housing gets bolted to the cylinder head.

there is oil there because the way the tach works is there is a ring gear on one of the cam shafts and the tach cable has a worm gear on the end of it.  there is oil circulating around the cam shafts and consequently at the opening where the tach cable comes in.

this diagram shows the cable only
http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0027/speedometer/speedometer.cfm?man=su&groupid=3090&parent=3070

this one has the housing (parts 16-20)
http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0027/cylinder_head/cylinder_head.cfm?man=su&groupid=3090&parent=3070

I was talking about seal band as opposed to the oil seal.
Have to kick the parts guys butt on this.  I did not even know
about the oil seal.  Next time I have to jump over the counter to look
at the fiche.
Thanks

Quote from: jiggersplatmp183, are you sure we are talking about the same thing?  there are two connections here.  there is one where the actual cable part gets attached to the housing with a collar, and then there is the hole where the housing gets bolted to the cylinder head.

there is oil there because the way the tach works is there is a ring gear on one of the cam shafts and the tach cable has a worm gear on the end of it.  there is oil circulating around the cam shafts and consequently at the opening where the tach cable comes in.

this diagram shows the cable only
http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0027/speedometer/speedometer.cfm?man=su&groupid=3090&parent=3070

this one has the housing (parts 16-20)
http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0027/cylinder_head/cylinder_head.cfm?man=su&groupid=3090&parent=3070