Hey guys firstly I would like to thank you for all the help you given so far its greatly appreciated.
I would like to get some more information from you if i could. I noticed a very small oil leak a little while ago so today when i got home i took the sprocket cover off to find out where the leak is. It looks likes its coming from the gear change lever. Im wondering how easy it is to change the rubber o-ring that goes around it?

Thanks

PS ignore the rust on the sprocket i have cleaned that off

Ok i fail at adding a photo, how do i add a photo?

Quote from: Jimbob on February 05, 2012, 01:04:59 AM
Ok i fail at adding a photo, how to i add a photo?

- Go to imgur.com
- load up photo
- Copy the Direct Link
- click the Picture icon above - looks like Mona Lisa
- Paste the Direct Link between the img tags that appear

Michael

First I would clean it all up with kerosene and a rag. Put the sprocket cover back on and go for a longish ride or wait a week and see if you still have the same problem. Oil from your chain collects in that front sprocket area giving the illusion you have an oil leak sometimes.

+1

Excess chain lube inside front sprocket cover can look like an engine oil leak.  I've had it leak out the shifter lever shaft, down the lever, and all over the tip of my my boot.

PS- I do use a lot of chain lube but I clean up the wheel everytime I change the tire.  I really like the black wheels on my 02 GS, the light gray one on my 97 always looked crappy!

Quotelight gray one on my 97 always looked crappy!

I think they look okay.

to the OP: A small amount of oil can really make a big mess. I agree with the previous, clean her up, including the outside, just invest in a big can of brake or carb cleaner and spray off the outside case with it. See if its still oily after a few days of riding. It will help you either
A) Find out there's no leak
or
B) Locate a leak you may actually have and take action.


The bottom of my bike is crudded up with oil and dirt, and I thought I had a bad leak, looking like it came from the shift lever. However, my oil level has not changed in months. ? Similar problem, I think. I use too much oil on the chain, and should probably use a chain lube that is stickier.

What do you lube your chain with?

Yeah i cleaned up in there about 2 weeks ago because it was leaking a lot. Which its not doing now so it was chain lube but I'm wondering if its also a leak from that point. I use Motul Road chain lube which is clear and sticky. I'll give i there another clean. If i do need to replace that rubber o-ring how hard is it?

Any idea's?

imgur has an option to resize the image to something smaller than 10 megapixels. Give it a try next time 

640x480 is a good size 

Michael

Or use something on your computer to resize them before uploading.
I use thumbsPlus to catalog all my images. It does resizing, cropping and other things. It can do a batch process on a bunch of images at one time.   www.thumbsplus.com

There you go thats 640x480.

So any idea's how hard it is to replace that seal?

Don't know how hard it is.  I think you could just use a seal pick (like a dental pick) and pull it out.  Drive in a new one.  I think a couple of people here have had the issue.  Pigeonroost was one I'm pretty sure.

I remember sometime ago I paid for the mechanic change that seal because my left boot had oil in it. After two months passing by I got pissed because it was leaking again. The problem? Chain lube in the sprocket. Cleaned it, problem persisted. Solution, zip tie in the Gear Lever, so the oil drops trough the zip tie and doesn't reach the rubber cushion.
Changing now to a more sticky kind of chain lube, maybe wax.