Another final drive leaking.

[nicolasr]

My S10 has 11 000 kilometers now. When it had about 3000 km, after a ride, a couple of drops of oil appeared in the bottom of the pumpkin. It was definitely oil because of the smell.
When it had around 8000 km, after a 3500 km ride around my country, some drops appeared in the bottom of the pumpkin again. Nothing to worry about. Both times I just cleaned the pumpkin and with a pressure washer cleaned the gap between the back of the casing and the hub. Both times it worked. I assumed it was some grit in the central retainer.

Now, however, cleaning and washing with pressure don't seem to work. Now it drips to the floor and the leak has become bigger and unstoppable ( As a GS!!!). I cheked the oil level and it is always fine. I changed the drive oil last time when it has 5000 Km. Always using mobil 1 synth drive oil.
I have not taken the rear wheel off ever, but I wonder if the final drive has a retainer in the center of the casing where the axle crosses. It is definitely coming from there and not from the assembly with the shaft as other have shown.

I need your help. It is driving me nuts!!!! I am kind of paranoid with leaks. You know ex beemer owner!!!!

Thanks a lot,

Nicolas

 

[greg the pole]

Do you have the Yamaha manual on PDF?
I have 22xxxkm on mine, no issues, and I don't baby my bike.
I'm certain a few people posted here about final drive leaks and fixes.

Personally, I dont use a pressure washer on my bike, especially around wheel bearings, and other sensitive areas, it may have a tendency to make the problem worse.
my $0.02

 

[nicolasr]

I dont have the manual. I used the pressure washer just twice!!!! I thought it was the only way to get there!!!
Thanks for your response!!!

 

[dcstrom]

It sounds like the big seal around the crown wheel - I had mine changed at 36,000 km. I'm heading your way... I should be in Medellin mid-April... and I have a spare! But hopefully your dealer can get one and replace it before then? Do you still have warranty? Anyway, it's not a big job, mine was warranty but the dealer in San Diego would have charged me $146 + $10 for the part. Just make sure the oil is coming from the drive side of the pumpkin, and collecting around the drain plug. If it's coming out of the drain hole in the swingarm, just ahead of the pumpkin, that's a different problem.

I'd be interested to hear of your experience with dealers there, I might need some work done myself when I get there...

Trevor

 

[nicolasr]

It sounds like the big seal around the crown wheel - I had mine changed at 36,000 km. I'm heading your way... I should be in Medellin mid-April... and I have a spare! But hopefully your dealer can get one and replace it before then? Do you still have warranty? Anyway, it's not a big job, mine was warranty but the dealer in San Diego would have charged me $146 + $10 for the part. Just make sure the oil is coming from the drive side of the pumpkin, and collecting around the drain plug. If it's coming out of the drain hole in the swingarm, just ahead of the pumpkin, that's a different problem.

I'd be interested to hear of your experience with dealers there, I might need some work done myself when I get there...

Trevor

thanks Trevor. I just got back from the dealer. It is the main seal around the crown. Same as yours!!!! Will be replaced under warranty tomorow. Pm when hiting Medellin. We could ride around. I will be glad to help you with anything you need.
I have a question though. Rhe main seal is retained by a round pressure pin. Right??? Will the pumpkin have to be opened at all??

Nicolas

 

[greg the pole]

glad you got it sorted.
Take it easy with the pressure washer, they are especially good at blowing out grease out of wheels, and pivot points.

 

[CDMartin884]

Yep, pressure washer = BAD Gris Gris

 

[nicolasr]

Before having the main crown seal replaced, I changed the final drive oil yesterday. I just wanted to discard that the used oil was the cause. The oil had 6000 kilometers. Mobil 1 75w90 synth.
Well, did the change for the same oil and the leak stopped. I have ridden in the new oil about 150 kilometers and there is no leak at all.
What to do?? What are your thoughts??? I had the doubt about the used oil being the cause, and for any reasons it appears to be the reason.
When having the leak I constantly checked the level and it always was fine.

Thanks,

Nicolas

 

[justbob]

I dont believe that synthetic oil causes leaks but I do believe that if you have a seal that has a tendency to leak, full synthetic oil will leak easier than dyno oil or a blended oil.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Yep, pressure washer = BAD Gris Gris

Im with you, NO PRESSURE WASHERS on motorcycles...... Unless your a full factory team tearing down and replacing all parts every weekend...

Its nutty all the messed up stuff Ive seen over the years due to water from pressure washers. Probably the most scary is blown out wheel bearings... Water got in the wheel bearings (even sealed ones), rusted, then blew up... That would be a "interesting" Sunday afternoon on the highway.... Another, is people totally screwing up forks from water in them... Etc, Etc, Etc..........

 

[EricV]

Modern Synthetic oils are designed, not distilled, and have seal swelling agents. That said, if it was leaking as you described, and the dealer saw it and will do the repair under warranty, let them do the repair. Odds are it will start to leak again if it was leaking before, so no harm in getting the seal replaced.

 

[dcstrom]

Eric, I was thinking the same thing about seal swelling agents. I had a leaky pinion seal, and spent $105 to get the seals to El Salvador. Meanwhile I changed the drive oil to fresh yamalube, and the leak has stopped. Maybe still a little misting, but no drips. Seal conditioner at work? Old oil had 11000 miles on it, more than I'd usually run but still 5000 less tha n the recommended interval.

Modern Synthetic oils are designed, not distilled, and have seal swelling agents. That said, if it was leaking as you described, and the dealer saw it and will do the repair under warranty, let them do the repair. Odds are it will start to leak again if it was leaking before, so no harm in getting the seal replaced.

 

[nicolasr]

Eric, I was thinking the same thing about seal swelling agents. I had a leaky pinion seal, and spent $105 to get the seals to El Salvador. Meanwhile I changed the drive oil to fresh yamalube, and the leak has stopped. Maybe still a little misting, but no drips. Seal conditioner at work? Old oil had 11000 miles on it, more than I'd usually run but still 5000 less tha n the recommended interval.

Hi Trevor. So same thing happened to both of us!!! My bike has no leak whatsoever. I have ridden her for about 200 kilometers now and no drops at all. Dont know what to do now. I have 1000 kilometers more for my warranty to expire. I am in jeopardy pretty much!!!!

Nicolas