Final Drive Oil Leak

[stevenson911]

:'(This morning after my 8 mile ride to work; 1 week and about 75 miles of ownership, I found a few drops of oil on the concrete beneath my final drive on the left side of my bike. Further investigation showed a film of clean oil on the bottom of the drive case that began at a small hole and ran back to about even with the rear axle. I park on clean conrete regularly and believe this is the first of the leak. It is my first impression this oil originated from this factory hole on the bottom of final drive case (weep hole?) but I'm not sure. I'm certainly not impressed with an oil leak of any sort from a new bike. Just wondering if anyone has a similar occurence or explanation. I work 24hr shifts as a Firefighter/ Paramedic and have not had the chance for more investigation other than online. There does not appear to be any loose or broken parts.
More to follow.

 

[markjenn]

A picture would help.

The only "weep hole" is the small drain hole forward of the final drive itself in the swingarm, just forward of where the final drive bolts to the swingarm. Oil leaking here would indicate some sort of seal failure either at the engine seal (with the oil migrating back the swingarm cavity) or at the pinion seal at the front of the final drive.

If the leak is from the very bottom of the final drive, this is probably a leak from the drain bolt - you're supposed to change the sealing washer every time you change the final drive oil, although many routinely reuse the washers.

Has any maintenance been recently performed on the bike?

- Mark

 

[stevenson911]

Update #1
The leak is definitely coming from the drain hole forward of the Final Drive described in Mark's reply. The attached picture is the amount collected from my 8 mile ride home from work this morning.
No work done to this bike yet, so I guess the fluid change will happen on time at least.
Mileage 103, 1 week of ownership today. Gentle break-in miles>>both the bike and the rider.
Guess a trip to the dealer is in order.

 

[Don in Lodi]

::026:: Dealer. Looks like a random Oops! in production.

 

[stevenson911]

Don in Lodi,
My thoughts exactly. That doesn't inspire confidence however.

Jerry

 

[Don in Lodi]

Hey, if only one pinion seal in a thousand got pinched in production, that's a good thing. Bad for you of course ::010:: , good for us. ::012::

I've got a small weep from my waterpump weep hose. Chit happens.

 

[Yamaguy55]

Is it hypoid gear lube (stinky sulphur smell) or motor oil? Hypoid oil would be final drive. Motor oil would be transmission end. Yamaha has made and used these final shaft assemblies since the late 70s, and other than outright abuse, I've never heard of any chronic problems with them. Usually they weep if they sit for a long time, they will sometimes weep for awhile then stop, but that is any drive component, on anything from cars to tractors.

 

[markjenn]

If the bike is brand new, you might just be looking at some kind of residual oil from assembly or possibly a seal bedding in. I wouldn't worry too much about it, just have the dealer look at it at the 600-mile service. Good suggestion about smelling the oil - gear oil has a distinctive smell and if you have that, it's from the final drive, otherwise, from the engine.

Either seal is not a big deal to replace.

- Mark

 

[Yamaguy55]

What he said.........

If the bike is brand new, you might just be looking at some kind of residual oil from assembly or possibly a seal bedding in. I wouldn't worry too much about it, just have the dealer look at it at the 600-mile service. Good suggestion about smelling the oil - gear oil has a distinctive smell and if you have that, it's from the final drive, otherwise, from the engine.

Either seal is not a big deal to replace.

- Mark

 

[stevepsd]

I posted this before, but Yamaha has a caution in the service manual regarding 'oil leaks' on new bikes in the final drive area...saying that it is very likely from left-over assembly lube.

From page 4-108:

"What may appear to be an oil leak on a new or
fairly new vehicle, may result from the application
of a rust preventive coating or excessive
seal lubrication."

There is also grease/assembly lube on the drive shaft splines as well that could drip if there was a excessive amount applied during production.

I would smell it to see if it has the distinctive hypoid/fishy smell of final drive fluid. Keep it cleaned off and keep a eye on it and address it at your first service if it continues.

-steve

 

[stevenson911]

Thanks for the help guys.
I just did another 10 mile ride to see what kinda mess it would make and have attached a picture of that accumulation. Further, the oil is gear oil, as it has that tell-tale smell.
I'm fairly certain it's not going to fix itself and I'm also guessing it isn't extra lube from manufacture.
I'll call the dealer in the morning and see how they want to deal with it but I've never liked the mess on the concrete (that's just me). Keep the comments coming, I truely appreciate them, I'm definitely new to the bike world.

Jerry

 

[stevepsd]

Yeah, that looks like a leak. Luckily the seal replacement procedure is straight forward and simple. Plus the parts are dirt cheap. And it is a very, very uncommon problem on these bikes (or Japanese bikes in general)...can't say that about our over-engineered, fragile German cousins.

 

[stevenson911]

Better now than after the warranty runs out.

 

[markjenn]

Looks like more than assembly lube to me too. Sorry for your troubles, but as infant mortality problems go, this is a minor one and I'm sure they'll fix it pronto.

As an aside, BMW is just now recalling 1400 2012 S1000RR's to have their con-rod bolts replaced. So things can get a lot worse.

- Mark

 

[stevenson911]

Mark,
If this is as bad as it gets I'm still very pleased with the purchase. This will also give me a chance to feel-out the local Pro service shop. You never know what you'll get after the sale.
I've got to say, this Tenere group has made the whole purchase process and post-buy jitters far more tolerable.
Looking forward to the rest of the adventure....time for a margarita. ::003::
Jerry

 

[TEN YC]

If this is as bad as it gets I'm still very pleased with the purchase.

wait until you put some miles on it.. then you will be very, very pleased with the purchase. Or perhaps like me; very, very, very pleased

 

[mingo]

Let us know what gets done to remedy this.. looks like a simple seal.. and put away the worry beads, it's not a BMW final drive. ::013::

 

[Rustykfd]

Are you sure all the HD riders at work aren't trying to make your bike fit in?

Mine is now at 3 weeks of ownership and 4389 miles.

Mine does have a very slight dust signature around the weep hole. On mine, it is pretty insignificant.

I'm sure Desert Valley will sort it out. Let me know if you want to run up there, I need to go get my plate.

Rusty 492-0061

 

[Tremor38]

Re: Re: Final Drive Oil Leak

Thanks for the help guys.
I just did another 10 mile ride to see what kinda mess it would make and have attached a picture of that accumulation. Further, the oil is gear oil, as it has that tell-tale smell.
I'm fairly certain it's not going to fix itself and I'm also guessing it isn't extra lube from manufacture.
I'll call the dealer in the morning and see how they want to deal with it but I've never liked the mess on the concrete (that's just me). Keep the comments coming, I truely appreciate them, I'm definitely new to the bike world.

Jerry

Definitely take it to the dealer. I haven't had a drop come from anywhere on the bike since new. Makes me wonder if bikes that go to Japan receive special attention. Same thing with my KLX250...neither me nor other KLX owners I rode with were experiencing any of the bugs reported by U.S. owners. Anyway, enough of my tangental rambling, but this type of thing always makes me stop and think 'hmmmmm!'

Sent from my F-05D using Tapatalk 2

 

[Don in Lodi]

And if nobody has said it yet, top it off before doing any more riding. ::008::