Final Drive Oil Leak

[jajpko]

Can't say I have that problem, but it might be time to show that to your dealer if the bike's still under warranty.

I have.. The service manager called Yamaha per my request and the first thing he asked, "what brand of oil is he using?". I knew this was going to be a blow off before he called. He did to.
After talking with Yamaha for about 20 minutes, he said that Yamaha would not pay for "exploratory work". Now I'm standing there with two bottles of oil that was black and had so much metal in them, that it caked to the bottom of the jars. My temperature was rising, to say the least.

After hanging up, the service manager(5 star tech) said he would do it and not charge, because he felt it was bad also. That is the good part.
I was gonna buy the extended warranty, and still may, just for resale value. Even had the money in my jeans.

Contacting Yamaha on the phone is a trip I would rather not take again.

And for those of you that use engine oil that is not JASCO MA, good luck if you need an engine or clutch warrantied. I know, they have to prove it. They will ask for receipts.
::009::

 

[GM4X4]

OK. Brought the bike back to the dealer in Kalispell. Are you sitting down. Man, do I feel dumb. The leaky shaft drive turned out to be........... melted grease. I guess the knuckles get grease at the factory and first time you give the bike a real hot workout it can melt, dribbling down the shaft drive housing to the drain hole at the bottom and spread onto the rim and tire looking like a real problem. Everyone I mentioned it to couldn't believe a Yamaha shaft drive could leak. Apparently they are almost indestructable. Not like some Beamers. So I'm a happy camper. As for the small vibration I thought I was feeling. I didn't notice it today after I found out my shaft drive was OK. The Tech checked for the burning rubber smell and we couldn't find anything there either. Bought 2 sets of tie downs and came home. HeeHaaaw! ::26::

That is awesome news. Thanks for the update.

 

[cosmic]

I'am such a lazy idiot...

Where is leaking?? Look here

i'am already 11kkm on the same oil an this was at cca 5kkm.

Just came from a 4kkm trip with my wife. I don't know how it's still running.
I'll let you know soon what i found, or i didn't find inside.

I'll make it check at the yammie dealer, in case i need a new one. Better safe than sorry.

Damn...





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[EJV]

Leak?
You mean weep?

Where is the puddle that the BMW's would have? ::013::

Clean the bike, those spots will go away. (I bet the front is grease.)

 

[GrahamD]

That last one is just weeping from the vent. It's pretty normal especially after you have been doing rough stuff for a while. Happens a lot where I live.

After 100's of miles of washboard you worry if you don't see that. ::024::

 

[cosmic]

Thing is i saw it only when when it became really hot and dry. Who knows how many times was weeping like this during winter when is wet, and you can't see nothing. I'am on the CET time now, but by the end of the month i'am back home, and i hope to find something inside... gear oil would be nice.


©

 

[cosmic]

That last one is just weeping from the vent. It's pretty normal especially after you have been doing rough stuff for a while. Happens a lot where I live.

After 100's of miles of washboard you worry if you don't see that. ::024::

I hope you're right, coz this story worries me, and i hate my lazy arse for not checking it. Same thing with the spokes... Luckily i've got new wheel on warranty, but that is an OT story.


©

 

[jajpko]

I'am such a lazy idiot...

Where is leaking?? Look here

i'am already 11kkm on the same oil an this was at cca 5kkm.

Just came from a 4kkm trip with my wife. I don't know how it's still running.
I'll let you know soon what i found, or i didn't find inside.

I'll make it check at the yammie dealer, in case i need a new one. Better safe than sorry.

Damn...






©

Not knocking you, but if you cleaned up the area(soap and water, or simple green), you may be able to see where it is leaking.
It looks like you have some from the vent cap.

 

[cosmic]

You can see where is lee...weeping. Gaskets in the front, and the vent at the end.


©

 

[EricV]

You can see where is lee...weeping. Gaskets in the front, and the vent at the end.

Cosmic - Stop stressing about it. What you show in your pictures is insignificant and nothing abnormal. You're looking at about 3 drops of oil, or less. The front is likely just lube flung off the shaft, the rear around the vent hole cap is completely normal. Keep in mind that if the FD is slightly over filled, the excess will end up coming out the vent under rough terrain or high speeds. It's not a problem to be fixed, it's just an indication you had some fun. Wash the bike, change the fluids and filter, go for a ride and be happy.

I have more weepage on my FD than you do by a large margin and it doesn't concern me a bit, because I know what it's from and that it's normal. It's not a dripping leak, just a little blow by out of the vent.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Cosmic - Stop stressing about it. What you show in your pictures is insignificant and nothing abnormal. You're looking at about 3 drops of oil, or less. The front is likely just lube flung off the shaft, the rear around the vent hole cap is completely normal. Keep in mind that if the FD is slightly over filled, the excess will end up coming out the vent under rough terrain or high speeds. It's not a problem to be fixed, it's just an indication you had some fun. Wash the bike, change the fluids and filter, go for a ride and be happy.

I have more weepage on my FD than you do by a large margin and it doesn't concern me a bit, because I know what it's from and that it's normal. It's not a dripping leak, just a little blow by out of the vent.

::026::
I'm totally on board with Eric here. The front will be grease thrown off the splines, meaning the splines were greased. That is a GOOD thing. The drop or two around the rear vent means that you have a lot of lube in the pumpkin and were riding somewhere rough enough to slosh it inside. Again, that's a good thing.
::021::
Back to enjoying your trip, dude!

 

[cosmic]

I'am not worried, just pissed at myself for being lazy to check it. Others are reporting low oil levels, and with no clue what was the escape route, i thought that was it.



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[Checkswrecks]

For some reason, Yamaha made the fill hole smaller on the Tenere and it's easier to not completely fill it. If you quit as soon as the first bit starts to leak out, you shouldn't consider the job done.


So my guess is some of those finding insufficient lube never had it to lose in the first place.

 

[Tremor38]

Some of these posts make me chuckle. These 'oil leaks' and perceptions of what's good or bad or maybe just what is acceptable to us as individuals is amusing sometimes. This brings back memories of doing prelfight/postflight and turnaround inspecttions on our aircraft. For some of us, a few drops of oil on the nacelle was nothing to worry about, while a few of us were not comfortable flying with any visiible oil at all. For the most part, a reasonalbe man's theory applied, and if we were comfortable being airborne with a few drops of oil here and there (I won't mention what we flew with in desert storm 8) ) , then maybe that might help to put things into perspective...I know it does for me.

That's not to say I don't appreciate a leak or seep free machine, but 'just sayin.' The only thing I've read so far that raises an eyebrow is Japako's metal-making FD...I hope Mama Yama or the dealer resolves that for you soon. I they don't pay for the 'exploratory work' then maybe the dealer should just skip that step and start makings his case for a new FD.

 

[Steve]

If you had a BMW drive line failure to go by, you would know what a real oil leak is....

 

[Tremor38]

If you had a BMW drive line failure to go by, you would know what a real oil leak is....

Haha! As in swingarm cracked in half?

 

[Koinz]

If you had a BMW drive line failure to go by, you would know what a real oil leak is....

I sure hope comments like this don't bite us in the ass, but I haven't ever heard of a Yamaha final drive having any major issues though.
:

 

[EricV]

I sure hope comments like this don't bite us in the ass, but I haven't ever heard of a Yamaha final drive having any major issues though.
:

It's happened, it's just very, very rare. I know of one FD failure and two tranny failures that were of BMW proportions. One of the tranny issues was on a '03 FJR and was covered under warranty, despite being well out of warranty.

 

[Skeezix]

Is anyone else having this issue? I can understand the weeping around the fill hole on the rear hub, but not on the main shaft itself. Very odd.

 

[terrysig]

Mine let go but there are circumstances....

A deer hit wiped out my left side of the bike and nicked the rear FD. Cosmetic but insurance said to replace. That was 3 months and 6000 miles ago. Walked out to find a puddle a couple days ago.

Was replacing the rear tire so took off the FD. Oil seal had split. Probably due to handling when the FD was replaced and the seal was reused.

Discussion with the dealer and all seals in FD are being replaced under warranty.

Have the FD with me today to drop off.

Good timing since leaving for a two week business trip to china.

Also like that I get to see the work before I re-install.

Three FJRs before this and not a drop.