Advice please - leaking oil

[kellyjo]

Ok, so i've had my 51 plate TT600 for two months now and its mileage has gone from 12k to 15k.

There has always been a very small accumulation of oil inside the lower fairing at the back where the two sides join, and the sump plug (?) has always been oily to the touch. I initially put it down to maybe it being over-filled when it was serviced at purchase.

I topped the oil up before the AR (1200 miles ago) but only as a precaution, the level was nearly at its min and I just wanted to be on the safe side, it hadnt been using a noticeably large amount.

The bike was last cleaned 10 days ago (250 miles) and ive just found the underside looking like this

7860

To me thats a worrying amount of oil!!!

So your advice please, should I do a full change and replace the plug to see if this cures it? Or what else can I do?

As ive only had it since the end of June should I just go back to the dealer I got it from (100 miles away!!)

And dont just tell me that its a Triumph, its what I should expect and to get an SV instead...:p

Thanks, KJ x

[Specialone]

I would take fairing off, clean the whole area and wait for where the oil appears again, at least you can then see if its worth the trip back to the dealer.

[Mr Speirs]

I'd say that the crush washer either isn't there or has been re-used.

Personally I would go out and buy enough oil to do a full oil change, possibly a filter for peace of mind and a new crush washer and see how it goes.

Oh and the obligatory...it's a Trumpet, they don't seem to like holding onto their oil do they? :)

[martin15s]

I'd say that the crush washer either isn't there or has been re-used.

Personally I would go out and buy enough oil to do a full oil change, possibly a filter for peace of mind and a new crush washer and see how it goes.



agreed

[Sid Squid]

Agree the above - check the obvious first, also do you have a chain oiler, or use engine oil on the chain?
The TT/Daytona 600/650 engine has a seal around the water pump drive that I've seen weep a bit.

[kellyjo]

Agree the above - check the obvious first, also do you have a chain oiler, or use engine oil on the chain?


I use dry chain lube!

Thanks for the suggestions guys x

[AndyBrad]

hi kellyjo, yours is basically the same bike as mine.

Take a look around the bike to see where the oil is comming from. Theres a very high chance its not actually comming from the sump plug. If it is then fair enough.

Take a look at the left hand side of the bike (as your sat on it) there is often oil ontop of the stator cover where the starter motor is. If there is theres a good chance its either the stator cover or more commanly the breather seal on the other side of the engine has gone and is letting oil into the airbox and down the side of the bike.

then theres the gear selector shaft seal and there is a seal around the sprocket as well. both are a bit of a pain not nothing too bad. Doubly check the sump plug as others have said though as the plug is a lot lower than on other bikes and can get caught.

Appart from that how are you getting on with it?

[kellyjo]

Hi Andy, thanks for that! Im gonna get the plastics off tomorrow and try and locate the source of the leak. I'll let you know what i find.

Apart from this im having a blast on it, although its still not second nature to me yet to be riding at 9,10,11k revs so im having to think quite hard whilst riding! Having said that, when it all comes together it is an awesome feeling, the bike just howls and ive never experienced anything like it. I absolutely ****ing love it!!!

BTW, I couldnt take my eyes off your bike at the AR, its absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately I like my men naked but not my bikes so I couldn't have one :p

[AndyBrad]

BTW, I couldnt take my eyes off your bike at the AR, its absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately I like my men naked but not my bikes so I couldn't have one :p


i was probably holding you up. :)

let us know what you find

[kellyjo]

Update -

Ive removed the panels and this is what ive found (apologies for lack of proper technical words, i hope the photos show it clearly enough)

The oil at the plug is just a cumulation where its dripping down, so its not that.

This is what it looks like, and its only the left side, the right is dry.

786178627863

What d'ya reckon??

[warrenhewitt10]

it aint coming from the sump plug by the looks of it....

[Sid Squid]

Where are the breathers that are supposed to be in that wire loop?

[AndyBrad]

The breathers are the fual tank drain i think, will have a look later.

Take a photo further up please. Same side where the stater motor is (silver thing) is it oily round there?

[kellyjo]

Forgive my ignorance but I have no idea, thats just how i found it!!

What do the breathers look like and what is their function?

A very appreciative KJ x

[kellyjo]

Take a photo further up please. Same side where the stater motor is (silver thing) is it oily round there?

Nope, its totally dry :-)

[Sid Squid]

The breathers are the fual tank drain i think, will have a look later.
Filler well drain, fuel tank breather, (anti vac - conneccted to EVAP system on EPA models), and airbox drain. I think ;).
Anyway, if the airbox drain is allowed to fall upon the engine a bit of oil is almost inevitable.
It's possibly a bit too much oil for that, but rule out the easy bits first.
What do the breathers look like and what is their function?
Three black rubber hoses, two about 8mm, one about 10mm. Filler well drain allows water that will collect around the filler recess to drain so it doesn't go in the tank when you open the cap, tank breather allows air into the tank so a vacuum doesn't develop as the fuel flows out, (many machines just have a pinhole in the cap, but the Triumph was also sold in markets that do not allow fuel vapour evaporation to atmosphere - it would be connected to a charcoal canister and a hose back to the airbox, not needed on UK models so vented to atmosphere), airbox drain allows any fluids that end up in the airbox a way out so they don't get drawn into the motor.

[kellyjo]

Ok, having spoken to a guy on a triumph forum im 99% certain the leak is from the gear shift seal so im going to try and source another and decide if i can fit myself rather than take the bike 100miles to get it done under warranty.

I'll speak to the dealer about the breathers and see what he says.

Cant thank you enough for your input x

[AndyBrad]

Get iot done under warranty. You can fish the seal out but i think if you end up pulling on the gear selector shaft you could end in in a whole world of troubbles.

The airbox doesnt have a drain pipe as such, just a cap on it. Reason i asked as to whether there was oil around the starter motor is if the breather seal has gone or there is oil in the airbox for another reason it will usually end up there.

As you say theres the tank filler neck drain. The tank vent is on the other side.

[kellyjo]

Ive been having a look and located the breather hoses - they are feeding into a plastic bottle thats cable tied next to the front sprocket cover! Im not sure if thats the norm or if thats someones DIY job and why would you do that?

The difficult thing with all this is that theres no Haynes manual for the bike. I have the service manual but its nowhere near as easy to follow, especially the diagrams.

The dealer is posting me down a replacement seal as im not going 100 miles to get it fitted. TBH, the money we'd spend on fuel getting there and back I might aswell pay my local mechanic an hours labour.

[Sid Squid]

The tank vent is on the other side.
Not on the TT I've seen - both on left, also has drain from airbox.
Timed engine breather on right hand front case with ignition pickup.

[AndyBrad]

oooh, interesting.

what do you mean by timed engine breather with ignition pickup? Just looking at the tt600 manual im not sure what you mean. theres a centrifugal engine breather but ignition pickup?

[AndyBrad]

hope it sorts it kellyjo. i have a little bit of oil similar to yours but im just keeping an eye on it at the mo. Im thinking it could be more likely from the chain as the oil level isnt dropping.