Front sprocket oil seal failure.

[sv_rory]

Oil seal failure.

I am repairing my bike but am totally baffled as to how the oil seal just went all of a sudden.

What would cause the oil seal behind the sprocket to just let go? it only lets oil out then the engine runs.

I don't want to change the seal for it to happen again, I'd rather fix the cause,

How do I replace the seal properly and what should I check whilst doing it?

Any ideas?

[suzukigt380paul]

Oil seal failure.

I am repairing my bike but am totally baffled as to how the oil seal just went all of a sudden.

What would cause the oil seal behind the sprocket to just let go? it only lets oil out then the engine runs.

I don't want to change the seal for it to happen again, I'd rather fix the cause,

How do I replace the seal properly and what should I check whilst doing it?

Any ideas?have you been undoing the sprocket nut with 6ft bar in the past,as this will have stressed the shaft bearing and seal and may have even bent the shaft

[dizzyblonde]

Check your chain tension. Thoroughly. When on GM2 my sv kept losing oil when on the run. It had a new chain but had been sat a while. We adjusted it before I went on the trip, but when I got back found that half the chain had the correct slack and half the chain was as tight as hell. What it was doing was popping the seal slightly on the tight half and dripping oil a fair bit over 100 miles. Slackened chain off, and it stopped the leak, no problems since.

Sprocket seal is a few quid, round circle thing with a bit of rubber on it. I bought one just in case, never used it.

It's a rarity it happens, but I have proof it does. The rubber if made to kink a little allows oil out as it unseats itself. Slack off, pops back in to correct position.

[muzikill]

Is it seeping from the outside or the inside of the seal?

[suzukigt380paul]

Check your chain tension. Thoroughly. When on GM2 my sv kept losing oil when on the run. It had a new chain but had been sat a while. We adjusted it before I went on the trip, but when I got back found that half the chain had the correct slack and half the chain was as tight as hell. What it was doing was popping the seal slightly on the tight half and dripping oil a fair bit over 100 miles. Slackened chain off, and it stopped the leak, no problems since.

Sprocket seal is a few quid, round circle thing with a bit of rubber on it. I bought one just in case, never used it.

It's a rarity it happens, but I have proof it does. The rubber if made to kink a little allows oil out as it unseats itself. Slack off, pops back in to correct position.the thing people dont realize is how much a shaft will move under pressure,if the shaft did not bend it would break,but because the seal is near the bearing this movement is very small and in your case did not apear to do any long term harm,but normally this will shorten the bearing and seal life,( just seen the above post) if it was leaking from the outer edge of the seal then the bearing was moving in the case and that is very bad thing to happen and the amount of stress put on the cases would normally damage the cases,

[muzikill]

When I fitted a new seal in that area during my rebuild I was told to smear some liquid gasket I had on the outer edge of the seal this would help keep it from moving and prevent leaking from the movement in that area. I realised it was good advice due to the fact that the hole where the seal goes in has no designed groove in the casing that would keep the seal in and it has been factory painted all the way in. Anyone who has replaced it will have noticed how easy and loose it goes in.

This advice came from the sv mechanic in the suzuki garage when they realised the part I had ordered.

[dizzyblonde]

GM2 was in 2009, nowt wrong with my bike, shaft, cases, gears or anything else. No harm whatsoever.

Looking for the simple explanations can sometimes be brilliant, saves a big headache. It's not always doom and gloom.

[suzukigt380paul]

When I fitted a new seal in that area during my rebuild I was told to smear some liquid gasket I had on the outer edge of the seal this would help keep it from moving and prevent leaking from the movement in that area.

This advice came from the sv mechanic in the suzuki garage when they realised the part I had ordered.
its good practice to put some(a smear) liquid gasket round the seal when fitting,but this is not because the seal moves as its a inteference fit,but just to make sure there is no chance of leak,if the seal moves then some thing is causing this

[yorkie_chris]

Seal will leak if nut comes loose

[sv_rory]

what torque setting should the sprocket nut be tightened to?

[embee]

what torque setting should the sprocket nut be tightened to?

Curvey manual says

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh268/Hi-vis/Bikes/svsprocketnut-1.jpg

[muzikill]

Sometimes cutaway drawings do my head in. confusing as heck. Specially that area no matter version of the sv manual you have!

[sv_rory]

The sprocket nut is done up properly, the chain is adjusted correctly. I have fitted a new seal and its gone straight away, all the oil just gushes out. there isn't any leaks tho when the engine is off.

Im lost now big time? any ideas what to check now?

[yorkie_chris]

O ring in spacer?

[sv_rory]

ive just found an old thread on here where somebody has had exactly the same problem. the only issue is that he never said how it was fixed.

is that part a main dealer only part?

is it worth changing the bearing in there or not?

[muzikill]

You need to get in there and tell us where the oils coming from in the area. Sounds like the o ring spacer considering what youve done. Sure its the right oil seal you got?

Pray it isnt the bearing!

[yorkie_chris]

Does shaft feel to spin free? Any detectable play in it? The bearings rarely fail.

[sv_rory]

I will have a check and get back, how easy is it to change the bearing if required?

[yorkie_chris]

Simple answer, it's not.

[sv_rory]

could I not just fill it up with gasket sealer so i've got transport for a couple of days whilst the parts are ordered? or is that a stupid idea?

[muzikill]

Stupid idea.

[suzukigt380paul]

like they said check the spacer and o ring,if all well replace the seal,grease the seal lips before putting in.if you have any play in the bearing or it feals rough and gritty then you will need a new bearing,and i suspect thats a complete engine strip to get at it

[muzikill]

Pray it isnt the bearing. Its a complete engine strip yes. Doubt it is the bearing though.

[sv_rory]

I will pop to my body shop today and collect some tools and ill strip it back out and have another look.

I'll update later on

[muzikill]

Remember when fitting a new seal that the area its sits in is as clean as.

[sv_rory]

what size is the front sprocket nut? just to make sure I bring the right size home

[yorkie_chris]

32

[sv_rory]

sorted! happy days!

[muzikill]

Wrong locknut solution?