Oil Leak, Need advice

Hello!

I got back from an awesome bike trip early last week. I did 2500miles in 2 weeks with lots of stops and had an awesome time. I learnt a lot and i really got to know my SV well.

Towards the end of the trip the bike would leave a drip or two of oil on the floor when parked overnight. I cleaned the bottom of the engine up and took her for a long run yesterday to find where it was coming from. It seems to be coming from the final drive shaft area. Im 90% sure this is where its from. Its definitely not chain lube as i have been using a dry gel for the whole trip and have intentionally left the chain dry for the last 5-800 miles to rule it out.

So, what next? Im going to fix it myself this winter at the same time as uprating the suspension, changing the tyres, chain & sprockets and maybe the clutch. I have been searching the forum but cant find any how to's or much discussion on this topic at all.

Am i going to have to take the engine out and open her up? Or can i change the final drive seal without taking the bike completely to pieces?

Also i have heard that when the seal goes its gone and you dump your oil. This isnt happening to me. Im losing around 3-500ml every 1000miles and have just been topping her up at the moment.

The bike is a 2001 SV650SY with around 30,000 miles. It had 18,000 when i bought it in february

[rictus01]

first of all , oil looses viscosity with heat and use, I frequently get a little bleed from around gaskets and alike when the bike has been working hard, so how much and is it still happening ?, clean everything up and see if it continues a small amount won't make a great difference in the short term, if after cleaning you spray a fine coat of wd40 then dust it with talc it will show any oil run paths, if it turns out to be from a particular seal or gasket, make a note and do an oil change, see if that stops it, as a final thing replace the seal or gasket.

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by rictus01

first of all , oil looses viscosity with heat and use, I frequently get a little bleed from around gaskets and alike when the bike has been working hard, so how much and is it still happening ?, clean everything up and see if it continues a small amount won't make a great difference in the short term, if after cleaning you spray a fine coat of wd40 then dust it with talc it will show any oil run paths, if it turns out to be from a particular seal or gasket, make a note and do an oil change, see if that stops it, as a final thing replace the seal or gasket.

Cheers Mark.

Its a pretty standard rate of loss. Oil was changed just before trip and a large portion of trip was spent long days on motorway so although the oil needs changing now it has not been over worked. I cleaned the bike up took it for a 60 mile run and the oil was back on the bottom of the engine. I followed it up to the final drive. Ill try your tips on finding the leak.

But as im almost sure it is the final drive seal that has gone does anyone have any advice on replacing it?

[rictus01]

to be honest I don't think I've ever had to do and output shaft seal on an SV, but I'd imagine it's the same as any other and a mere push fit item, the manuals are about somewhere (do a search) and should give you all you need.

[punyXpress]

Isn't there an engine breather that goes near there & can deposit oil from blowby?

[Sid Squid]

Check the sprocket nut for tightness, if you replace the seal, check the 'O' between the bush and shaft.

[muzikill]

I had the same problem with the output shaft seal, the leak was coming from the bottom of the outer rim of the seal. I let it cool down and dried it all off and ran liquid gasket using my finger in the area of the issue making sure i was pushing it in as much as i could to seal it. I allowed time for it to dry and took the bike for a short run and came back in and checked it the next day. Sorted!

[Biker Biggles]

[QUOTE=punyXpress;2593027]Isn't there an engine breather that goes near there & can deposit oil from blowby?[/QUOTE

Indeed.Do check the two crankcase breathers.One can come adrift and drip oil

Its looking like the outer oil seal on the final drive, i did one recently. its a simple task and can be done by a monkey.

You will find it it behind the front sprocket and a plate holding it in. Go get a replacement first before you start, either an original suzuki bit or down to B balls and ball bearings (your local seal shop) It should cost you no more than a fiver.

Simply pull the old one out without scoring the seat, clean and dry the seat and drift in the new one. put everything back together. and ride off into the liquid sunset. Bish bash bosh

[NedSVS]

Don't forget to check the clutch pushrod seal too.