I went to Hein Gericke....(traced oil leak)

[Stingo]

...and parked the bike outside. After I'd had a wander around the shop - a good old nosey! - I approached the counter. The gentleman behind said counter asked if he could help me. I replied "Yes, how much are your brake pads? I have an SV650 K3 03 - and I want organic pads, not sintered - I don't see the point in knackering up my expensive discs for the sake of a few quid". We exchanged grins, as you do, and he reached under the counter for the catalogue. Within 30 seconds or so, he'd found the relevant section and said "I can do you the sintered ones for about 18 quid".

*sarcasm on* HELLO - Voice test - over...*sarcasm off*.

He looked up from the catalogue and our eyes met again...I said "No thanks, I don't want the sintered ones, just the organic".

He replied "Can only do the sintered ones - 'bout 18 quid".

In my mind, I looked around for the big green arrow with **** written on it that must have been pointing at me.

In reality I said "No thanks" and left. He didn't even offer to order or quote me the other pads - but hey - there'll be another one along in a minute.

ANYWAY, I returned to the trusty steed and stood aghast on the left of the machine and looked at the small damp pool of icky black stuff on the pavement very close to the sidestand - it was clearly from my machine

Had a quick gander - was tired anyway and a tad disgruntled - and drove the bike home. I looked at the oil level and it seemed too high - I had added a little at the weekend so the thought went through my mind that I had overfilled her. Checked here on the .org as I recalled a thread about this very problem. SO half past five the next morning (yes that's right, Half five!) I'm there in the driveway with the bike loosening off the oil filter having strategically placed some newspaper on the floor below. I drained off some oil and checked using my torch to shed a bit of light on the situation. I repeated once more and was happy with the result.

I drove to work. Later on the same day I left work, and yes, there was a small black puddle below the bike. I'm really getting worried now. Have I blown a seal? Is something cracked? Are interest rates going to rise? A plan formulates in my mind...arriving home, I swing into action.

Park up. Bike cools down whilst I get out of bike gear into jeans & t-shirt. Put DM's on and grab socket set, power screwdriver set, a rag, 'gunk' and some old brushes. It's a lovely afternoon - just right for looking for a rogue leak. The obvious place to look in this case is behind the little cover that hides the front sprocket. Break out the 8 mil socket, extension bar and ratchet - 20 seconds per bolt and all three are off and the plastic cover is in my hand. There was no obvious leak!!



BUT there was a big pile of black oily gungy stuff piled up near the chain (well everything is near the chain under the cover!) - in fact, this stuff was so oily, it was actually dripping onto the drive before my eyes!!

This is what happens (Kwakzzr - look away now!!) - the scottoiler feeds oil onto the chain at the rear sprocket. The chain transports the oil to the front sprocket. Now, this is the clever bit - as a commuter there are one or two areas that I probably should clean more often but don't because I'm a bit tired when I get home, but anyway - all the road cr@p and detritus collects near the front sprocket and is fed a constant supply of scottoiler oil by the passing chain!! On at the back - off at the front!! Brilliant!! I checked the scottoiler, and yes, it was empty - the warm weather had added to the equation as I had failed to reduce the flow rate.

Needless to say - the bike got a 'good' clean especially around the front sprocket area. Two hours later, I checked the driveway - no damp patch.

Job's a good 'un.

The brake pads? I'll get 'em off the net.