K11 Owners Group

kevinaye · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 6

Hello eveyone ,

I am a new owner of a 95 K 100 lt. I have ridden around 5500 miles in the last coupla weeks. My problem is , if I ride in rain, water seems to be leaking in to the gearbox. Like badly. Anybody else had this problem?

I am thinking I may be missing some sort of cover on the underside of the engine. I really can't see how water gets into the gearbox though.

On a differnt subject . I also need a new rear tire. What is everybody running?

Cheers.

Kevin

endoman100 · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject:

Welcome.

Jim · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: geartbox oil

Mystic Red · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

Kevin, are you talking about the final drive or the transmission? The final has a breather on the top which is covered with a plastic cap.
_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Jim · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

Or, maybe it's not covered with a breather cap - and that's how water gets in...
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:47 pm Post subject:

kevinaye · Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Posts: 6

Hello all,

thanks for the replies top my questions . Yes, that was a typo. My bike is a 95 k 1100LT. I have since had a Michelin pilot road 2 fitted. Mostly as I didn't have a whole lot of options and it looks to be a decent choice. I will post a review when I have had a chance to check it out.

The whole water in the gearbox thing is a bit odd. Nobody seems to have heard of it. I am talking about the gearbox. not the final transmission.I am in Spain right now , so the conditions are very dry, sno problems at the moment.. I know the seal where the clutchers the gearbox has a leak. But when I ride in heavy rain, the gearbox oil turns milky and pours out of the gearbox. My only solution right now is to change the gearbox ol when it turns milky. I will check the breather tubes .

Cheers.

K

joeangi · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 3:04 pm Post subject:

I am thinking that maybe you breather tube is clogged on top of the tranny. I do not think it is possible to get water into the tranny through the vent tube, just because of where it is located. Could be condensate with the hot tranny and the water hitting it from below, but I would think it would evaporate?
Joe

WayneO · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Canberra, Australia

kevinaye,

Did you ever determine the cause of the water in the transmission?
The reason I ask is that I'm having a similar problem now. I had my bike for 5 years with no problems. About 12 months ago, I noticed oil coming out of the clutch lever boot at the rear of the transmission; it had a split. After being replaced, the same thing happened after rains and I had it replaced and the oil checked. Approx. every couple of months the boot would split and leak oil/water.
I've decided that the split boot is an effect and not the cause for the water in the transmission. The top breather cap looks OK and I can't see any other reasons for the water in there. I am at the point where I need to pull it apart and look at the seals. Could the seal around the wire entering the transmission be the problem?

I noticed a post from gibbsy in Nov 2007 had a similar problem but there was no update as to what he found.

Any help from more experienced guys would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Wayne
_________________
'94 K1100LT Brick

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 1:36 am Post subject:

1st off, Welcome to the K110g group.

If you are tearing/ripping the boot that often there is something else wrong there. Your clutch arm may be slightly out of adjustment causing excessive travel and over stressing the rubber to the point of premature failure.

There are no "wires" that actually penetrate the transmission internals where the oil is.
There is a wire at the rear of the trans housing for the shift indicator that goes thru a hole in the housing, but the backside is open on the bottom side of the hole.
There is a vent cap on the topside of the transmission housing. Other than that there isn't any real entry point for water directly.
How has your humidity and temps been the last 12 months, and/or the average length of time you run the bike at a time. Long outings, short intown errands, etc.....
I have issues here in Iowa with short trips in the winter time and condensation building up in the engine. If I ride for about an hour or so to really get the oil hot and burn out the moisture I don't have any issues. It's the short trips that the moisture starts to collect.

Just some thoughts. YMMV
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

WayneO · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Canberra, Australia

Scott,

Thanks for the Welcome and a fast response.

The trips I do are normally short commuting trips (approx 30 min each way). I undestand the condensation issue. The reason that I don't think that condensation is the cause is that there were no problems for 5 years of riding and now there is.

I've just finished removing the rear plastics and the back wheel. I've noticed the wire that you mention. It seems that I will need to remove the gearbox and see what I find.

The search continues....
_________________
'94 K1100LT Brick

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:01 am Post subject:

Before you go thru the trouble of removing the gearbox just yet......
Follow this post, Gwen may be able to give you some insight on the transmission as she is in the process of a teardown/rebuild of one.
http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6173&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

On the 3rd page she is working on the rear side to remove the shift idicator sensor/wire. It may give you an idea of what you are looking at, and/or what you may need to check.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

WayneO · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Canberra, Australia

Scott,
Thanks for that info. I will inspect the wire surrounds before I do too much more.

Cheers
_________________
'94 K1100LT Brick

blue95lt · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:39 pm Post subject: Water in tranny?

Scott could it get in at the said gear pos. Indicator?does it cover a hole in trans. Housing and be loose or bad gasket to let water in?
Just a thought? Keith
_________________
1995 k1100lt daily ride(22953)when I got it
1982 cb650sc blue nighthawk (38000)(crashed)
1974 kz400(sold to get nighthawk)

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: Water in tranny?

jarnbak · Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:06 am Post subject:

. But when I ride in heavy rain, the gearbox oil turns milky and pours out of the gearbox. My only solution right now is to change the gearbox ol when it turns milky. I will check the breather tubes

If you refill with more than 0,8 L gearoil,it can make the oil milky due to high oil level(foaming) and give high oiltemp witch makes the oil expand more than normal.
Regards Palle.

WayneO · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Canberra, Australia

Well, I pulled the rear wheel and shaft assembly from the bike. I was able to see that the air breather on top of the gearbox was OK. The gear selection wire at the back of the gearbox has no sign of issue.

I've decided to put it all back together. I have made a dipstick and keep an eye on it. It has been a good excercise and I now know how to remove the back end (if I ever need to again!). Doing this job showed me a couple of small things that need attention and so am fixing them along the way.

My conclusion at this time is that it may as already suggested be condensation. Once it is back together, I will take myself on a nice long ride and see how the transmission oil looks then.

Thanks for all you help. I will keep you posted of my findings.
_________________
'94 K1100LT Brick