K11 Owners Group

kltk1 · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject: LT Oil leak?

Just got home from the MotoGP races out at Indy. The races were good and if you've never been it's a pretty good experience.

I have a '96 LT that turned 59,000 miles on this trip. At about 175 miles into my 700 mile ride home I began smelling something not unlike a hot brake pad. New pads were installed about 5000 miles ago and I didn't think it was that. The smell was worse on decel for some reason and never occured with the brakes on. Thinking it might be the clutch I adjusted the lever to give me more freeplay but the smell continued to come and go. I decided to head for the interstate instead of the backroads and continued the 500+ miles home to NJ. Made it OK, the clutch seems to perform well and I never got a sense it was slipping. As it was late when I got home I decided to look at it today. When I hopped on the floor I noticed a lot of oil around the oil filter cover and a few drops on the floor. I've NEVER had oil on the floor. The occassional coolant drip but never oil. Nothing is jumping out that it's cracked so I'm thinking the filter cover gasket went south. In looking around the bike I found a lot, of what looked like, fresh oil at the back of the motor around the hose that comes out of the air box. Again, no clear sign where its coming from. Any ideas? Also, at 59,000 miles is it unreasonable to be considering a new clutch?

I'm going to try and attach some pictures. If they work, great! If not I'll try to post a link to the pics..

[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/kltk165/LTOilProb#5377024589664036130

[/img]http://picasaweb.google.com/kltk165/LTOilProb#5377024583967906866

[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/kltk165/LTOilProb#5377024570829923042

[/img]http://picasaweb.google.com/kltk165/LTOilProb#5377024548257319186

[img][/img]
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Thomas Adamo

kltk1 · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject:

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Thomas Adamo

RobWheatley · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Looks to me like your water/oil pump is leaking, where the oil is coming from is an outlet from the pump seals if they start to weep.

You may be able to repair it with new seals depending on the condition of rest of the pump.
Rob
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1999 K1100LTIC Smooth and Quiet Smile

Cruise, BFD & HID
1996 K1100RS. dead but not forgotten.

kltk1 · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

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Thomas Adamo

Mystic Red · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

Check this out. Maybe we could get a look at it. Very Happy

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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Jim · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject:

Thomas - Picasaweb is a little different than the other photo hosting sites. Here's my experience with it - if you follow what I wrote up, you'll be able to post your pix.

Take a look here: http://k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5094&highlight=picasaweb
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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."

kltk1 · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject:

Sorry guys. I'm seeing the images in the post and assumed everyone else was too... Try this. If it works I'll post a few more.

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Thomas Adamo

kltk1 · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:51 pm Post subject:

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Thomas Adamo

Jim · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject:

looks to me like it's coming from the weep hole for the oil/coolant pump. If it was the oil filter cover, I don't think it would be up there on the front of the engine... unless you rode some long, steep downhill for a very long way at very low speed...
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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."

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:33 am Post subject:

RobWheatley · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:01 am Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:21 pm Post subject:

RobWheatley · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:26 pm Post subject:

No worries Scott, thought it might be as im the wrong side of the pond Laughing

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1999 K1100LTIC Smooth and Quiet Smile

Cruise, BFD & HID
1996 K1100RS. dead but not forgotten.

Jim · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject:

kltk1 · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:23 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the delay in responding. Was away from home for a couple of days.

Thanks for your insight everyone. I think I'll take a look at the water/oil pump seals...
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Thomas Adamo

Phil Marvin · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject:

Hi, Kltk1,
As I recently advised someone on another list, were it my bike, I would remove the oil/water pump and take it to my favorite dealer and have their mechanic replace the seals and whatever else is necessary ("O" rings, impeller, etc). A new pump isn't too far from $500 and with labor rates approaching $100/hr at some shops, you would be looking at $700+ to just take it to the dealer and tell him to fix it. I would expect to be charged around $200, depending on what was necessary, to have the pump reconditioned with new seals, "O" rings and spacer, maybe a bit more if a new impeller were needed. If a new shaft is needed (not too likely, but possible), then I might think about a new pump. But I would still do the R&R.
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

kltk1 · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject:

Know what? That's an excellent idea I hadn't thought of and will probably go that route. Thanks!
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Thomas Adamo