Need Advice - To diagnose or not diagnose

[germany]

I need some advice from the forum.

2005 FJR. Just under 50k miles

Two weeks ago, I woke up to approximately 1 quart of oil on the garage floor underneath my beloved Veronica. I checked the underside of the bike and the housing around the middle gear was dripping. The underside of the swing arm, tire and wheel all were spotted with oil. I caged it to work and checked my last parking spot and there was no oil on the ground. Sometime during my 35 mile ride home the day before, I sprung a sudden oil leak. When I started the bike, she just spewed oil out of the bottom.

The initial prognosis is the sudden leak is "catastrophic" (my term) and a new engine & middle gear is in order. Parts and labor for this will challenge the current value of the bike.

If the leak was slow (as I've seen others describe in other topics) then it would probably be a seal but still cost me several hundred to repair because of that one stoooopid bolt that is milimeters away from the frame.

I know James Burleigh went through a similar experience with his transmission and basically didn't even tear into the bike.

I have a tough decision to make. Do I spend ~$400 just to have the engine dropped and the issue diagnosed? If it's catastrophic, I've "wasted" $400. If it's not catastrophic then there's another $400+ in parts and labor to put the bike back together. If I can get her back on the road, the best case scenario is around ~$1,000. Worst case is I have to part her out. The question is, is the deck stacked against me and do I spend $400+ to find out?

I've been poking around the forum looking at various oil leak issues but I'd really like to get some feedback on my situatoin. What would you do?

This forum has been a great resource; I used it to help me decide on the FJR in the first place. And it has been endlessly helpful as a resource for farkles, repairs, and advice. My hat is off to everyone who has helped make this forum and FJR community what it is. (Listen to me...talking like she's already gone... )

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I need some advice from the forum. 2005 FJR. Just under 50k miles

Two weeks ago... I sprung a sudden oil leak. When I started the bike, she just spewed oil out of the bottom.

The initial prognosis is the sudden leak is "catastrophic" (my term) and a new engine & middle gear is in order. Parts and labor for this will challenge the current value of the bike.

I have a tough decision to make.

The question is, is the deck stacked against me and do I spend $400+ to find out?

Thanks,

It seems to me, one can't make an informed decision without a professional diagnosis.

You're welcome.

 

[wfooshee]

Let's make sure where the oil is coming from. I had a leak that looked like somewhere on the left side, turned out to be the cover over the rear balance shaft was loose, pooling oil on top of the tranny, which poured out when I set it over on the sidestand. Left side was good and coated, very hard to see where it came from.

Didn't find the source until I accepted the challenge and tore the intake system out.

Obviously, if it's spraying while running like you say, shouldn't be hard to narrow down, but it might be as simple as a loose speed sensor or something.

 

[exskibum]

Let's make sure where the oil is coming from.

+10

After reading this, I had the service manual out and went down to look at my '05 in the garage. I then reread what you posted, and cannot ascertain where you mean this is coming from, what you mean by "catastrophic" or who gave the "initial prognosis" that you described as "catastrophic".

If you mean it might be a cracked case, then I understand the modifier "catastrophic". (But such a problem usually results from some impact, abuse or a defect that would likely have manifested long ago on a 50K mile '05.) Otherwise, there appear to be three primary places from which oil might be leaking (other than sensors, as wfooshee noted), all of them seals of one sort or another, and little that is likely to be an internal problem (though I understand the expense and problem of getting at that part of the motor/tranny/driveshaft system for some repairs). What is unclear to me is why you'd have to pull the engine to diagnose where a leak is coming from, since it manifests itself externally.

Since it apparently leaks readily with the engine running, what about cleaning the oil up thoroughly, then with it clean, running it a couple minutes? Then use a shop mirror, lights, flashlights to see if you can at least eliminate some sources, if not actually determine the precise point from which it leaks?

 

[germany]

This is why I like this forum....I don't know enough about engines to know a speed sensor might be the source of an oil leak.

To clairfy my term catastrophic, I guess mean financially catastrophic. The cost of the repair rivals the value of the bike. And financially, the timing is not optimal even for the diagnostic labor. Having to commute to work in my truck (it was practically free otherwise I wouldn't have it) is eating away at my funds to even diagnose the issue.

The initial prognosis was done by a shop mechanic who has an FJR. His experience tells him that sudden oil leaks are costly. The game plan is to take the engine out and check the middle gear. I assumed that meant they isolated the source to that area. I'll confirm this is the case.

I'll suggest that we (I) take the plastics off to get a good view of the engine and run it and find out what's spewing oil.

Thanks for the swift replies. I have some more questions to ask the shop before it goes any further.

 

[FJRay]

WAIT!!!! Before you go tearing it apart. Finding the source syould be easy. Go get a few spray cans of brake clean and sanitize the whole area. after it is squeaky clean start it making sure there is oil in the engine and the source of the leak should be obvious. Then you can decide if it is a crisis.

 

[rushes]

WAIT!!!! Before you go tearing it apart. Finding the source syould be easy. Go get a few spray cans of brake clean and sanitize the whole area. after it is squeaky clean start it making sure there is oil in the engine and the source of the leak should be obvious. Then you can decide if it is a crisis.

 

[Geezer]

I can't help thinking that this is something simple like a loose oil filter.

I guess if you have had an experienced mechanic look at it he would have seen that right away.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

I can't help thinking that this is something simple like a loose oil filter.

Good Point....some of the Non-OEM Filters especially, don't Seat properly and would blow oil to the rear.

Something to consider.

 

[wfooshee]

I'm not sure how that brake cleaner treats paint. I'd be careful with it spritzing it around all over creation.

 

[germany]

Thanks again everyone! I did have to get over that initial financial panic (thanks Rushes).

I did check the oil filter and both drain plugs first thing. Everything was snug and seated. No more oil/residue in those areas than there ever was.

I have some things to talk to the technician about before we start racking up $$.

I'll post again regarding the problem and solution for future forum reference.

 

[user 6393]

I'm not sure how that brake cleaner treats paint. I'd be careful with it spritzing it around all over creation.

dunno about paint either, but it is one HELLUVA good long distance spider killer in the garage. I HATE spiders!

 

[Blind Squirrel]

I'm not sure how that brake cleaner treats paint. I'd be careful with it spritzing it around all over creation.

Use Simple Green or a similar product.

 

[germany]

Update.

I finally got my bike back the Friday before Labor Day.

Apparently, the middle driven pinion gear nut got loose and messed up the oil seal causing the leak. I now have a new seal, new gear nut, and a new bearing (item 20, page 5-66 of the manual). Lock tite was applied and the nut was crimped (as was the original). All is well.

 

[Constant Mesh]

One or more forum members have also had that nut loosen. You're fortunate it didn't damage the gears too.

 

[RossKean]

Update.

I finally got my bike back the Friday before Labor Day.

Apparently, the middle driven pinion gear nut got loose and messed up the oil seal causing the leak. I now have a new seal, new gear nut, and a new bearing (item 20, page 5-66 of the manual). Lock tite was applied and the nut was crimped (as was the original). All is well.

So, what did it end out costing - parts + labor?