Big oil leak primary chain side !

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David V
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Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by David V » Wed Sep 12, 2018 2:59 am

Haven't been using my WLA for a few months with hols and work.
There was a huge oil leak under the primary chain cover side. It drips there for sure but this is way over.
The bike started no trouble and I went off for a spin but coming back, 5 mins on the road it was messy.
I'm going to have to take the cover off to see what's going on.
What could be the cause ? Is there more than the oil feeder in there that can leak ?
I had just filled the gearbox up with fresh oil and the oil leaking was pretty clear.
But there is no link to the gearbox ?
David
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
42WLA 70443 "Lily" since 16/1/10


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Johan WILLAERT
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:35 am

David V wrote:
Wed Sep 12, 2018 2:59 am
I had just filled the gearbox up with fresh oil and the oil leaking was pretty clear.
But there is no link to the gearbox ?
Unless the oil retainer on the gearbox mainshaft is leaking???
It would leak from behind the clutch and into the chain cover, then onto the skid plate...

Best is to take off chain cover and see what's going on...
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David V
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by David V » Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:48 am

Seems plausible - the oil looks too new to be the oil from the engine.
Cover will have to come off to see.
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by OLDABEWLA » Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:07 pm

Sounds like a weeping oil pump common on WLA engines.
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David V
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by David V » Thu Sep 13, 2018 2:05 pm

On the primary side ?
Oil pump is on the other.
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by OLDABEWLA » Thu Sep 13, 2018 2:58 pm

Oil can come out of the breather up front of engine on the under side and it comes out in large mass.
The check balls in the oil bump don't seat right over time or get pitted from moisture in the oil which allows the oil in lines to return back to crank case and over fills the crank case called weeping oil pump and most cases it come out the breather but it could come out of a bad seal in the left case by over fill

Could be two issues or just on? Just what I know. liquid can travel from different areas to another and make it look like it's coming from a certain area to.

One thing to look at.

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David V
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by David V » Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:20 am

So I took the primary casing off. Lots of dirty oil inside. As soon as I righted the bike, it dripped from the casing. I'd also cleaned the engine with Gunk the other day and hosed the block down so there was some water as well.
I can't see any real leak though. I ran the engine for 5 minutes with the casing off and then waited. The cardboard I had put under the engine was sprayed with oil from the chain (like a chainsaw) and when I stopped the engine, a lot of black engine oil dripped through what I guess is the chain oil feed ? In the centre ? It left a little pool on the cardboard. Maybe not more than usual after a run.
Why does it still drip after the pump has stopped ?

How about a belt drive ?

This is the oil feed for the chain ?
Maybe too much oil coming through ? I currently have 2 thin washers on the adjusting oil pump screw so I could take off one to see if I have less oil on the floor.

I haven't put the case back on yet. Maybe go for a ride and then see what happens. I thought it looked surprisingly clean in there so the ton of oil that came out from the case still leaves me puzzled.

Nothing coming out the crankcase breather.
Attachments
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Oil pool after 5 minute run
IMG_8650.JPG (96.5 KiB) Viewed 1417 times
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Drip drip drip
IMG_8649.JPG (156.51 KiB) Viewed 1417 times
IMG_8643.JPG
I s this the chain oil feed ?
IMG_8643.JPG (157.54 KiB) Viewed 1417 times
IMG_8641.JPG
Primary chain case with dirty oil inside
IMG_8641.JPG (167.98 KiB) Viewed 1417 times
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by OLDABEWLA » Fri Sep 14, 2018 4:50 pm

Remove one washer from the oiler and see what that does? Does your oiler screw have a nice point or is some of the tip gone?
You never know what past owners do to jimmy rig stuff!
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David V
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by David V » Fri Sep 14, 2018 11:07 pm

It has a nice point. I checked it yesterday. I'll take off one washer and see what the difference will be.
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
42WLA 70443 "Lily" since 16/1/10

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David V
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Re: Big oil leak primary chain side !

Post by David V » Wed Sep 19, 2018 8:50 am

Still too much oil so off with another washer...
44 MB 356111 "Charlotte" since 21/02/06 - Capstan winch
42WLA 70443 "Lily" since 16/1/10


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