Oil leak from clutch?


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ksquared
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Oil leak from clutch?

Post by ksquared »

Took my CBX out for a nice ride to Tortilla Flats, AZ last weekend and discovered oil on my right shoe. Found that it happens mostly at higher speed (above 60mph). Lower speeds not some but not so much. I examined the clutch adjust cap but it looked dry. I couldn't see any obvious sign of a leak around the clutch cover but the right foot peg was rather wet. This a common problem? Maybe I should order a cover gasket? This will be the first time I've had to put a wrench to the bike. Lucky me 8) I assume I have to drain the engine oil before removing the clutch cover.
79 CBX - 75 CB400F - 71 SL350 - 07 Buell XB9R - 03 Harley V-Rod

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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by tevan »

It might be the right oil cooler hose. As a rule they haven’t been replaced and they are 40 years old. When they leak they just weep. You might check that hose. If you do need hoses I sell them but need your ends.

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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by ksquared »

Aha. I see the oil cooler hose you are talking about. If I remove the 2 fasteners holding the oil hose cover, will oil drain out of the engine?
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by tevan »

No

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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by daves79x »

Might be the hose, but more likely it's from the right crank cover or possibly somewhere else on the engine block.

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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by ksquared »

oil line4.jpg
I removed the hose cover, cleaned things up nicely & went for a ride. Came beck home & found small traces of oil on my shoe but couldn't see any signs of where it is coming from. I'm thinking the best way to find the leak is to put the bike on a dyno and take it to 70 & start looking. It doesn't seem to be an issue below 45mph. You can see a little oil on the leading edge of the foot peg.
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by tevan »

Maybe it is the crank cap.

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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by ksquared »

Crank cap? Where is that? If you mean the clutch adjust cap, it was dry (no leaks).
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by Larry Zimmer »

Just 'cause': check around the crankcase "cap- sealing' at the right side. Part # 90043-422-000 in the schematics. See if you have any oil in that area. Took me quite a time before I found my leak was around that cap. The oil was all over things behind there suggesting clutch cover, end cap, etc. Air flow down the road blows that little leak every where!! New SAE size oring took care of it for me. New proper metric ring did not help. I'm thinking the groove in the cap was just that little scosh oversize. The SAE ring is a 'scosh' larger than metric. It will close just fine. Maybe not -- but worth a look-see. Good luck.
P.S, Scosh is a highly technical term only used at the highest engineering levels!!)
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by Jeff Bennetts »

Were your crankcase covers chromed by any chance, that can cause a sealing problem! If they were plated you can reconditioned the mating surface on the cap, on a flat surface using some emery paper and water or oil if it's the better fabric backed emery.

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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by ksquared »

Jeff, yes chromed. I'll check into what you suggest. I have a big machinist granite slab at work if needed.
Larry, yes I know the engineering term scosh. Ya know what a SWAG is? Or an RCH?
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by Larry Zimmer »

Yup. Same high tech design manual! :)
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by ksquared »

Found the leak. It's from the crankshaft cap. I figure at the lower speeds I'm usually at (under 50), the leak just dropped to the ground. At higher speeds, the air flow blew it back to my shoe. It has been slowly getting worse. That's why I was able to finally see the signs. Gasket time :-)
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by ksquared »

Will lots of oil run out if I remove the right crank cap? If on kick stand?
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Re: Oil leak from clutch?

Post by tevan »

No you will be fine.

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