Minor Oil Leak

[Mattastic]

Until this morning I've not ridden the beast that is my GS125 and when i pulled it out of the garage I noticed two little spots of oil, one the size of a pound coin, the other a five pence piece. I had noticed before that when I'd been on a bit of a run there was a layer of oil on the engine casing. I think this is coming from where the "gear changer" (sorry not sure what it's called) goes into the engine. There is a rubber washer sealing it and I'm wondering if that is now worn and needs replacing.

My only worry is that if I take the washer out another one might not slot back in and I may have to dismantle the bleeding thing. Does anyone know if this will be the case? I'll try to post a picture when I get home from work. At the minute it is not a major thing but minor leaks generally turn into full blown ones eventually so i want to get it sorted ASAP.
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Too skint to buy a bike

[Robby]

Its quite normal for bikes to have a spot of oil under that area - Its normally chain lube getting warm and dripping off.

Alternatively you could have a minor oil leak on the gearchance shaft. I wouldn't bother replacing it until you need to, its a cunt to get to - ie pull the entire engine apart.

As I remember Doddmaster's GN250 had a similar problem with the oil seal behind the gearbox sprocket - it cured itself, just needed a few runs to get some warm oil around it and it puffed back up.

Check your chain tension just in case, an overtightened chain wrecks all kinds of things. You should be looking for an inch of slack in the middle of the chain.

[Mattastic]

Thanks Robby

When I get in I'll check the chain tension, I vaguely remember tightening it a few weeks back, maybe I did it too tight. I hope it is that as I do not fancy taking the engine apart for the sake of a rubber bung!
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Too skint to buy a bike

[carvell]

Note that you should measure the slack with someone sitting on it as you would ride it, not on the centre stand.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Zx6man]

some bikes though( like mates fazer 600) quote the chain tightness figures with it on the centrestand.

[Valentino Mossy]

[clemsta]

My NS125R did that as well, you may need a new gear lever seal which will just be a couple of £, But mine didn't need a new seal it was leaking because i had overfilled the gearbox oil and there was too much pressure, it's easy to change the seal, on most bikes you just take off the gear selector and then prise the seal out with a flat blade screwdriver. Change the oil if you do this. then use a little bit of the new oil and run it around the new seal an insert it into the hole and replace the shifter. fill with oil and then run the bike for 2 mins then check the oil and top up if needed, be carefull not to overfill it or you could wreck the seal.

Hope this has been some use.

[Valentino Mossy]