rs125 - oil leak down front of engine

bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

Guys,

I have an oil leak going down the front of the engine and dripping onto the expansion part of the exhaust, it looks like its coming from the exhaust manifold or where the exhaust goes into the port, this or perhaps from the power valve, any ideas? i'm guessing this isnt normal lol, the oil is black. Any ideas?

Cheers,

Dan

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

Sounds like exhaust leak, new gasket will probably fix it if they are even fitted to the exhaust port on them.

The exhaust is held to the port by a spring. so you can hazard a guess as to how it leaks...
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bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

So springs, gasket and a clean up of the end on the exhuast and the manifold would be a good first effort?

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

Hutchysrs50 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Karma :

stirlinggaz · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Karma :

hi,
manifold is held on by 2 hex headed bolts but exhaust slots onto the manifold & is held on with 2 springs.
most likely just needs a good clean around the front of engine.
fit new exhaust gasket.
remove & clean pv blade, replace paper gasket.
de-coke exhaust whlie your there.
cheers,
GAZ

bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

Cheers Gaz,

Would you recommend changing the springs aswell? Also decoking the exhaust? i didn't think this was required on the 125? If so how do i go about it?

Thanks,

Hutchysrs50 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Karma :

tutton · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Karma :

What kind of oil is it? is it gearbox oil?
if so check your oil pump, when the pump ass. gets dislodged it lets oil in through the o ring like mine did Laughing

also makes it look like its coming from the exhaust
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Exhaust is meant to be sealed to the manifold by some high temp silicone sealant I think. Then the springs just hold it in place.

Power valve gasket is pretty cheap.

It might be worth putting new springs on. Not because it needs them but because they seem to harden with age and get to be pigs to get into place.

All the best

Keith
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bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

Yea mine definately has springs... Cool thanks guys, i think i'll replace the springs/manifold gasket/powervalve gasket etc anyway, gives me a chance to check the condition of everything.

And thanks Tutton, i hadn't even thought of that, i'll have a look at the oil pump. Can't really tell what oil it is.. but it doesnt smell like car gearbox oil does lol, not sure if its meant to!

Hutchysrs50 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Karma :

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

if it smells like cat piss mixed with shit and vomit its gear oil. if not then its 2 smoke oil.
____________________
Haz ER-5, innit!

tutton · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Karma :

my gearbox oil didnt smell like cat or horse piss.
but i knew from the colour that it wasnt 2stroke oil, and the only other oil a 2stroke runs is in the gearbox..
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

lol! ok guys cheers, well it does have any 'scent' to it, i use castrol tts which is pinkish in colour and the leaking oil is black as can be, i'm going to remove the rad and exhaust tomorrow and get the brake cleaner out so i can have a proper look. If anything it looks like it could be leaking from the gearbox cover gasket and then the gasket which runs down the very middle of the engine looking at it from the front Confused

Its possible this i just the channel the oils taking as it runs down though.

tutton · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Karma :

Mine has leaked in the centre rubber gasket your taking about as well, very minor there, but the gaskets there are shit.
How big is your leak?
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

Ah right, might be replacement time then! its reasonably big, not enough to drip on the floor but i'd say thats thanks mostly to it falling on the exhaust. When i first took the fairings off it was all over the front of the engine, i cleaned it up and then have been monitoring it since, i reckon ive done 200 miles or so since and theres oil on the exhaust again and visible runs on the front of the engine.

tutton · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Karma :

Id personally clean it up and stick some silicone sealer along the joint, then monitor it for another 200 miles, no point splitting the cases etc to stick new gaskets in if thats not where the leaks even coming from?
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

I like your style Smile

I'll have a pretty clear idea where the oils coming from tomorrow anyway, if i still think its those gaskets then i'll do what you suggest, the bikes currently off the road for another fault so once it's up and running again i can keep an eye on it.

Also i noticed today when i checked the gearbox oil level that i could see the cog through the sight, but no oil Shocked

the bike is on a paddock stand however, would this make the oil not visable through the sight or should it still be there?

tutton · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jan 2008 Karma :

on mine even on the stand i can see oil so id expect to see oil still,
get it held up straight and check it again, could well be its been leaking gearbox oil for a while like mine did Laughing

or its really new oil in there and its not turned dark yet?
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

Yea i'll try it with the bike on the floor.. i've got a feeling though i'm not going to see much lol Laughing

if not i'll drain it and see how much comes out.. could then just replace the cutch cover gasket and gearbox oil at the same time.. certainly stacks up that part of the oil leak could be coming from there.

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

bmwsport · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Karma :

Just to tie this one up!

The bike had 300ml of gearbox in it.. going by my haynes manual it looks like its meant to have 750.. think i may have my leak Razz

i'm going to renew the clutch cover gasket, can i use tyre of sealant aswell as the gasket?

I also removed the rad/exhaust to check the powervalve, to find the rubber boot split and oil all over the top of the blade where the cable fits in, so a new o ring, seal, spring, gasket and rubber boot it is!

Oh and the gearbox oil didnt have scent at all!!