My spyder may have a problem......

[sleepman]

Noticed a couple of oil spots on the garage floor today, looked under the Spyder and the underside of the frame just in front of the exhaust was covered in oil. Pulled the left side panels and it almost looks like oil is coming out around the front drive pulley. The entire part of the engine around the pulley is coated in oil and it seems like oil is getting all over inside the engine compartment. Even found oil on the plastics behind the trunk, on the wiring, and on the panels I took off.

I made sure the oil was almost to the full level before I left for Key West this past weekend and now it's down below half on the dipstick.

Called the dealer and if I want it in this weekend they want me to add some fresh oil and ride it to them otherwise it maybe Thursday before they can pick it up. Not sure if I should ride it if it has something to do with the drive pulley.

 

[sabunim5]

If you only went from the level of the full mark to half way to the add mark, that is only about 1\2 quart of oil. I personally find, and I believe others have too, that If I keep my oil level half way between full and add, I don't need to add any oil between changes. On the other hand if I fill to full I can add back to full about once per week and never know where the oil goes. My oil in the airbox problem is negligible. I however do not have oil all over the place under the tupperware, or any appreciable oil around the front drive pulley. If you take your dealers advice they can hardly blame you if something goes wrong. Just be sure that if you are getting any belt slippage, you pull it over and refuse to go any further. I suppose the seal for the front drive pulley could be going on you. Whatever you do, err on the side of your own safety. The Spyder has a warranty, you don't. Just MHO. Have you tried running the motor with the panels off to see if you can find where the oil is leaking from:dontknow:
Ryde Safe and Enjoy:thumbup:
sabunim5:spyder:

 

[ataDude]

Chances are it is a loose oil filter cover... or a bad o-ring in that cover. However, there is an oil seal on the front driver pulley shaft, also.

See the silver cover in the lower left of the pic? That's the oil filter/cover.
The arrow points to one of the Gear Position Sensor mounting screws (from another thread - sorry).

 

[NancysToy]

Chances are it is a loose oil filter cover... or a bad o-ring in that cover. However, there in an oil seal on the front driver pulley shaft, also.

I:agree: If the O-ring and crush washer were not replaced at the time of the last oil change, they is the most likely suspects. Also, the cover bolt could have not been torqued properly, and is too loose. Clean everything well, ride, then check right away to try to find the source. Of course if the dealer did the last oil change, he should be responsible either way, so you could just cart it off to him.
-Scotty

 

[docdoru]

How was your trip in Key West? :nopic:

 

[sleepman]

I:agree: If the O-ring and crush washer were not replaced at the time of the last oil change, they is the most likely suspects. Also, the cover bolt could have not been torqued properly, and is too loose. Clean everything well, ride, then check right away to try to find the source. Of course if the dealer did the last oil change, he should be responsible either way, so you could just cart it off to him.
-Scotty

With the rides I've got coming up with friends not to mention bike week at the end of next month I'm just going to take it down to the dealer tomorrow and let them have it for the week.

What bugs me is that the oil is everywhere, but the most concentration is around the pulley. However the underside of the frame was coated pretty well also. I'm pretty sure it can't be from the blow off into the airfilter and it's not centered around the oil filter or drain plugs.

Interestingly enough when I had the panels off and had the Spyder running when standing on the left side I kept hearing a snapping sound like a short in a wire. Well I looked at the plug boot and it was arcing to the engine. Looked at the boot and it's got a tear in it. So that needs replaced anyway.

 

[sleepman]

How was your trip in Key West? :nopic:

It was a great trip as always. 12 bikes in our group and passed one other Spyder on my way back up to Key Largo on Sunday.

Of course the Spyder got a lot of attention down on Duval St.

 

[effgjamis]

Hey Sleepman,,, sorry about the problem.. I do hope it is a small and easy resolve.

Keep us posted.

Just maybe you can still catch the Tampa Meet.. Sure hope so.

 

[BajaRon]

Clean everything well, ride, then check right away to try to find the source. -Scotty

Agree with this except for the "Ride" part. I'd idle it with all the covers off and watch for the oil to appear. If you don't see a leak after a few minutes shut it off and run your fingers around, (gloved if things are too hot) until you find oil.

Riding it may through oil around again to where you can't be sure where it's coming from.

 

[sleepman]

Agree with this except for the "Ride" part. I'd idle it with all the covers off and watch for the oil to appear. If you don't see a leak after a few minutes shut it off and run your fingers around, (gloved if things are too hot) until you find oil.

Riding it may through oil around again to where you can't be sure where it's coming from.

My plan is to just let the dealer sort it out. So far on my own I've fixed a bad relay, my battery problem, and the bad exhaust gasket. I'm now going to just start letting them fix things under warranty and not worry about it. I've always got my V-Strom as my trusty back up ride.

I'm wondering though if my bad spark plug boot might fix the occasional rough idle I have.

 

[sleepman]

Well it definitely is coming from the rear of the engine and not the filter or drain plugs. I cleaned the oil off the frame really well last night and by the time I rode it the 80 miles to the dealer the frame was covered in oil again. Enough that you could see that it clearly was oil leaking.

 

[NancysToy]

Well it definitely is coming from the rear of the engine and not the filter or drain plugs. I cleaned the oil off the frame really well last night and by the time I rode it the 80 miles to the dealer the frame was covered in oil again. Enough that you could see that it clearly was oil leaking.

Sounds like you'll be Spyderless for a while, but at least he knew you weren't makingh a big fuss over nothing.
-Scotty

 

[sleepman]

Sounds like you'll be Spyderless for a while, but at least he knew you weren't makingh a big fuss over nothing.
-Scotty

Yep, they're supposed to call me Tuesday and give me an update. Then I should get a time frame. At least I've got the V-Strom to fall back on, I can't stand to drive a car.