Oil leak from the front of the engine ! K75S

[johnnyalpha]

Hi Folks, new, to me , K75S  UK market model, 61k.
After a run I have noticed a drip of oil , appears to be from the front on the engine, and to the Left Hand Side, as youn sit on the bike.

Definately oil, NOT watery oil/oily water and the drip does not seem to be coming from the water/oil pump weep hole. I know this leak,. had it before and it was the mech seal in the pump.

This leak seems to be different, not coming from weep hole and defo oil only.

The oil pressure switch rubber boot was full of oil, so my first thought is that it may be coming from a leaking oil pressure switch ?

Any ideas/help very much appreciated. Oh and does anyone know the size of socket that the oil pressure switch requires ? I have a 26mm and it feels a wee bit slack, is it a 25mm ?

cheers Folks, Johnny (Edinburgh, Scotland)

[frodef]

This sounds exactly like mine last year. I changed the oil pressure switch and the leak was gone. The replacement part I used was a bimmer part I got off ebay for cheap, se the alternate parts list in the lieberry.

[johnnyalpha]

Hi, thank you for the reply. I saw the posts about alternative parts, and I followed the same path to ebay :)

I hope it is as easy a fix as you suggested.

2 wee questions, did you need to drain the sump to replace the switch ?
and can you recall what size of socket you needed ?.

My guess to the above questions is, Yes and 24, am I correct ?

BW Johnny

[frodef]

I do believe I had to drain it, and I don't remember the size but I do remember the new one was different from the old.

[johnnyalpha]

OK. I replaced the oil pressure sensor, only a wee splash of oil escaped. The old sensor had no crush washer present, so I thought I was on to a winner. Short ride on the bike conformed it was NOT the oil pressure sensor that was to blame for the leak.  Oil was still dripping, it seems to be coming down the "tunnel" in the castings that the cable for the oil sensor comes out of.  What is up there that could be leaking ? and how hard would it be to sort it ? To be honest the leak isn't gushing out, BUT it is obvioulsy an indicator that something is amiss, and I have nagging worry that it may be something that may give way catastrophically whilst riding :/  Any ideas or insights very much appreciated.
BW Johnny

[Inge K.]

Oil was still dripping, it seems to be coming down the "tunnel" in the castings that the cable for the oil sensor comes out of.

The you have a leak between the pump body and the sump/block.

When you have the pump off the bike, check that the halfmoon shaped hole between the sump and Block
isn't blocked with sealant (it's for oil return ).

[johnnyalpha]

Hi Inge, mmhh I can't visualise this 1/2 moon gap :/  Is this behind the oil/water pump, do I need to remove the pump from the machine ?  sorry I am being "dim" :/
BW John Z

[Inge K.]

When you have the pump off the bike, check that the halfmoon shaped hole between the sump and Block
isn't blocked with sealant (it's for oil return ).

[johnnyalpha]

AHA !!!!  I see it now, a picture is worth a thousand words :)

Thank you very much Inge, that is a fantastic illustration.
You may well be onto something, as I the outside of the engine is covered with excess sealant that has oozed from the seams :(
I think that the PO had a strange idea of what a "smear" of sealant meant :)

Thank you every one who took the time to read and reply.

I now have plenty of ideas to work with.
It may be a while before I get round to doing any work on the bike, as I have managed to injure my left knee, my Doctor
suspects my anterior cruciate ligament as the problem :/

Thank you all, great bunch of people

Johnny (Edinburgh,Scotland)

[gmawby]

Hi,
I have the same/similar problem, oil weeping from a hole at the front left of the engine. (viewed when sat on the bike). I have not taken the water oil pump out yet but I have been reading the Clymer manual oil pump section.  What caught my attention was "if oil has been leaking from the oil/water pump sealing surface at the 2:00 position ...... the oil return channel in the lower crankcase is probably clogged.... "
I don't know if that is my problem, but where is the oil return channel and can I clean it without taking the engine out?

Glenn.

[Laitch]

the oil return channel in the lower crankcase is probably clogged.... "
I don't know if that is my problem, but where is the oil return channel and can I clean it without taking the engine out? Glenn.

Look at the picture in Inge's post above which is the post with containing the large illustration and arrows, Glenn. That's the channel. You don't need to remove the engine; you need to drain the coolant, disconnect wiring and remove the pump to disassemble it. If oil is dripping from the weep hole, you will need to disassemble the  pump to determine the source of the leak regardless of whether it's a two o'clock problem or a six o'clock problem. Read Inge's first post in this thread, too.

There's lots of information here, and here, too.

[gmawby]

Hi,
I've taken the pump off and changed the oil seal and other seals plus the O rings.

Question, when I put it back together and install  how do you seal  or do you have to seal the two long bolts that bolt the pump to the engine?   The manual is silent on this.

Glenn

[gmawby]

Hi again
after reading this http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/bvogel/K100/oil_pump/oil-pump-seals-replacement.htm, I think I have made rather a mess of this repair. I was a bit too heavy handed when I put the shaft back and I'll have get another ceramic seal and start again. :(    Note the shaft is not in too bad a condition )

Glenn.

[Laitch]

What happened, Glenn? What's the symptom of your alleged failure in installation?

[gmawby]

Hi,
It leaks coolant from the weep hole. :(    I'm going to have another go at it this weekend.

Glenn

[gmawby]

Hi,
fixed,   I did not damage the water seal this time!   I pulled the shaft through gently using the screw that holds the impeller on and a couple of spacers.   All good.

Glenn.

[Laitch]

That's the way to hang in there, Glenn!

[Martin]

Good job three good things to have with any job observation, patience and persistence.
Regards Martin. :clap: