Leaking final drive pumpkin

[squarebore]

Hi team, I read a heap on this but would appreciate help. Just came back from a ride and after letting bike sit found oil dripping on the tyre and wheel. Also can see it tracking and flicking on the wheel and guard. Definitely smells like diff oil. Is this something I can fix or is it a dealer issue?

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[EricV]

Just to get it out of the way, have you recently serviced or done a fluid change? Some of that looks like from the breather, which is not normally of concern, rough conditions can cause that.

But the spewing along the tyre looks like from the cush drive area, and while an over abundance of grease can sometimes do that a bit, more would mean a seal there is leaking.

Any leakage at the vent hole on the swingarm? If not, I'd pull the wheel and see what it looks like along the gear drive there. Possible that some foreign debris got in there?

 

[squarebore]

Just to get it out of the way, have you recently serviced or done a fluid change? Some of that looks like from the breather, which is not normally of concern, rough conditions can cause that.

But the spewing along the tyre looks like from the cush drive area, and while an over abundance of grease can sometimes do that a bit, more would mean a seal there is leaking.

Any leakage at the vent hole on the swingarm? If not, I'd pull the wheel and see what it looks like along the gear drive there. Possible that some foreign debris got in there?

Thanks Eric I'll have a look where you suggested. Final drive oil was changed about 3000kms ago.


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[Dogdaze]

I'll echo what EricV suggested, the oil is not under pressure so any leakage inside the cush drive area will most probably be a seal. Any oil coming from the vent is being 'slung' up there and might be due from over filling, but that seems unlikely as overfill is kind of impossible...... do let us know the outcome, and there is a thread on here about rear wheel removal (if you have not done it before) with tips to make it easier to re-install ::008::

 

[squarebore]

I'll echo what EricV suggested, the oil is not under pressure so any leakage inside the cush drive area will most probably be a seal. Any oil coming from the vent is being 'slung' up there and might be due from over filling, but that seems unlikely as overfill is kind of impossible...... do let us know the outcome, and there is a thread on here about rear wheel removal (if you have not done it before) with tips to make it easier to re-install ::008::

Thanks dog, not coming from the breather and not overfilled. As you say, I don't know how you could overfill. I'll pull the wheel off tomorrow (bourbon time now) and check the seals.

Must say I am disappointed. The bike has been bullet proof until now and it doesn't take much to take me to go searching for a new bike. Don't know that there is anything better though.

 

[Philistine]

it not a hard fix mate I've done mine twice the crown wheel is close to a press fit but can be fitted back on using a soft hammer and making sure it is aligned properly before taping it back into the hub, it could be a speck of dirt under the seal which would just need cleaning. mine was leaking from the front seal the other day, turned out the diff had a gut full of water in it, so it was over full, I drained and refilled twice no problems anymore ::008::

 

[Ramseybella]

No need to be looking for another bike, this stuff happens.
Like a leaky water pump on a car you fix it.

 

[EricV]

You can overfill the diff pumpkin if you spin the wheel and continue to add oil... Had to help a friend drain and re-fill his diff due to this issue once. Seems unlikely here though. Hopefully you will see a red flag when you have the wheel off that points you in the right direction. Probably just a seal and not indication of more serious issues. The Yamaha final drives are notoriously strong and issues are rare.

 

[squarebore]

Ok, wheel off and nothing obvious found. As you can see from the photo the seal appears to be dry. I'm guessing I should see if the star screws are all tight?

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[EricV]

That looks pretty good, excellent in fact, for the gear there.

The oil appears to be coming from farther forward and getting blown back. There is a small weep hole in the swing arm, along the bottom near the flange. Centered between the acorn nuts, so to speak. See if it appears that oil has been leaking from there. If so, there are a couple of seals in there. Those have leaked on other Super Tens and there are forum threads about it.

If you haven't had the pumpkin off before, it's just those four acorn nuts and the entire unit with shaft intact will pull out. Easy to line up in the U-joint again when you re-install. The shaft is retained by 2 circlips, if I recall, and does NOT just pull out.

Item number 39 and 13 are the usual suspects. One instance that I recall was on a new bike and there was some burr or damage where the seal went in that caused it to become damaged as it was installed. Probably not your issue.
http://www.yamahapartshouse.com/oemparts/a/yam/5004d842f87002275461de7b/drive-shaft

Hope that helps.

 

[squarebore]

Thanks Eric. I put some paper in the weep hole and it appears to be dry and no evidence of oil. I have drained and refilled the pumpkin and will fit the wheel, degrease and do some bench testing. Easy thing to do before pulling more apart.


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[EricV]

All the pics seem to show oil residue at the bottom of the diff, but not coming from the usual suspects. Any chance you just rode thru a puddle of oil and this is splash and run off from that?

Excessively hot days or hard/bumpy/washboard ride just prior to noticing this? (just thinking out loud that perhaps it was a one time burp)

I'm guessing you didn't find any of the torx bolts loose on the pumpkin or you would have mentioned it.

 

[squarebore]

I did ride through something that looked like oil at one stage but the oil all seems to be on the same side as the drive. It was a hot day and very rough asphalt outback road. Speed between 120 and 140 sustained most of the way (kph) for about two hours. EDIT. Also no oil on front wheel of it had come from road.

All the torx screws were tight.


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[Ramseybella]

I wold clean it all off put it back together and take it for a short spin and investigate.

 

[squarebore]

It took 40kms but I found it when it started to leak. From the weep hole as suggested. I guess I'll pull it apart tonight and order some parts. Thanks guys.

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[squarebore]

I must say I am a little confused. I spent an hour reading a lot of stuff about replacing the seal on the drive shaft and I'm not sure if I need special tools or not. Is this an easy job or should I go to the dealer?


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[EricV]

Do you have the FSM?

I do have the FSM. Page 4-103 shows the diagram for the shaft drive assemble. To be clear, I have not done this procedure myself! I am mechanical and do wrench on my stuff though.

There are two circlips to remove, then just a washer and the seal over the drive area of the shaft. Once the circlips are removed the shaft will pull out removing the oil seal and washer. (The washer may just drop out too, once the circlips are removed). As long as that's the problem, (the oil seal), and you don't need to go deeper, it's pretty strait forward and simple to do.

If you don't have lock ring pliers small enough to get in there, that would complicate the job. If the leak is due to another issue, deeper in the drive unit, it gets more complicated and is probably best left to the dealer. Especially if you don't have the FSM. There is a left hand thread part and shims that require measurement rather than just remove and replace, a finicky o-ring that can be easily torn, etc.

 

[Ramseybella]

http://www.bikebandit.com/oem-parts/2012-yamaha-super-tenere-xtz12bb-drive-shaft/o/m154378sch748394

 

[squarebore]

Thanks guys, I pulled the hub and driveshaft out this morning. There was a circlip on the small end (transmission end). I left that alone. I pulled the big circlip off at the pumpkin end and gave the shaft a tug. Should it come out easy or need a bit of force. Didn't want to pull too hard in case there was something I'm missing. I have put the pumpkin and dive shaft in the car and was going to drop it off at lunch time but if you tell me I'm doing it right I'll keep going. Cheers

 

[EricV]

It's got to pull the oil seal out with the shaft, so I'd expect some effort involved as the seal is a light press fit. I'de gently work it back and forth a bit and see if you get progress. Sounds good so far, but to err on the side of caution is not a bad thing. You have good common sense, just listen to it and go with what feels right.