Drip, drip . . .Oil Pump?

[HCorn]

My bike recently started marking its territory.  Just a drop or two that appears to be coming from the weep hole at the front of the oil pan.  I recently changed the coolant and had the valve cover off, but this appears to be unrelated. 

The bike is in the shop now getting the valves done and a throttle body sync.  I mentioned it to the mechanic and he said I may want to live with it for awhile since it is likely coming from one of the seals for the oil pump or water pump and it can get expensive if any of the parts actually need to be replaced.

In searching other forums, it looks like I can replace the seals (assuming I can find them). 

Is replacing the seals typically effective?  The leak literally just started, so I'm hoping the shaft itself isn't too worn.  Could it be something else?

[robleyd]

In my case the leak was between the oil and water sections of the pump, resulting in oil in the coolant and quite a mess to clean up.

Yes, seals will fix it and yes, you may need a new shaft and impeller. Did mine in March last year and the all up costs for parts was AU$245 - not from a dealer, though.

You might find this article and videos useful - pay careful attention to the method of refitting the shaft :-)

[Belplasca]

My bike recently started marking its territory.  Just a drop or two that appears to be coming from the weep hole at the front of the oil pan. 

Might be worth checking the seal on the sensor inside there... I changed a complete pump and it still leaked. Switching the sensor fixed it.

I think (but I'm not sure) there is an o ring in there that fails...

Bob

[orforester]

Agreed on the sensor, but the pump is not that bad, and the impellor may not be bad, mine wasn't, just new seals and some Yamahbond, good as new, messy, but good

[HCorn]

Which sensor are you guys referring to?  The Oil Pressure Switch?  Would that leak to the weep hole?

It is kid of strange how it started after I flushed the coolant and checked the valves.  But I was nowhere near the oil and water pump.

[Inge K.]

It isn`t any other sensors on the pump, unless you got a water temp. gauge.
And agree.......if it leaks out of the weep hole, it`s definately one of the axle seals.

Inge K.

[mystic red]

Occasionally the drip will stop on it's own. Or so I've been told. Oil in the coolant, not so much, but out of the weep hole...........

[Scott_]

Occasionally the drip will stop on it's own. Or so I've been told. Oil in the coolant, not so much, but out of the weep hole...........

If it should stop weeping on it's own, double check to make sure the weep hole isn't plugged!

[frankenduck]

Occasionally the drip will stop on it's own. Or so I've been told. Oil in the coolant, not so much, but out of the weep hole...........

If it should stop weeping on it's own, double check to make sure the weep hole isn't plugged!

Good point.  Given the location it can fill up with road grime.

[HCorn]

Update:

I'm not sure how or why, but my oil drip actually seemed to be tied to having too much oil.  Although I noticed the drip after changing the coolant and checking the valves, I had also changed the oil several days prior.  I had overfilled the sump - not drastically, but the sight glass was completely filled.

I figured it wasn't a big deal and I would eventually drain off the excess if I had a problem.  So several weeks ago I drained out a bit, maybe half a quart :dunno2:.  Ever since, no drip!  Maybe it stopped on it's own, but the timing of when it started and stopped seems directly related to the excess oil. 

Not sure how the internals of that part of the engine look as to why that would cause oil to get past the seal, but no more drip.