The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: decorn33 on August 14, 2014, 09:09:35 AM

Title: Shifter Seal
Post by: decorn33 on August 14, 2014, 09:09:35 AM
Pulled the bike out for a ride last Saturday and found a small puddle of transmission fluid on the floor under the bike.  Curses not loud but deep... I cleaned off the entire area and put a paper towel on the floor to see where the fluid was coming from. Come to find that the source was my shifter.

In a fit of presumption I ordered a new seal from Moto-Bins, and went riding anyway. The seal should arrive next week.  Is there any magic to replacing this seal? I assume I should drain the tranny first.
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: steve hawkins on August 14, 2014, 09:17:37 AM
no need to drain the tranny, just lean the bike over the other way a bit.

Rev. light
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: nhmaf on August 14, 2014, 10:21:39 AM
I'd still drain the transmission - that way you know it will be at the proper fill level and with good fresh oil.   It is likely that your only issue is the seal, but wouldn't be a bad thing to check for the proper "fuzz" on the magnetic drain plug either.
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: Barry on August 14, 2014, 10:28:53 AM
I like the window in the fill/level plug.  

And unlike the the ones they used to put on Jap bikes that were less useful when the engine oil got dirty; it should work better as gear oil stays clean. That gearbox should never suffer from water in the oil - at least not for long.  

All it needs is to incorporate a magnet so it becomes a fuzz catcher and you have a built in gearbox condition monitor.  :)
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: decorn33 on August 14, 2014, 01:59:59 PM
Thanks Steve,  I'll give it a go.
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: decorn33 on August 14, 2014, 02:06:44 PM
That little window convinced me that riding was still an option! I replaced the tranny fluid in March, so I'm leaning toward Steve's idea of leaning it to the right a bit.
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: decorn33 on August 14, 2014, 02:18:58 PM
Let me qualify that by saying that after careful evaluation of the rate of drip, I convinced myself that there was sufficient fluid in the tranny, AND it wasn't going to coat my rear tire, rendering it tractionless as I rode along.
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 14, 2014, 06:43:59 PM
When removing the seal, don't gouge or scratch the bore that the seal sits in .

Also make sure you get the seal installed straight, if it isn't, it may bind up the shifter shaft .
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: Adrian on August 15, 2014, 12:45:39 AM
Hi - that's a very interesting window plug on your bike. Where can I get one thanks  ;)
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: decorn33 on August 15, 2014, 02:27:43 PM
I confess I don't remember exactly where I picked up the view plug I have. I know they market an equivalent unit at BMW2Valve:

http://www.bmw2valve.com/motorcycle/C-5/7475039.html.
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: Adrian on August 20, 2014, 11:21:27 PM
Thanks for that mate - I'll go check  :)
Title: Re: Shifter Seal
Post by: Matt Chapter on August 21, 2014, 09:47:44 AM
Quote
AND it wasn't going to coat my rear tire, rendering it tractionless as I rode along.

Funny story! ... well, in retrospect, after I got the seat removed from where it had sucked up.

I was riding on a backroad in VA, about an hour from home, and I went to lean into a mild curve, on my '84 VF500F.  The back tire stepped out about a foot!  I pulled over as quickly as I could, but gently..  There on the side of the road, the bike dumped the rest of the motor oil into the gravel.

I never did find the drain plug, and that was the last time I rode the bike.. sold it to a junk yard a week or two later. I had ridden the bike a thousand miles or more since the last oil change...