Remove bean can without draining oil?

[AlfromNH]

Can I? Seems like the oil level must be well below the bean can...

[nhmaf]

Ordinarily, yes - there is a seal behind it and the opening going into the case can collect a bit of oil, so a little bit might dribble out.

[AlfromNH]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear  8-)

[Barry]

You may or may not find oil inside the can.  If you do that is nothing to do with the O ring.  There is a mechanical seal of sorts on the drive shaft at the back of the can that is supposed to keep oil out. I found a little oil inside the can when I first got he bike but once I cottoned on to the idea of running the oil level only half full on the dipstick the reduced crankcase pressure seemed to solve the problem.

[georgesgiralt]

There is a lip seal on the axe of the bean can. It is concealed by a cache in the bean can and a round steel disk outside the bean can.
You can't change it without either destroying the old lip seal or the bean can box or both (don't ask why I know that)
The lip seal is very difficult to find because the material is said to resist high temp and it is an unusual diameter.
I did not had a lot of oil out when removing the bean can without draining oil. There is no pressure at this position unless you put a huge amount of oil in the motor.

If you decide to change the lip seal, you have to drive the steel ring out from inside of the can using a small punch through the lip seal. As the ring is very mild steel apply the least force with a bronze punch in order not to mar it.

[Barry]

I didn't attempt to change that seal because the leak stopped. Some years ago I found information which suggested it was a 12x20x5 seal which does seem to be an odd size but it could be sourced as a generic seal although I don't know about the temperature rating.  You won't find it as a BMW spare part that's for sure as they deem the bean can to be a non serviceable item.