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The 2-Stroke Garage => Turning Wrenches => Topic started by: Organicjedi on September 28, 2020, 08:47:37 AM

Title: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Organicjedi on September 28, 2020, 08:47:37 AM
I've been struggling with this left side leak for some time now, really ever since the restore.

Gearbox oil is dripping off of the bottom of the neutral switch. It only appears after I ride. I first swapped the neutral switch o ring and eventually glued it on with high temp silicone. The issue did not go away.

I also hit the sprocket nut with an impact to make sure it was tight and then coated the blanking plugs with ultra black. The leak is still there.

In my mind, this leaves two options. The sprocket seal or the clutch push rod seal. All of the seals are new and the push rod is straight with no grooves.

I'm wondering if there are any tips to test where the leak is coming from or how to stop it.

I'm going to run it with the sprocket on and the side cover off to see if I can spot a leak coming out of the sprocket seal.

I'm for sure going to swap the sprocket seal with a new one and will probably put some ultra black around the sealing surfaces.

It's hard to find an oil trail under here due to all of the flinging oil with the spinning chain. Plus the left bottom side of the neutral switch is the lowest point so the leak could be coming from several places.

I'm bound and determined to find this and seal it up.

Any advice would be appreciated.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200928/4e2bbc6fcec2ae8992e904f0b2baab14.jpg)

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Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Arrow on September 28, 2020, 08:51:09 AM
Get some white spirit and a paint brush and have a good clean up. Much easier then to see where the source of the leak is.

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Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Arrow on September 28, 2020, 08:53:10 AM
Lol, when I posted I could not see the photos.

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Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: quocle603 on September 28, 2020, 09:28:41 AM
some people like to spread baby powder to the area to see where it is actually leaking from.
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Czakky on September 28, 2020, 10:51:26 AM
Not familiar with the 400s but on my R5 I had a leak in the tach seal that drive me nuts for a long time and it would show up on the left quite a bit...
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Organicjedi on September 28, 2020, 12:39:26 PM
Quote from: Czakky on September 28, 2020, 10:51:26 AM
Not familiar with the 400s but on my R5 I had a leak in the tach seal that drive me nuts for a long time and it would show up on the left quite a bit...

I did rebuild the tach drive because it did start leaking. That part is dry now.
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: paul1478 on September 28, 2020, 12:40:37 PM
Quote from: Czakky on September 28, 2020, 10:51:26 AM
Not familiar with the 400s but on my R5 I had a leak in the tach seal that drive me nuts for a long time and it would show up on the left quite a bit...
my 400 had the exact same leak. it wound run down through the hole in the top of the cases. never would have guessed that it was a tack cable from where the oil was showing up.
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Yamaha 179 on September 28, 2020, 07:21:05 PM
If/when you replace the sprocket seal clean the area with laquer thinner or acetone very well and assemble the new seal dry; do not put Yama-bond on the OD of the seal.  Put all the case seals (and bearing surfaces) up clean and dry.
Lyn Garland
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Organicjedi on September 28, 2020, 08:59:12 PM
Thanks for the tips so far!

Arrow, yes I have it all cleaned up as you see now in the pictures.  :thumbs:
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Diablo007 on September 30, 2020, 02:30:42 AM
@Yamaha179

Why install the seals dry vs. using Yamabond?  When I built my last engine I was advises to use Yamabond.
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Barrie on September 30, 2020, 07:45:44 AM
I recon that a bit of liquid gasket helps lubricate the seal during install
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: quocle603 on September 30, 2020, 08:47:47 AM
I've always installed my seals dry. Some yamabond will get on it from the two halves meeting.
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: Yamaha 179 on September 30, 2020, 09:57:37 AM
Yamaha designed the seals to be installed dry and taught in their schools that they should be installed dry that is why I mentioned that.
You see no mention in any service or technical manuals of the use of bonding agents on the OD of seals while you are instructed to seal the case mating surfaces.
Lyn Garland
Title: Re: RD400 Left Side Oil Leak
Post by: rd400canuck on October 02, 2020, 08:57:18 AM
I have the EXACT same issue. I totally rebuilt the bike last winter and all this season i got a few drops of oil after every ride on the left hand side. Driving me nuts lol...   going to use everyone's suggestions here and have a look for it.