WillG. Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 I just picked up my 03 banshee less then two months ago. Ive noticed a minor oil leak (more like a seep usually) somewhere around the bottom rear of the motor. It dosnt leak enough to drip while on all four wheels. But if stood up, leaks/seeps noticably more. Its still not much really. But im a bit anal about stuff like that so i want to fix it soon. Its been difficult to diagnose wheres is originating from since the oil is new and clear. From what ive seen it may appeare to be coming through at the side cover gasket (clutch side) and/ or the kick starter seal. Any pointers or anything i should check for or do while im replacing those two things? Also, i have some water wetter lying around and thought about running it with distilled water. Would that be noticably better then the 50/50 mix in there now? Should i run a little bit of aniti freeze in with it for lubrication properties? I figure now is as good a time as any to switch it out while i have to drain it anyways. Any experience and opinions are welcomed. Thanks! Quote
Dahl87banshee Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 I just picked up my 03 banshee less then two months ago. Ive noticed a minor oil leak (more like a seep usually) somewhere around the bottom rear of the motor. It dosnt leak enough to drip while on all four wheels. But if stood up, leaks/seeps noticably more. Its still not much really. But im a bit anal about stuff like that so i want to fix it soon. Its been difficult to diagnose wheres is originating from since the oil is new and clear. From what ive seen it may appeare to be coming through at the side cover gasket (clutch side) and/ or the kick starter seal. Any pointers or anything i should check for or do while im replacing those two things? Also, i have some water wetter lying around and thought about running it with distilled water. Would that be noticably better then the 50/50 mix in there now? Should i run a little bit of aniti freeze in with it for lubrication properties? I figure now is as good a time as any to switch it out while i have to drain it anyways. Any experience and opinions are welcomed. Thanks! There is a breather on the top/rear of the motor. If stood up it will leak. Usualy there is a hose on it though. But i dont have a hose so it looks as if i leaks but it isnt really. Tip it up on its grab bar and ideantify where its coming from., If its the breather dont worry about it. Quote
Jereme6655 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 the vent that dahl is talking about is a transmission vent. it is located directly under the rear motor mount. normally there is a tube that goes on it and runs all the way up and then uses a t-connection to tap into the clutch vent.....and then they get routed up over the cylinders and to the handlebars. this is to keep those areas from leaking when you lean it back ... Quote
WillG. Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Posted July 28, 2011 Thanks for that info guys. It doesnt seem to be coming from that area. If the tube came off, i think it would leak a lot more than it does. But ill have to check it out again when i get home. Last time i checked on it i did see where some had seeped out of the kick starter seal for sure. I almost though about putting some type of oil in it that has color to it, so can see where its seeping out better. Quote
bansheesandrider Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 I just picked up my 03 banshee less then two months ago. Ive noticed a minor oil leak (more like a seep usually) somewhere around the bottom rear of the motor. It dosnt leak enough to drip while on all four wheels. But if stood up, leaks/seeps noticably more. Its still not much really. But im a bit anal about stuff like that so i want to fix it soon. Its been difficult to diagnose wheres is originating from since the oil is new and clear. From what ive seen it may appeare to be coming through at the side cover gasket (clutch side) and/ or the kick starter seal. Any pointers or anything i should check for or do while im replacing those two things? Also, i have some water wetter lying around and thought about running it with distilled water. Would that be noticably better then the 50/50 mix in there now? Should i run a little bit of aniti freeze in with it for lubrication properties? I figure now is as good a time as any to switch it out while i have to drain it anyways. Any experience and opinions are welcomed. Thanks! Since I live in a climate that freezes in the winter, I run 50/50 with the prescribed amount of watter wetter in mine. I usually don't have problems with it running hot, I have a gauge so I know where it is at. As for your leak, if it is the kickstarter seal you can replace that with out draining anything or pulling the clutch cover- just pry the seal out and put the new one in. And you might make sure the cover screws are tight before you change the gasket if that is where it is leaking. Quote
WillG. Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Posted July 28, 2011 Since I live in a climate that freezes in the winter, I run 50/50 with the prescribed amount of watter wetter in mine. I usually don't have problems with it running hot, I have a gauge so I know where it is at. As for your leak, if it is the kickstarter seal you can replace that with out draining anything or pulling the clutch cover- just pry the seal out and put the new one in. And you might make sure the cover screws are tight before you change the gasket if that is where it is leaking. I dont really have to worry about freezing where im at. It seems to boil over if im stopped for any length of time. But i bought it from a shop the had gone through everything before i bought it. So maybe it was topped off a bit. How do you install a temp gauge (wher/how to tap into the water, and power for it?) Ive checked the cover screws. The ones towards the rear werent very tight. They have been snugged down since then. Since the kick starter seal seems easy to swap as you described, it would be worth just doing that real quick and seeing what that does. Thanks! Quote
Dahl87banshee Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 I dont really have to worry about freezing where im at. It seems to boil over if im stopped for any length of time. But i bought it from a shop the had gone through everything before i bought it. So maybe it was topped off a bit. How do you install a temp gauge (wher/how to tap into the water, and power for it?) Ive checked the cover screws. The ones towards the rear werent very tight. They have been snugged down since then. Since the kick starter seal seems easy to swap as you described, it would be worth just doing that real quick and seeing what that does. Thanks! Look on ebay. They are cheap. They splice into your coolant hose anywhere you want the guage to be and doesnt use power Quote
WillG. Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Posted July 28, 2011 Cool, i saw the coolant hose cooler with the tap in it. Do you just use a regular autometer type gauge? Quote
AKheathen Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 um, the only way to cool it is by moving..... there is no fan, or anything, so air has to pass through the radiator somehow. here is another idea..... the way you describe your idea to see the "new fluid' coming out, doesn't sound like you wash it much...... perhaps you should do that then just look for oil.... and make sure the rad is clean. Quote
AKheathen Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 ok, read a little wrong- throw some talc powder at the leak, and it will show Quote
WillG. Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Posted July 28, 2011 Thats a good idea. Ive only ridden it once but ive cleaned it a few times lol. the radiater and everything is all clean and clear. You are correct about having to keep moving. Ill have to ride it more obviously to see any real patterns. I bet it just got topped off since new fluid was put in. Time will tell. But i gauge seems pretty cool to have now. Id like to hook one up before switching to Water Wetter, so i can tell any difference. Quote
BrockMoto Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 Mine used to leak a little from the drain plug itself... Quote
bansheesandrider Posted July 29, 2011 Report Posted July 29, 2011 I dont really have to worry about freezing where im at. It seems to boil over if im stopped for any length of time. But i bought it from a shop the had gone through everything before i bought it. So maybe it was topped off a bit. How do you install a temp gauge (wher/how to tap into the water, and power for it?) Ive checked the cover screws. The ones towards the rear werent very tight. They have been snugged down since then. Since the kick starter seal seems easy to swap as you described, it would be worth just doing that real quick and seeing what that does. Thanks! I am running a Trail Tech Vector- it is a speedometer, odometer, temp gauge, hourmeter, and several other functions. You splice their fitting into the coolant hose and it gets its power from a wire I splice into the light circuit before the switch. Quote
WillG. Posted July 29, 2011 Author Report Posted July 29, 2011 Wow, thats pretty cool! That sounds like a nice addition to any bike! Quote
WillG. Posted August 2, 2011 Author Report Posted August 2, 2011 Well, I put a new kick starter seal in her, but i don't think that's where it was all coming from. After tipping it back and cleaning the oily residue from the bottom of the motor off. I put some flour (it's all I had lol) on a spot that I had a weird feeling about. Turns out there is a little hair line crack in one of the back corners of the lower block. I decided to pull the motor out yesterday and I just dropped it off at a local welding shop to see what they can do. Not exactly what I had in mind shortly after buying it, but hopefully it turns out well & I can get to riding it this weekend maybe. Quote
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