Leak from gear shifter

[cogsman]

Well, I got almost 2 leak free weeks after I finally got the girl running again. From a completely clean garage floor last night, 24 hours later this is what I found:





The only place I could see any liquid was right there where the shifter enters the engine. Can anyone help me understand what might be happening here? Any luck that this is just a "normal" leak from expansion or something lol?

We've had 30+ celsius weather with a cool down on the weekend and then a reheat today.

[Gavin_Sons]

Looks like the shifter seal needs to be replaced

[Gavin_Sons]

http://lifeisaroad.com/valkshiftseal.html

Here ya go

[cogsman]

That's great Gavin-sons. In your opinion, and I won't hold you to this, will it stay together for a few more long rides while I get the part?

[Beardo]

It's a 15 minute job, I wouldn't go on a long ride with it leaking that bad.

Mine was just seeping out so I replaced it.

Follow those instructions posted, screw a screw into the old seal to get it out. It's really easy.

[cogsman]

Will do.  Just need to order the past and wait for it to arrive grrr

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's kind of hard to tell for sure, the pic isn't real clear. But it looks like your seal is popped out some. Try pushing it back in and see if that stops the leak.

[Beardo]

It's kind of hard to tell for sure, the pic isn't real clear. But it looks like your seal is popped out some. Try pushing it back in and see if that stops the leak.

Good catch meathead. Upon closer look, that definitely looks to be the case. That would explain why it's leaking that badly.

It might be hard to push back in without removing the shifter. But that takes only a couple minutes.

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's kind of hard to tell for sure, the pic isn't real clear. But it looks like your seal is popped out some. Try pushing it back in and see if that stops the leak.

Good catch meathead. Upon closer look, that definitely looks to be the case. That would explain why it's leaking that badly.

It might be hard to push back in without removing the shifter. But that takes only a couple minutes.

It was an easy catch. It happened to me a couple years back. 

[davit]

Give it a shove with a flat blade screwdriver, it'll go back in and stop the leak temporarily.  Then replace it when the new seal arrives.

[Tfrank59]

that's odd that the seal would work its way out like that.  I replaced mine cause it was leaky, but it wasn't coming out at all.  wonder do you have lots of play in that shift shaft?

[cogsman]

I pulled it and pushed the seal back in. It's definitely messed up. If I push one side in then the other side pops out, but i managed to jimmy it so that it stopped leaking at least for now.

Could the seal be warped? I don't think i have a lot of play on that shaft or it would be fitting loosely rather than tight on one end or the other. It almost feels like it's mis-shapen somehow.

I retightened the bolt but no way I can get anything remotely close to a torque wrench in there. I snugged it. Is that tight enough?

[Steel cowboy]

Cogsman, don't forget the seal is on the kick stand side that could be why you saw so much oil. The bike leans down and the leak appears more than it is. I would still replace it anyway it is a fast (time) fix. I purchased a seal from the dealer just to have. I belive I paid $6.00 for it.

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[Chrisj CMA]

I pulled it and pushed the seal back in. It's definitely messed up. If I push one side in then the other side pops out, but i managed to jimmy it so that it stopped leaking at least for now.

Could the seal be warped? I don't think i have a lot of play on that shaft or it would be fitting loosely rather than tight on one end or the other. It almost feels like it's mis-shapen somehow.

I retightened the bolt but no way I can get anything remotely close to a torque wrench in there. I snugged it. Is that tight enough?

as far out as that thing looks in the picture......after removing the shifter it should have just about fallen out.  clean it and clean the seat and push it straight in all the way.  Mine quit leaking for a year when I did that.  As far as tightening the clamp nut on the shifter... snug is all you need.

[MarkT]

You can improve the design, reduce movement to stop it from failing again with the new seal, with the shifter anchor mod.  Makes it shift crisper, eliminates slop too.  A Saturday afternoon project, with bolt-on parts from Mcmaster-Carr.  Needs no special tools or welding.  See http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,81509.0.html

[cogsman]

as far out as that thing looks in the picture......after removing the shifter it should have just about fallen out.  clean it and clean the seat and push it straight in all the way.  Mine quit leaking for a year when I did that.  As far as tightening the clamp nut on the shifter... snug is all you need.

Chrisj your advice seems to have worked. Thank you! !

[Chrisj CMA]

as far out as that thing looks in the picture......after removing the shifter it should have just about fallen out.  clean it and clean the seat and push it straight in all the way.  Mine quit leaking for a year when I did that.  As far as tightening the clamp nut on the shifter... snug is all you need.

Chrisj your advice seems to have worked. Thank you! !

You're welcome

[cogsman]

Hmmm.... looks like I spoke to soon. It's leaking again. This time just seeping but it started since last night. Only difference is a 10 degree drop in temperature. Anyway, the replacement is on route, so I will have a new seal.

Tfrank59, you said you wondered if I had a lot of play on my shifter. I get now what you were saying, something along the lines of if the shifter is travelling more than it should as I shift, it might move the seal, correct?

If that were the case, what is the fix and how difficult is it to do?

[Ricky-D]

You'll be Okay, that new seal will solve your problem.

***

[Tfrank59]

Hmmm.... looks like I spoke to soon. It's leaking again. This time just seeping but it started since last night. Only difference is a 10 degree drop in temperature. Anyway, the replacement is on route, so I will have a new seal.

Tfrank59, you said you wondered if I had a lot of play on my shifter. I get now what you were saying, something along the lines of if the shifter is travelling more than it should as I shift, it might move the seal, correct?

If that were the case, what is the fix and how difficult is it to do?

Well you're on the right track putting a new seal in, but just make sure it's installed correctly because the old one might not have been installed correctly. If you put in a  new seal, and install it correctly (meaning fully seated into the counterbore), then the thing continues to leak, you got a bigger issue than just a bad seal I'd say. And it could be excessive slop in your shifter shaft who knows.

[The emperor has no clothes]

You'll be Okay, that new seal will solve your problem.

***

What he said. 99% chance it will be fine after the new seal.

[MarkT]

Hmmm.... looks like I spoke to soon. It's leaking again. This time just seeping but it started since last night. Only difference is a 10 degree drop in temperature. Anyway, the replacement is on route, so I will have a new seal.

Tfrank59, you said you wondered if I had a lot of play on my shifter. I get now what you were saying, something along the lines of if the shifter is travelling more than it should as I shift, it might move the seal, correct?

If that were the case, what is the fix and how difficult is it to do?

If you have excessive play in your shaft, and you will eventually (in more ways than one), I told you the fix above.  At least for the shifter shaft.  See your urologist for the other one.

I have fixed two of my five shafts.  (I have four Valkyries, two are very low miles. The fifth shaft is a high-miler...) See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql9Vg_wg8Rc  This mod also has BBT's forward controls, so the mod is slightly different than the one you can do yourself using the link above. But the result is the same.