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oil breather tube leak??

9K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  ostbob 
#1 · (Edited)
I heard that if you put the correct amount of oil in the bike you will sometimes get a little oil breather tube leak so since then I have made sure I'm 1/4 to 1/2 quart low. But I still have this oil leak that drips down on to the clutch case cover. Looks like its accumulating above the cheese wedge and ignition coil area.

Other than taking the gas tank off how hard is it to fix this problem. I am assuming if the oil level is correct then what I need to do is remove the oil breather tube and clean it out. But can't really see up under the tank to see what all is involved. Or even if that's what needs to be done.

Looked in the manual but can't find any pictures or information on cleaning or replacing it. I guess its actually called the crankcase breather hose.
 

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#2 ·
Try retorquing the clutch cover bolts.
 
#4 ·
Removing the tank is no big deal at all. Just remember two things; run the tank down to 1/4 tank first so it's not so heavy and cover the big gaping hole under the seat with a towel or something so the rubber grommets on the back of the tank don't drop in there. If they do; forget about finding them. Just order some more. I don't know where they go in that black hole but it seems like it's on the other side of the Universe.

Oh; I guess I should also mention being very careful with the fuel line connector under the back of the tank and don't rest the tank on that connector. They have been known to break and are a both a pain to replace or fix and can be expensive if replaced. RicZ came up with a great idea on how to fix it with a metal tube as a sleeve and some epoxy if I remember right.

Seriously; don't be afraid to work on your own bike and it's not a bad thing to ask for help. I see you live in the Phoenix area and there are lots of Vic riders in your area who frequent this forum who can help.
 
#5 ·
have you looked to see if hose is on the frame nipple. With seat off you should see it.
If it was leaking out of the hose the leak would be farther back.
Like Boggie said check primary bolts
 
#6 ·
Well, I'm going to tackle this project on Thursday and will take some pictures and I guess I've been using the wrong terminology. Its the crankcase vent that's causing the problem. Will update later in the week but thanks for all the input.
 
#7 ·
#8 · (Edited)
Ok, I wish I knew how to relabel this post because its all related to the crankcase oil breather tubes according to the "Engine, air Intake" parts list. I took the air cleaner out to clean the oil I was told would have accumulated in the air box area and didn't find any. You can't reach far enough to the rear to reach or see the Rear oil tube connection inside the air box. But you can clearly see the front one that comes up from the Idle Air Control ( IAC). It comes up from the bottom of the frame just in front of the rear cylinder. Inside the air cleaner box it was very clean but the outsides of all the oil breather tubes where coated with oil residue and all of the connections were tight.
It must be blowing back out of the tube seal connections but I don't how or understand why the inside of the tube would be clean???

Since I couldn't find any oil in the rear oil breather tube or inside the air cleaner box I just decided to super clean everything with brake clean and Q -tips etc. Maybe at one point I had over filled it with oil which they say is the cause of this problem. I cleaned it with an engine degreaser a year ago and it just started dripping again. I've been at the half way mark on the dip stick. Which is only 1/4 QT low.
But since I've taken the gas tank off I now know there's no way to clean it properly by just spraying degreaser up in that area and hosing it off. Some of it MUST be scraped and wiped off so you have to remove the tank.
IT will take two post to post all the pictures.

FYI; I never did see part #10 on the parts list.
 

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#9 · (Edited)
follow up photos.

The first pic shows the hose coming from the IAC (Idle Air Control) on the right side. Which was really dirty (pic taken after it was cleaned) on the outside but as you can see, where it comes up inside the air box area its clean.

The third pic is of the IAC on the right side and its the middle hose that you see over on the left side going up into the air box.
 

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#11 ·
Great Idea wish I'd read this before I put it all back together.

I can see how people including the techs could over fill these bikes. The owners manual says on pg 57 to add 1 QT if its at the lowest mark on the dip stick to bring it up to the full mark.

But guess what the factory manual says on page 2.8? It says between the marks is only 1/2 QT.
 
#14 ·
Yep, the owners manual also says on page 38 anywhere between the two marks is "SAFE RANGE".
 
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#15 ·
update:
Ok, I cleaned it all off and sprayed it with foot powder and have now put almost 200 miles on it with the oil at the ADD mark.

It appears to me that the oil is coming from the rubber boot that holds the throttle body to the bottom of the air box. Still not 1000 % sure but that's my best guess so far.

Started with this.
attachFull209217


notice the wet spot in the front and towards the rear of the rubber boot gasket.
attachFull209225

Still don't understand how the air box can be clean and the boot leaking since the air box is on the other side, and all of this with the oil at the add mark.
 
#16 · (Edited)
It appears to me that the oil is coming from the rubber boot that holds the throttle body to the bottom of the air box. Still not 1000 % sure but that's my best guess so far.

Started with the first picture and the second picture is what it looks like now. To me it seems to be the rubber boot gasket. Just not sure how to stop it since there is no oil in the air box above it. Any idea's would be greatly appreciated since I don't feel comfortable running with the oil at the add oil mark.
 

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#17 ·
Couldn't resist so I took the tank and the air filter out AGAIN today so I could double check the inside of the air box. Its the only place I think the oil can be coming from if the problem is the throttle body rubber gasket.

FYI on K&N filter oil:
First thing I noticed when I pulled the K&N filter is a large accumulation of the filter oil in a depression at the tip of the air filter box. I used a bottle of K&N filter oil and saturated the filter paper but then let it sit for over a day to drain away any excess. But apparently I didn't let it sit long enough. The next K&N filter recharge kit I buy will have the spray can not the liquid bottle.

Air Box and Throttle box exam:
It wasn't as clean of oil as I thought.

I used a mirror to see as far back up in the air box as I could and really didn't see too much oil. Still not satisfied I reached my hand as far back as I could (father than the last time) and actually felt a good amount of oil had accumulated on the back side of the top of the throttle body and on that rubber gasket. It's extremely hard to reach, in fact I joked that they might need to call 911 if I get my hand stuck. The rear of the throttle body is next to the rear crankcase vent inlet. I cleaned it as best I could, but I really think the only way to get it all is to remove the throttle body rubber gasket which is not an easy task. Just wiping around the top of the gasket WILL NOT get it all.

I think those who pay the dealers to, "clean the oil out of the air box" are wasting their money.

The first time I looked at this problem I pulled the top of the rear crankcase tube from its connection to the air box and didn't see any oil. A friend suggested I pull the entire tube from both ends and see if there was any oil collecting in the lowest portion of the hose. Sure enough we pulled it out and oil went flying so we blew it out with compressed air.

I refilled the engine oil level to a little less than the half way mark. Currently at 29,499 miles so we'll see what happens. I know there's a little more residual oil around that gasket that I will never will be able to get to. From here on out every time i change the oil I will check and drain that rear crankcase vent line.
 
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