Barn find ... Whining and Oil leak

[doc2bmrd]

I'm brand new to the boards, but have gotten invaluable use out of a similar one for older V4 Hondas (main ride is an '83 V65 Magna).

 

In my quest for an affordable touring bike, I just stumbled across an '84 Venture 1200, with just over 7K miles on it for $500. The last time it had been ridden was in 1996, so I knew going into it that there would likely be some things that needed work when they don't get attention for 20 years! After rebuilding the carbs, I did manage to get it running and it purrs quite nicely, much to my delight. The two initial things I'm going to ask about are:

 

1) There's a noticeable whine from around the stator & gearbox area. Is this a standard sound for the model.

 

2) There's an oil leak, only when running, that drips from the gearbox area, slightly left of center, just in front of the front of the exhaust collector. It's not coming from the middle gear case cover, and I thought maybe it was a leaking clutch pushrod seal behind the slave cylinder, but that doesn't appear to be the source either. Determining exactly where it's coming from would seem to require removing the exhaust, but is there anywhere up in there that would leak only when the engine is running, especially once at operating temp?

 

Matt

Edited April 12, 2016 by doc2bmrd

[van avery]

On the oil leak it could be the wires coming out of the stator in front of the middle gear. On mine it was running down the wires and dripping at the low point. The other thing to look at would be the o ring or crack on the neutral switch its the kind of triangular off white plastic piece in that area with a single wire running to it. If that is it you'll need to pull both the middle gear cover and the left side cover slide the wires in and out and clean with brake fluid and coat inside and outside of the rubber seal with an RTV and slide them in and out again to coat wires and create seal..

Basically the oil level best height is half way up the sight glass more tends to cause leaks. Don't use oil with fiction fighters etc. or your clutch will start slipping.

On the whine I don't have that on mine. There is a clutch whine while engaged and going down the road though that seems quite common.

Good luck with your find and remember it's a big top heavy bike.

[Venturous Randy]

Basically the oil level best height is half way up the sight glass more tends to cause leaks.

and this with the bike on the center stand.

Randy

[Flyinfool]

On the oil leak it could be the wires coming out of the stator in front of the middle gear. On mine it was running down the wires and dripping at the low point. The other thing to look at would be the o ring or crack on the neutral switch its the kind of triangular off white plastic piece in that area with a single wire running to it. If that is it you'll need to pull both the middle gear cover and the left side cover slide the wires in and out and clean with brake fluid and coat inside and outside of the rubber seal with an RTV and slide them in and out again to coat wires and create seal..

Basically the oil level best height is half way up the sight glass more tends to cause leaks. Don't use oil with fiction fighters etc. or your clutch will start slipping.

On the whine I don't have that on mine. There is a clutch whine while engaged and going down the road though that seems quite common.

Good luck with your find and remember it's a big top heavy bike.

 

I agree with everything except cleaning with brake fluid, use brake cleaner.

 

As for the whine, The 1st gens do not normally have a gear whine. Check to be sure the the starter is disengaging and not being spun by the engine. After sitting for 20 years the one way bearing starter clutch could be stuck.

[van avery]

Yea, what they both said.

[gaj1917]

I'm brand new to the boards, but have gotten invaluable use out of a similar one for older V4 Hondas (main ride is an '83 V65 Magna).

 

2) There's an oil leak, only when running, that drips from the gearbox area, slightly left of center, just in front of the front of the exhaust collector. It's not coming from the middle gear case cover, and I thought maybe it was a leaking clutch pushrod seal behind the slave cylinder, but that doesn't appear to be the source either. Determining exactly where it's coming from would seem to require removing the exhaust, but is there anywhere up in there that would leak only when the engine is running, especially once at operating temp?

 

Matt

A good way to locate the source of a tricky oil leak is with special dye added to the crankcase oil. After warming up the engine, a special flashlight will display the dye-soaked leaking oil in vivid green. Easy then to track it to the source. I suspect any auto parts store would stock the dye, or could tell you where to get it. I pick it up on Amazon.

[doc2bmrd]

Thanks! Never even considered the starter clutch being stuck; definitely a possibility. I got a start at poking around the other night, but work's got my wrenching on hold til tomorrow. I've got the middle cover off and sprayed back in there with some carb cleaner to get oil off stuff. The white plastic gear indicator unit did have some oil on it so that's certainly a possibility. Of course there was oil covering quite a bit to the rear of it, so it's kinda hard to tell. It's so dang tight up in there it's really challenging to see and get things cleaned off. I do have the tank out for cleaning, so with the bike half apart, now would be a good time to just keep digging. May just pull the exhaust so I can see up in there and get at it easier if need be.

[frankd]

Another place to look for the oil leak is the rear valve cover. The gaskets get hard over time. However, the stator wires are your most likely suspect. Is the whine heard when you are riding it or when it's running in neutral? Both of the 1st Gens. that I own do have some whine when you are riding, but at idle you don't hear any.

[doc2bmrd]

I've dealt with leaky valve covers before and given the age, it wouldn't surprise me if one of the gaskets dried out enough to leak a bit (the outer edges are certainly dry in some areas). The whine is while it's running in neutral. I can't ride it yet since the clutch MC is dead & needs to be rebuilt.

 

Now that I think about it, I don't recall the somewhat distinctive sound of the starter clutch engaging when I hit the start button, suggesting that may indeed be stuck and the culprit.

[flyday58]

Have a look at the clutch slave cylinder while you're in there. Sitting that long with so few miles on it (7000? Really???) the seals may have gone allowing it to leak DOT3 when you pull the clutch lever. Or the mounting seal could be shot.

 

Edit: just saw when I posted your comment about the master cylinder, so never mind.

Edited April 13, 2016 by flyday58
too slow on the reply...

[doc2bmrd]

Leak looks like it's probably the clutch pushrod seal after all. Pulled the slave, hit it back in there with engine degreaser, pressure washed it out, and there's a thin stream of oil leaking from it. Is that seal one that can just be pulled out from the outside and a new one popped in??

Edited April 16, 2016 by doc2bmrd

[GeorgeS]

If its the clutch push rod, seal, give it some miles, might stop leaking. However this was a very common oil leak on the 1st gens. My 89 started leaking there

at around 50K miles. I just ignored it. Not sure how to replace the seal, but as I remember somebody said you have to tear down the transmission to change that

seal. BUT, I AM NOT SURE ON THAT POINT. Bike was sold 6 years ago, so I just forgot about that leak.

 

Be sure you REPLACE ALL the Brake Fluid, and Clutch fluid !!!!!

Cleaning tank, is good thing to do, they collect water in bottom of tank. YOU might have to rebuild the fuel petcock.

Also replace the Fork Fluid !!!

Replace fuel filter !!

Pull out the Ignition Unit, under the air cleaner, remove cover and Dry it Out !! They are know to collect Moisture !!!

Use, SEA-FOAM, in fuel when you hit the road with it !!! A good thing to do.

Don't forget to change the Anti Freez, collant !!!

 

I assume you will replace the AGED Tires, been sitting a long time, I recommend the Dunlop E-3's !! ( Be sure to Liberally GREESE the Rear Drive Gears !!! )

( Also, pull the drive shaft, when changing rear tire, and Hand Greese the Drive Shaft Splines !!! ) This is not in the service manuel !! We all do this job !!

 

Most of us here recommend the DEKA Brand AGM Dry Cell Batteries, if your old battery needs replacement.

 

Good luck with the new ride, !! C U down the road my friend !!

[Prairiehammer]

Leak looks like it's probably the clutch pushrod seal after all. Pulled the slave, hit it back in there with engine degreaser, pressure washed it out, and there's a thin stream of oil leaking from it. Is that seal one that can just be pulled out from the outside and a new one popped in??

 

Yes.

Part number 93109-08061-00. That seal is used on more than a hundred Yamahas. Only five bucks or so.

[Venturous Randy]

If I remember correctly, you pull the clutch rod out and hook something in the inside of the seal and pop it out. I changed mine and I don't remember it being a big deal. Biggest problem is getting back to it.

To put in a new one, you may be able to use the clutch rod as a guide and a deep well socket to knock it back in.

Randy

[doc2bmrd]

Thanks! Got er done and no more leaks! I discovered after reading a few threads that the K&L slave rebuild kit came with one, so I just replaced all of the seals since I was in there.

 

Turns out the whining I was asking about seems to be what sounds like the pretty typical clutch whine and nothing to worry about.

 

Got it out on the road over the weekend and I really like this bike!! I'd prefer to have a Royale, esp. post-85 with larger bags, but for now, I'll put miles on it til a really nice one catches my eye.

[Pegasus1300]

And the pictures are ?where? If there are no pictures the bike doesn't really exist

Edited May 6, 2016 by Pegasus1300

[doc2bmrd]

And the pitures are ?where? If there are no pictures the bike doesn't really exist

[bongobobny]

Looks great!! Well worth getting it 100%!!

 

PS somebody stole your aftermarket backrest, they are well worth having...

[Pegasus1300]

That Steel Blue has always been one of my favorite colors on a 1st gen. I think they only used on the 1984 standards. At least that is all we saw here in Utah.

[bongobobny]

No, there was at least one MK2 year that had that...

[doc2bmrd]

Looks great!! Well worth getting it 100%!!

 

PS somebody stole your aftermarket backrest, they are well worth having...

 

Nope, just didn't have it on the bike. Same with fairing lowers.

[Trader]

So pay the $12 and stick around!

as you have discovered already, this place will save you a lot more!