Finding Oil just in front of Center Stand

[marcusknight]

I looked this morning. Didnt see any new fluid since my last post. Does the clutch slave fluid come from the same master cylinder that the brakes use up on the handlebars, or is there a separate place I should check?

 

[dan filipi]

That hissing could be pressure in the fuel tank pushing past something.
Always a good practice to turn fuel off when parked, hydro lock can ruin a good motor.

 

[zman]

If you wipe a q tip or something similar between the orange gob of sealant and the bolt at the back of the cover then take a look and see if there is fresh oil on it, If clean then it would be the bolt, if it is the bolt the only quik fix would be adding a thin fiber sealing washer washer to it. If you cant remover the bolt completely for a washer then sealing rope/string wound around might work.
I don't know 1200 but is it oil or clutch fluid?
The right fix would be to pull the engine and remove/inspect the cover.

 

[brianinpa]

marcusknight » Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:20 am[/url]":b4a9iatr]
I looked this morning. Didnt see any new fluid since my last post. Does the clutch slave fluid come from the same master cylinder that the brakes use up on the handlebars, or is there a separate place I should check?

Clutch reservior is on the left side of the handlebar. Linked brake system in on the right side.

 

[AApple]

What I see in the vid is the leak is from the clutch cover, and running down the casing to that lower bolt. It's leaking from that big blob of sillycone....which is prolly why the PO blobbed that stuff on there, to try to slow it down.....it ain't werkin. :nea:

 

[joedrum]

great job it slave cylinder im sure of it .. they even put the red goo there too

 

[zman]

AApple » Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:19 am[/url]"ybs7m98]
What I see in the vid is the leak is from the clutch cover, and running down the casing to that lower bolt. It's leaking from that big blob of sillycone....which is prolly why the PO blobbed that stuff on there, to try to slow it down.....it ain't werkin. :nea:

True, very possible, wipe then ride and q-tip where Aapple mentioned, turbulence from riding can send oil backwards.

 

[bronko37]

If its the slave cylinder there are a couple of seals in there that can be replaced without taking the motor out. The seals are a few bucks and I have a guy who can get them for you. Its a reletively common problem on an old 1200 that is easily fixed. I guess now you need to determine if its engine oil or brake fluid. Both the brake system and the clutch system use DOT4 brake fluid.

 

[dan filipi]

Nice bike, I would do it up right. Pull the engine, the rear cover, new gasket, rebuild clutch slave cylinder.

 

[marcusknight]

On a different issue, I have noticed just in the couple of days I have been riding it that the starter seems a bit tempermental. Sometimes it will start normally and sometimes it just seems to spin without catching. Many other forums state that I should use some seafoam in the engine oil for a couple hundred miles and then change oil and again and the problem goes away. Agree?

 

[joedrum]

sheesh just ride it a bit ..it amazes me people do such crazy stuff ..seafoam it not oil it can only be harmful ...if you wan to put anything in there let it be ATF transmission fluid ... so at least its cleaner and oil ....or just change oil often and when doing so drain just after a run so nothing settles good before draing ...is just best ans safest thing ...in my opinion

 

[brianinpa]

marcusknight » Tue Mar 17, 2015 1:33 pm[/url]":2he84h0o]
On a different issue, I have noticed just in the couple of days I have been riding it that the starter seems a bit tempermental. Sometimes it will start normally and sometimes it just seems to spin without catching. Many other forums state that I should use some seafoam in the engine oil for a couple hundred miles and then change oil and again and the problem goes away. Agree?

Seafoam will work so will ATF. The oil back by the starter clutch is the nastiest stuff in the engine so that area rarely gets cleaned. Either ATF or seafoam will clean it... HOWEVER, ATF has some lubricity (to steal a word from slabghost) where seafoam does not. You can see what Joe thinks you should use above...

I think ATF is better also. It cleans and it lubicates.

 

[dan filipi]

marcusknight » Today, 10:33 am[/url]":2q2knhf1]
On a different issue, I have noticed just in the couple of days I have been riding it that the starter seems a bit tempermental. Sometimes it will start normally and sometimes it just seems to spin without catching. Many other forums state that I should use some seafoam in the engine oil for a couple hundred miles and then change oil and again and the problem goes away. Agree?

I wouldn't run any seafoam, like Joe said it's not oil so NO lubricating properties in the stuff.

Speaking of oil, if the oil is too thick like 20/50 then the starter clutch will act up and spin free like that.
No telling what the prior owner did so a change in fluids and going over this bike closely is a must as I see it.

 

[zman]

I used marvel mystery oil for the first thousand then changed.

 

[joedrum]

that good also ...more expensive though for poor boy like me

 

[marcusknight]

Looks like the left brake cylinder on the handlebars is a little low. The other one on the right is fine.

If I wanted to bring it back to the correct level is there a certain type of DOT 4 I should use? Or is DOT 4 pretty much the same across the board?

 

[brianinpa]

Here is the page from the 1200 Standard Owners Manual:

Owners Manual- 1984 GL1200 S-013

• dan filipi
• Dec 17, 2013

 

[C5Performance]

Normally I would have sent you directly to Louie's house but as you might have read, he passed away last week.

There is a gentleman who might work on it (Mikes Cycle shop) who is also in Green Bay. He was friends with Louis.
Otherwise Team Motorsports (my old employer) but I doubt they would due to the age of your bike.

Mikes Honda in Menasha would work on it. Ask for Jeff in service and tell him Paul Crowe sent you.

 

[marcusknight]

Well I was prepared to top of the DOT 4 fluid today but it appears that it was full after all. The engine oil is also within the dash marks.

I again think that this only leaks after being ridden when the fluid is much warmer then when sitting. Could explain why the fluids are full as it sat for a good six months during the winter months.


I stopped by a shop I used to use for my '82 CB750K back a few years ago. They said they could look at this too. Going to bring it there next Wednesday. Cross your fingers the leak is truly from the clutch and not the engine. Hoping the engine doesn't need to be pulled.

 

[brianinpa]

Did I mention I rode all last year with that leak. If it doesn't get worse, keep an eye on it and fix it when you get to it.