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87 GL1200 DRive Shaft Oil Leak"

5973 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Oregonwinger, 
tpwood
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I need some help and info please, I purchased an 87 1200 in January this year with 74K on it in great mechanical shape, prior owner kept everything up on this bike. I have 77K on it now and just noticed a samll oil leak just starting to drip a drop or 2 of oil after being parked from the rear of the boot on the front of the drive shat and it has also started to accumulate a drop of oil on the rear flange of the drive shaft where it attaches to the fianl drive. I am a mechanic so Iooked at the Haynes manual, and it said to take it to a shop basically, due to specialty tools to get into this area. I was wondering if anyone has had this problem and can help me figure this one out, if I can do this myself or take it in and about what it would cost. Thanks folks!
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tricky
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Sounds like it is the oil seal on the drive shaft. If your a mechanic it should pose no problem.
The manual states: Clogged breather, Oil level too high or damaged seals.

Final Drive
Gear Case Removal
Place the motorcycle on its center stand.
Remove the rear wheel (Section 14).
Drain the final gear case oil if disassembling the gear case.
Remove the 4 gear case mounting nuts.
Disconnect the shock absorber from the case.
Remove the final gear case from the swing arm.

Drive Shaft Removal
Insert the axle through the gear case and clamp the axle
in a vise with soft jaws or shop rags. Place the shock
mount between the vise jaws for stability.
Separate the drive shaft from the gear case by gently
revolving the shaft while pulling on it slightly.

Remove the circlip, spring seat and spring from the drive
shaft.
Remove and discard the oil seal and stop ring.
NOTE: The stop ring is not necessary for operation. It is
used for production line purposes only.
Inspect the drive shaft splines for wear or damage.
Replace it if necessary.

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twisty
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tpwood wrote:
I need some help and info please, I purchased an 87 1200 in January this year with 74K on it in great mechanical shape, prior owner kept everything up on this bike. I have 77K on it now and just noticed a samll oil leak just starting to drip a drop or 2 of oil after being parked from the rear of the boot on the front of the drive shat and it has also started to accumulate a drop of oil on the rear flange of the drive shaft where it attaches to the fianl drive. I am a mechanic so Iooked at the Haynes manual, and it said to take it to a shop basically, due to specialty tools to get into this area. I was wondering if anyone has had this problem and can help me figure this one out, if I can do this myself or take it in and about what it would cost. Thanks folks!
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Tpwood, that really sounds like you have a leaking rear case cover seal (where the U-Joint exits the rear cover). There is seal pressed into the rear cover (inside that convoluted boot). Pulling the engine is one option for replacing. You could probably also remove the rear final drive & drive shaft then work that boot off & out, then try to access that rear cover seal. It might be a problem driving the new seal into the rear of the case but possibly could be done. I have only done one rear cover seal & I already had the engine out so can't help you much there.

If your oil level is over full it could be forcing oil out that rear cover seal.

Make sure it is actually engine oil & not rear gear oil, if it's gear oil you could have a leaking seal around the rear drive pinion. If that's the case you will only have to pull the rear drive unit & reseal the pinion seal.
Twisty
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BenMC
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Tim, the oil coming out at the diff end is the same oil thta's leaking from the seal at the engine end. You will need to remove the UJ to replace the seal. The seal itself is easy to pop out.
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Oregonwinger
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If the oil gets on the xhaust cross-over, and it stinks like dead fish. it's the driveline seal. That seal will get cut, if the driveline was shoved into the u-joint, then the pumpkin shoved onto the driveline. Check your pumpkin oil level frequently. You surely don't want to run it out of oil, it doesn't hold much. I found out myself that you have to have the driveline in the pumpkin to install it, to avoid damaging that seal. My experience, anyway. Good luck.
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tpwood
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Thanks, This is a big relief, it stopped leaking for now and I just changed the final drive oil, it was leaking on the exhuast cross over so it looks like the seal on the shaft. Now I know I can change this myself, I will get the seal ordered and have it on hand. Thanks so much for all of your help folks!!!
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twisty
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tpwood wrote:
Thanks, This is a big relief, it stopped leaking for now and I just changed the final drive oil, it was leaking on the exhuast cross over so it looks like the seal on the shaft. Now I know I can change this myself, I will get the seal ordered and have it on hand. Thanks so much for all of your help folks!!!
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tpwood, just because it's leaking on the exhaust cross over doesn't necessarily mean it's a rear seal. If it's leaking from that front boot the oil is probably coming from that end. Any oil leaking from the rear would have to fill that torque tube to get high enough to leak from the front boot or run up hill to get to that front u-joint. If you load your bike so the torque tube is high in the rear then it could be from the rear though. Go by the smell of the oil. Gear lube has that distinct sulfur smell.

Twisty
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tpwood
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The engine oil has just been changed and it's still clear, the oil from the rear diff is the same color and consitancy, so I believe I got the right one, I just change it yesterday. Thanks.
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Oregonwinger
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With the stock shocks at 90 psi, when 2 up on my LTD, and with a bunch of goodies in the bags, the drive tube is definitely heading downhill, toward engine. I need to do Progressive springs, apparently. Missed a deal on them on Ebay the other day. Have fun with that rig :)
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