Well That?s a Fine Start

[The Flying 1100_imp]

Well no it wasn’t actually.

With under 500 miles on the odometer, I picked up my new to me CB1100 and arrive home after sixty miles to discover oil over the lower frame and exhaust on the right side. Haven’t ridden it since but wiped the oil away. No subsequent drips. Think it’s coming from the bottom of the main cover on the right. Still under Honda warranty so expecting them to collect early next week. Any ideas anyone?

 

[Lord Popgun]

First, check the oil filter. Sometimes the old gasket doesn’t come off with the filter and when a new one is put on there are 2 gaskets and leaks happen.

If it has a K&N filter. These are known to fail this and do what happened.

Check the drain plug for tightness.

 

[The Flying 1100_imp]

Thanks… those areas are all free of oil. I was thinking it could be as simple as trying to torque to 12nm the clutch cover as that’s where it appears to be coming from.

 

[Lord Popgun]

Ok, maybe. Can you pos a pic or 2?

Oil filler cap is tight, and o-ring on it, right?

 

[The Flying 1100_imp]

Yep that’s tight and completely free of oil. The uppermost area of oil is from the underside of the clutch cover.

The ride today was in warm conditions 22c with about 25 minutes of stop start riding… ie heavy traffic.

Just thinking, once a seal has been passed by oil is it compromised for good or would, it they were a tad loose, bolt nipping up help.

 

[Rox_imp]

Im betting it's something silly. Loose drain plug, loose filler, maybe the breather from an accidental overfill. These bikes almost never leak.

 

[pekingduck]

It way be as simple as the previous owner spilled oil after refilling it, wiped of what he could, and it's just residual blowing up and back from riding.

 

[Frulk_imp]

How much oil does the motor currently have in it?

 

[max]

Thinking the same way as Pekingduck, this area is just under the filling plug and can be overlooked.
If the oil has been replaced ( 500k first oil change ) prior to you taking delivery it should be very new and clear, i would still check the level by putting the bike on the centerstand on a level surface, the sight glass should show the level ( cold and not running ).
Was the oil you wiped up dirty or clean?

Highly unlikely there is a leak and be careful with checking bolts, don't over tighten them.

 

[The Flying 1100_imp]

Just to recap on the facts…

The drain plug is dry and no sign of oil is evident.

The oil filter is dry and no sign of oil is evident.

The oil fill cap is dry and no sign of oil is evident.

The sides not least the whole of the clutch cover is free of any oil.

The underside of the clutch cover is not free of oil and was when I found it quite wet.

The frame immediately below the clutch cover was wet enough to have a couple of potential drips… viscosity preventing it drip though.

The exhaust cover immediately below the frame which was wet, had oil on it.

The exhaust cover as it becomes the silencer had oil on it.

The oil although fresh was changed in May. The bike hasn’t been ridden and then subsequently sold.

The oil I found outside of the engine was very very slightly dirty.

Thinking the same way as Pekingduck, this area is just under the filling plug and can be overlooked.
If the oil has been replaced ( 500k first oil change ) prior to you taking delivery it should be very new and clear, i would still check the level by putting the bike on the centerstand on a level surface, the sight glass should show the level ( cold and not running ).
Was the oil you wiped up dirty or clean?

Highly unlikely there is a leak and be careful with checking bolts, don't over tighten them.

Cold… the sight glass is entirely full. Ie there is no discernible level.

 

[max]

Thanks for all these checks, regarding the oil level check; to evaluate how much over the top mark it is place a 6 to 10 mm thick board on the ground on the place where the center stand is used, put the bike on the center stand with the board under the leg under the sight glass, this is the safest way to place the bike on the center stand at an angle without dropping it.
if the level is still too high with the bike on a lean the oil level needs to be lowered, take your time, think it through.

To do this the bike has to sit level without the extra board and a cold engine ( as you have done before ).

Best way to do this is to loosen the drain bolt, place a container with some newspaper under it and loosen the drain plug until the oil starts to run out, watch the sight glass while draining the oil and stop when the top level is reached, take your time and practice to screw the drain plug back in, re-tighten the drainplug and clean up any spills, done properly this should not be a messy job, slow flowing oil does not run along the ridges of the thread of the drainplug very well.

Do not re-use the drained oil, you don't want any contaminants in the new engine, simply not worth it.

If it was me i would clean the area to your satisfaction and go for a ride, if more oil presents itself let us know. and if all stays dry enjoy the bike as we all do, cheers.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Although quite unlikely, it is possible:

I picked up a motorcycle from dealership and by the time I got home I had significant fresh oil dripping out of the gear shifter seal. The seal failed.

The dealership picked up the machine and dealt with the issue.

 

[Lord Popgun]

I thought Max would mention this as he is pretty sharp

The clutch cover does not have a gasket. It has a sealant (Three Bond 1207B or equiv.)

 

[Obleo]

To me sounds like it was overfilled.

 

[The Flying 1100_imp]

Found the leak…

It’s coming from this bolt it the photo. Should I tighten?

 

[max]

That's the main oil galley plug,( supplies the pressured oil to the crankshaft ) we need popgun's help here, good find mate.

 

[Lord Popgun]

Max, although it is shown on the parts fiche there appears to be no mention of it in the service manual.

Nothing in the torque spec section or the crankcase section. If it were mine I’d probably take it out, put some thread sealer on it and tighten it “securely”.

Maybe a better mechanic will chime in.

 

[max]

Google turned up this post from 2016 which had it seems a similar issue that did not have the repair documented so we don't know what happened ;

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread....487&page=2

Other than that a few plugs have o-rings, they have a groove close to the flange to hold the o-ring, another ( sideways view ) picture of the plug would help to find out if this is the case and if sealer has been applied and how much unless someone knows the answer.

However the dynamic balancer shaft ( just to the right with the clamping bolt) is very close by and it has a seal that weeps very slightly sometimes, worth a second look before taking the galley plug out.