Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Oil leak

Hi I recently had a 12000 mile service(2007 america) and have noticed a small ammount of oil which has leaked from the area of the oil filter about an inch in diameter on the garage floor, i cant see any leaking or feel any from the oil filter has anyone got any ideas. I will be taking the bike back to be checked but if anyone has previous experience of this I could suggest the possible reason for the leak to the mechanic. Thanks

It might be the crush washer on the drain plug, or it could be the oil pressure sending unit that is right next to the oil filter. Mine slowly leaks there and drips off the wire. I need to fix it.

Im fairly sure its not the drain plug, it did not leak before the service but i did find traces of oil on the wire by the oil filter, would the service have caused this? whats the remedy im not mechanicaly minded, thanks for your reply, the bikes done 10500 miles

It's unlikely that anything the mechanic did caused the sending unit to leak, if that's in fact where the oil is coming from. Try taking a deep well socket and see if it will tighten up at all.

Most likely the filter needs to be snugged up. Wipe it off, take a shop rag and twist it a bit if you can,"clockwise looking from under the bike"

Thanks for eveyones advise will take it back to garage and let u know what happens at least i now have some ideas cheers guys

Triumphs don't leak, they mark their spot.

Funny to me how some worry about a small leak (I understand it, not knocking it) when people used to tell me my chopper was leaking I used tell them that it's good. I would be really worried if it wasn't because that meant there was no oil left in it.

I hear ya Ian, but respect Gary's concern. He paid the
dealer to work on his bike, and now it has an oil leak.
Gary, good on ya for noticing. Now you need to learn to
change the oil yourself, and do other routine maintenence.
It will give you a chance to get know your bike, and be
confident that the job was done right.
All the help you need is here, just ask.
Uncle Charlie

Oh absolutely, that is why I said I wasn't knocking him and understand, was just musing about the past a little.

Just for fun the other day, I got off my old trumpet and strolled into my dealer's shop (old school) and said with a a serious voice, " Ron, I think my Triumph might have a problem." "How so", he replied, looking out the window of his shop at my ole scoot. "Well, I've noticed that it's not leaking any oil lately. Do ya think it could be serious?" He laughed, good naturedly.

Hi thanks for all the responses, the garage removed the casing over the front sprocker and there was a big build up gunge below the sprocket the garage cleaned this up with break cleaner for me and cleaned the cover. The oil filter was given another quarter turn. They were not sure where the leak was coming so asked me to drive for 15 miles or so and then come back which I did and they could see no oil leak. I checked the bike last night and there was no sign of a leak so fingers crossed its been sorted but still no 100% sure where it was coming from my guess would be the oil filter even though there appeared to be no traces of oil coming from it. The garage spent about half an hour on this and they didnt charge me. I would love to be confident to do my own servicing but im just not cut out for it i prefer to pay someone who hopefully knows what they are doing, thanks again for the amusing replies.

I wasn't around during your 'oil spill crisis' but glad you got it sorted out. 1/4 turn is a sizable twist indicating to me that the filter was likely the culprit. Time to ride worry free!