She's Bleeding! HELP ME!

[godzilla]

I took a 300 mile trip Saturday on two-lanes and backroads around SW IN (lots of shifting) and it was pretty warm in the high 80's. Bike ran fine.

Today I noticed a blood red puddle on the floor, right between the feet of my centerstand. It was clear, deep red like blood about 4 inches in diameter. I say transmission fluid. I couldn't see where it may have come from. I started her up and put it gear and ran through a few gears, then back down into 1st and let it run for a few minutes. It sounded fine as in no grinding noises or anything. No drips.

I have my bike serviced by a BMW machanic regulalry and in fact have an appointment next week to get all the fluids changed because it is time. But I got out my owners manual and decided to check the fluid in the tranny and the rear drive. The rear drive looked fine. The fluid in there was nice and red, just like the stuff on the floor, and it was right where it should be.

Then I checked the tranny and the Stuff in there was a milky looking pinkish color.. And it was too full. I let her sit for about an hour to make sure the fluid had settled, but when I came back, there was one small spot of red fluid again. I checked the fluid per the MOM and it is still high and still milky pink.

I am guessing water? How would water get in there? The same place it is coming out?

(Note: I ride to work daily, rain or shine and we have had some heavy rain lately.)

I checked to see if I could see where the red stuff might be coming from and I think I traced it to the back of the transmission. There is a weird looking bolt coming out of the back of the tranny with a little rubber boot around it. The fluid appears to coming out of there.

So question time!

1. What IS that little bolt and rubber booty for? Some kind of sidecar set up?
2. If the stuff on the floor is blood red, can it still be from the tranny, which has milky pink stuff?
3. Could water have seeped into the tranny, causing it to overfill and blow a seal back there?
4. What is a rough estimate on what that seal is going to cost to replace?
5. Is it OK to ride it the 20 miles to the shop?

FWIW, just before I spotted the blood, I was working on my wife's Rebel, replacing the mirror mount. Do you think the K is jealous?

Oh, she is a 1985 K100RS, sans fairing with over 113K miles on her.
(Based on an earlier thread, can I fix this with duct tape? :D )

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

[DarkCloud]

Do you power wash your bike?

[sgborgstrom]

From your description, the rubber boot is the clutch actuator assembly. There is a seal in there but it will leak if overfull. The milky pink color of the fluid coming out points to water in the tranny, essentially over-filling the case so it's leaking out the easiest way it can.

I'm curious about the red fluid, what is your mech using?


Steve

[godzilla]

Do you power wash your bike?

No. Just a garden hose. It was dry and sunny for my entire ride Saturday and I haven't washed my bike for about 2 weeks. I don't ride through deep water, avoiding puddles as best as I can. However, we did have some heavy rain last week and my bike was parked outside at work. I am making an assumption that water seeped in somehow, but unless it came in via the seal, I can't figure out how else it would have gotten in there. The gasket on the plug is in great shape.


"I'm curious about the red fluid, what is your mech using?"

I dunno to tell the truth. I have all the confidence in the world that he uses BMW spec fluids. He is a BMW trained, semi retired mechanic. He used to have a BMW dealership until he lost it due to BMW setting high standards for dealerships. Any BMW owner in this part of IN would know 'Wilbur' and know his reputation.

I don't do my own wrenching, BTW.

[cjack]

No. Just a garden hose. It was dry and sunny for my entire ride Saturday and I haven't washed my bike for about 2 weeks. I don't ride through deep water, avoiding puddles as best as I can. However, we did have some heavy rain last week and my bike was parked outside at work. I am making an assumption that water seeped in somehow, but unless it came in via the seal, I can't figure out how else it would have gotten in there. The gasket on the plug is in great shape.


"I'm curious about the red fluid, what is your mech using?"

I dunno to tell the truth. I have all the confidence in the world that he uses BMW spec fluids. He is a BMW trained, semi retired mechanic. He used to have a BMW dealership until he lost it due to BMW setting high standards for dealerships. Any BMW owner in this part of IN would know 'Wilbur' and know his reputation.

I don't do my own wrenching, BTW.

The new synth 75W90 gear oil is red. And there are others. The boot is leaking. Probably a hole but most certainly water also. Drain and refill, replace the boot.

[godzilla]

So that boot is part of the clutch acuator?

Do you think water got in through that, assuming it has a hole in it?

Does it also have a seal behind it, or isn't there enough pressue in the transmission to require a seal, like the engine would have?

Inquiring minds want to know... :hungover

[cjack]

So that boot is part of the clutch acuator?

Do you think water got in through that, assuming it has a hole in it?

Does it also have a seal behind it, or isn't there enough pressue in the transmission to require a seal, like the engine would have?

Inquiring minds want to know... :hungover

There is a hole all the way through the input shaft where the clutch actuator rod goes and there is a small seal at the back and a felt on the clutch actuator rod further along to prevent too much gear oil from getting out the back into the boot or out the front...but there is access to the transmission there. It seems difficult for water to get in, even with a tear in the boot, but I suppose it's possible with a road spray just right.
The airhead transmissions had a speedo cable entering them vertically which was an invitation for water to get in. I think the K bike does have a vent on the top of the transmission also which is a possible entry point. I don't remember the physical nature of it, I believe there is a vertical sleeve with a cap on it to prevent water from getting in. You might check that someday.
However, I wouldn't get too excited about it. You are probably due for a new boot, they tear after a few years, and change the trans gear oil. Then just check it once in awhile right after a ride to check for water. If it sits with water, the water will go to the bottom, but riding it will mix it up and you can tell from the milky look of the oil that there is water in it. Gear oil, no matter the color, is always a clear fluid.
I have had transmissions with water in them a number of times over the last 35 years, and they never succumbed because if it. But a reason to check or change the gear oil in a timely fashion.

[godzilla]

I am taking her in tonight to get serviced. Like I said, I was all set up to take her in for a complete service anyway. I had hoped to have it in just before I went to Canada (car trip!) and she'd be ready when I got home a week later. Oh well.

I get all the fluids changed (fork, trans, rear drive and brake) about every two years, which works out to be about 20K. I change engine oil and filter about every 3K. I normally get this done during the winter, but never got her up there this winter. She also going in for new tires and brakes and to get a few minor problems looked at. I am giving the old girl a vacation at the spa I guess you'd say...


So I had to ride the Rebel to work this morning! Felt like a fool on a 250cc minibike! :bluduh