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#1 Oil Leak
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:59 pm
by Andrew
My 401 is leaking oil from the bottom of the spindle housing where two screws hold a small plate on.
I tried to take of photo of the offending bit.
Any idea what's going on chaps? Do they all do that, sir. Or, is there a seal missing?
The screws seem pretty tight and, judging by the marks on them, someone has tried to either tighten them up or the base cover plate has been off at some point in the past.
much appreciated.
-- Andrew
#2
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:36 pm
by simon
Yeah mine does too Andrew. I suspect most of them do.
There should be a gasket between housing and bottom plate and I've tried soaking in oil which I'd read somewhere was the thing to do. But didn't work.
Also tried vaseline, which didn't work. Neither did grease.
I think gasket sealer is probably the solution and Halfords sell a tube for 6 quid or so. It's silicone so I wonder how different it is for the big tube of stuff I use for sealing round the bath?
I think there's one or two here that know what to do so let's see what they say.
#3
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:45 pm
by Andrew
Ah, they all do that sir.
(Bit like Series Land Rover axles then)....
-- Andrew
#4
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:46 pm
by pre65
If both surfaces are perfectly flat then sealing should not be a problem !
I would suggest a bit of fine wet and dry on a perfectly flat surface (glass !) and then rub both mating surfaces on the wet and dry till there are no high (or low) marks. Then clean well before re-assembling.
Use the oiled gasket or a smidge of gasker sealer (silicone variety preferably) and don't overtighten the fixing screws.
Just cos British motorcycles leak oil it does not mean British turntables should as well !!
#5
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:52 pm
by cressy
just like an old brit bike! having to lap a cylinder head in using a mirror and a tub of grinding paste is a thing of the past shirley...........
however, abit of grinding paste and a mirror'd probably do the trick. only thing with the silicone sealant is that after about ten years the oil in the bearing might eat away at it
is this a risk youre willing to take?
(at least its not a cvh or cx 500 cylinder head as that might take quite a few tubs of grinding paste.......)
#6
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:03 am
by Will
Andrew I had a leak at Owston (DTB enter here) but the bearing was hot,
I now use this ....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Quantum-Hot-Sauce ... 7C294%3A50
.
#7
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:20 am
by Dave the bass
Will wrote:Andrew I had a leak at Owston (DTB enter here)
.
.....you told me it was slurry.....
DTB
#8
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:20 am
by Andrew
With a name like "Hot Sauce Grease" I'm surprised DTB hasn't had a field day.
-- Andrew
#9
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:26 am
by Andrew
Well I could take the Land Rover approach and keep topping up it.
Seriously, tho' wouldn't I need to lap in both sides, that's quite a bit of dismantling on a TT that ain't broke, well apart from a small leak when it gets warm. I'm tempted to try some of the old RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) or in modern vernacular silicon sealant.
cheers,
-- Andrew
#10
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:27 am
by Andrew
Will, thanks, but isn't yours a 401 too, hence an oil bearing, is this the same viscosity as oil, does it mix OK with the oil? I assume its all OK as you have had no problems with it?
cheers,
-- Andrew
#11
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:35 am
by Andrew
#12
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:50 am
by Andrew
#13
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:54 am
by Will
No problems its more of a Gel than a sticky grease its very slick.
Start up is fast and does about a dozen spins on shut down.
I think Darren got hold of a Gel with the same composition (secret) for use in oil bearings, it will be on his site.
#14
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:03 am
by Andrew
Does anyone want to share postage? I have ordered one but can go back and add another?
cheers,
-- Andrew
#15
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:08 am
by Will
If its Hot Sauce Yes.