Thanks for letting me join. New to the Triumph world, not to bikes though. I recently picked up a 2014 Speed Triple with 10,000 km on it. Now for the puzzle, I’ve got a mysterious oil leak on my 2014 Speed Triple that I can’t seem to figure out, short of removing the motor. Here’s the story, Bought the bike recently used. I was told it had an oil leak that drips from the left side , but it didn’t deter me as I work in the bike industry. Trailered the bike home, put on the side stand no leak. Started the bike, let it get to full operation temp, still no oil leak. Let it cool down for the night, return in the morning still no leak. I’ve check everything from the posts, not the gear position sensor, not the shift shaft seal, not the clutch rod seal either. Also inspected the air box in case the po over filled the oil and it would build to much pressure and fill the air box then leak out. Air box was bone dry and clean. Took the bike for a short 5km ride. Parked the bike on the side stand and behold, it was dripping oil and it had got on the left side of the rear tire as well. Upon inspection, the oil looks to be coming from the back left side of the motor right in front of where the regulator/rectifier is mounted. No oil from the center of the back of the motor to the right. I wiped it down very good and after it cooled down only a few drips came down. Then after cleaning, no drips. Again it only leaks when it is being ridden. So I pulled the sprocket cover off and it had a bit of oil residue along where the cover meets the block. Wiped it down. Now in my experience if it was a counter shaft seal the chain would have the engine oil on it as well. My chain is dry aside from chain lube. Took it for a ride again same issue. Leaking oil. Parked the bike and looked and again the very back part of the left side of the block was wet with oil. Which then found it’s way down the left side of the motor and followed the path down the front sprocket and leaked on the floor, but behind the front sprocket was dry. I’m stumped and wondering if anyone has come across this issue before. Thanks for reading my short novel! Sorry if I posted in the wrong section.
Hi and welcome, hopefully someone far more useful than me will be along to help you with your problem soon!
Hi Joey. Welcome. If you don't get much response in this thread (and you may well do) try posting in either the Technical Help or Speed Triple forums on here.
Chain Lube , build up getting warm and runny when motor is hot. Take sprocket cover off and give a good cleaning with turps/kerosene. If it stays dry after that chain lube lightly and clean regularly.
I appreciate the suggestion, I had taken the cover off and it was very clean behind the cover. Even went as far as taking off the front sprocket to check the countershaft seal and it was clean. Then put it back together, rode the bike without the cover on and had the same oil weep/leak.
On a completely different model of bike I had an oil leak from the grommet where the alternator wires exited the crank case. This was on a new bike and the grommet had been pinched during assembly. I don't know where the alternator is on your bike or how it's arranged but thought I'd put the idea out there. Perhaps some engine cover has been removed in the past for repair/maintenance and been put back incorrectly.
That is a great suggestion and I have read that as a possibility on many bikes. Talking to one of the dealers here, they said they even had once unit that was leaking oil through the wire jacket and then coming out the other side near the plug. Unfortunately in this case that isn't it. The leak is from the back left side of the motor from what I can tell from process of elimination. At least the winters are long here in Canada and it will give me a project for the winter time.
Joey450 Welcome to the family. You don't have a scottoiler fitted do you. Then there is the possibility in that area someone has stripped a bolt thread. Do hit the upload a file button bottom right corner and show the inmates the steed. And when doing that show a picture of the area so we can bang our heads together. What history has the bike got. Joe
Hi Joe, I do not have a Scott oiler on the bike. Very valid question though. Here are some pictures of where I am noticing the oil. The back of the motor is hard to take a picture of, because the regulator/rectifier is in the way, but you can see it wet there and the oil comes from above that area. The other pictures are from when I removes the front sprocket cover and where the oil left it’s residue. It’s not wet behind the sprocket and I had confirmed it’s not the countershaft seal also. Also keep in mind that it only leaks when being ridden or under strain, not while idle. Thanks,
It definitely is oil and not coolant? By the way it clings it probably is oil but thought I'd ask as it's looking very red and my oil doesn't keep that fresh died colour for long.
Joey450 Disconnect the scottoiler they can cause all sorts of problems if not working properly and over lubing. Just a question has your engine ever been opened up. I ask as the pictures show a heck of a lot of sealant around the joints. Joe.
Hi Joe, There is no Scott oiler fitted. As far as I know the motor has not been opened up. I agree that it looks like a lot of sealant, but I was told by the one dealer here that it looks to be a normal.
Hi Joey and welcome to the forum best of luck finding the source of your leak. looking forward to seeing your whole ride pix
Just a quick update on the mystery oil leak. The problem was right in front of me the whole time, well the start of the problem. I figured there was a crack in the block and it turns out there is. If you look to the left of the very top bolt hole for where the sprocket cover would go there is a small "line" or "notch" in the case. I figured it was just part of the casting for the case. Turns out the line continues down along the lip of that cover, as well back up and over to the back of the engine, where the mount bolt goes through. Now I have another winter project to work on. Just wanted to say thanks for everyone's input, sounds like a great group of guys on here.