What have I got going on here?

wjrich · Apr 5, 2013

Quick background- new (to me) MkIII, only owned since january. Have had basic ride ability/safety issues somewhat sorted out, new oil, etc. After rifding back in January, had this residue left on the floor after a 20 mile ride, Took it out today for about the same distance and this is what was deposited on my garage floor immediately after returning and shutting the bike down. The bike rides well, shifts well, although I've got an idle issue I'll be working through.
Main concern is what is going on in the pictures... Note that the left silencer has some blow back, as did the side stand when I put it down to park the bike.

madass140 · Apr 5, 2013

do you own a cat?

concours · Apr 5, 2013

Looks like an oil/water vapor emulsion to me

RennieK · Apr 5, 2013

Yes, where does your breather tube dump?

Hobot · Apr 5, 2013

Oil can blow out forks and hit stuff to then drain off at lowest point so hard to say where its really coming from but looks to me likely out the gear box and main shaft from being new owner over filled going by the factory oil cap dip stix.
Its got moisture mixed with it and not full of engine carbon are also clues. Would need photo of rear rim to further diagnose long distance. Always good early on to fill full to manual listed amounts then ride and mess till it seeks it real innate level and stops the dribble then check levels for sense of where to keep em too.

wjrich · Apr 5, 2013

Thanks, as i really don't know where to start on this. It does look like some kind of oil/water mix, and I know the oil's fresh, so that leaves primary and tranny to examine. Not sure if the breather is an issue, and will have to check when I have time to get closer to it tomorrow. On quick check, the spewing seems to be from mid frame back.
Does the MKII have a chain oiler and can that be part of the problem?
Will get more of a look and perhaps beter pictures tomorrow.
In spite of this, and the fact that it was about 39 F when I took it out today, it rode incredibly well- just got to get it sorted out.

davamb · Apr 5, 2013

Looks to me like two things going on WJ. There's clean oil dribbling down the outside of the tranny case which is then getting blown backwards as you travel. The black is almost certainly engine oil and coming from somewhere else and mixing on the floor - it's only in the centre of the main dump, the other splodges don't have it.

staticmoves · Apr 5, 2013

if you get down and dirty, on your back, stick your head under the gearbox.
it looks to me like EXP gearbox oil, if it has a strong scent to it, it most likly is.
so when you are under there having a look, check to see that the gearbox drain plug and fiber washer are in good shape. also towards the front of the gearbox up about half way are the cam plate and gear change quadrant, some times they leak if the orings have deteriorated. ( though not usually to the extent that looks like you have leaking. unless gearbox is over full).
also on the front bottom area of the gear box is the cam plate index plunger housing nut and washer, this can also leak if loose. though if loose it will usually disappear.

Hope this helps a bit.

cheers....... 8)

iceteanolemon · Apr 5, 2013

When oil gets whipped around like in the primary then it airier area and turns to look that color. Oil coming from my crankcase breather looks just like that!!

drones76 · Apr 6, 2013

iceteanolemon said:
When oil gets whipped around like in the primary then it airier area and turns to look that color. Oil coming from my crankcase breather looks just like that!!

+1 on breather.

commando6868 · Apr 6, 2013

On a 1975, the shifter cross over shaft goes thru the inner and outer primary case. A common leak is the seal on the inner primary, you can get a look at it outside and check for a leak. You can usually find the Parts List and Service Manual on line if you don't have one already.

MF

BillT · Apr 6, 2013

Spray down the powertrain with Scrubbing Bubbles. Get everything squeaky clean, then you can tell exactly where the oil is coming from. MkIII primary should have ATF, which is red. This looks like motor oil foamed up with a bit of water vapor. If you slightly overfilled the oil tank, a bit of oil will be sucked into the air cleaner, where it can seep out and drop almost anywhere. If on the sidestand, this oil can drop out of the air cleaner and land on the primary case, then down to the ground.

I first started using Scrubbing Bubbles about 30 years ago when I run out of engine degreaser. I grabbed this out of the bathroom and found it worked better than Gunk. Wife now buys it specifically for me.

A good tip for checking oil level is to do so after the engine has run a while, so any oil that had drained into the sump is pumped back into the tank. I made the mistake once of topping off the tank before riding, and ending up dumping about a cup of oil into the air cleaner - what a mess!

swooshdave · Apr 6, 2013

Gearbox have too much oil in it?

Crankshaft seal?

Primary have too much oil in it?

L.A.B. · Apr 6, 2013

wjrich said:
Does the MKII have a chain oiler

MkIII?

No, at least not officially-perhaps the oil tank has been overfilled. :wink:

BillT said:
MkIII primary should have ATF, which is red.

Many of us MkIII owners prefer not to use ATF in the primary case (and ATF wasn't the oil type originally recommended by the factory).

It looks more like gear oil to me, but difficult to tell from the photos.

mike996 · Apr 6, 2013

"I first started using Scrubbing Bubbles..."

Hmm, good tip, never thought of that. I'll have to check to see if they have that here in Mexico!

iceteanolemon · Apr 6, 2013

That freakin s100 stuff does an excellent job too. I generally don't like to buy stuff like that but damn it works good! It's mysteriously suspecting to me how similar in color and smell it is to simple green though!

htown16 · Apr 6, 2013

+1 on checking the oil immediately after coming in from ride. Have to do it on the Norton and BSA, the Triumph it doesn't matter. However, on the BSA you don't have to mess with the seat!

bluto · Apr 6, 2013

+2 on checking the oil level immediatley AFTER a ride, not before....I've found a similar puddle of mixed oil and condensation under my bike when I topped off the oil tank before a ride, the sump had a fair amount of oil in it and I'd unknowingly overfilled the tank. FWIW for cleanup of an oily bike I've had great results w/ Mr. Moto...

wjrich · Apr 6, 2013

Thanks all!

Here's what I've got so far:
- oil- tank was overfilled by a quart as measured by the dipstick in the oil cap while on sidestand. I drained off excess,
-the blow by tube was exiting above the primary- hence the fresh oil on the latter part of the primary
-the underside from the blow back was a mess- blowback and oil spudge everywhere
-oil leak on right cylinder head - spark plugs were snug but not tight. Torqued to 15lbs and we'll see...
-Amals still don't idle once warm- haven't had the chance to investigate; will do so tomorrow- will start with both at 1.5 turns and work from there
-got rust in tank- sediment showing up in the low point of new clear fuel lines
-got a very unusual front disk hydraulic line setup that I will be seeking advice on in the future

Thanks for all the great feedback, and i will keep everyone up to date.

Love my Atlas, but this Commando is incredible!

drones76 · Apr 6, 2013

wjrich said:
Thanks all!

Here's what I've got so far:
- oil- tank was overfilled by a quart as measured by the dipstick in the oil cap while on sidestand. I drained off excess,
-the blow by tube was exiting above the primary- hence the fresh oil on the latter part of the primary
-the underside from the blow back was a mess- blowback and oil spudge everywhere
-oil leak on right cylinder head - spark plugs were snug but not tight. Torqued to 15lbs and we'll see...
-Amals still don't idle once warm- haven't had the chance to investigate; will do so tomorrow- will start with both at 1.5 turns and work from there
-got rust in tank- sediment showing up in the low point of new clear fuel lines
-got a very unusual front disk hydraulic line setup that I will be seeking advice on in the future

Thanks for all the great feedback, and i will keep everyone up to date.

Love my Atlas, but this Commando is incredible!

You may want to get some sort of catch bottle for the breather tube. Here is one solution:

catch-bottles-t14100.html?hilit=catch%20bottle

What have I got going on here?

wjrich

madass140

concours

RennieK

Hobot

wjrich

davamb

staticmoves

iceteanolemon

drones76

commando6868

BillT

swooshdave

L.A.B.

Moderator

mike996

iceteanolemon

htown16

bluto

wjrich

drones76

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