Gearbox Leak???

[Hoots]

I was planning on doing my yearly gearbox lube change, but instead I went on a ride. 500 miles later when I arrived home I noticed I had some seepage under the gearbox. I cannot find the source. The lube is about an inch aft of the gearbox/engine mating surface, so I don't believe it is from there. Also the shaft boot has lube on it, but I don't see how this could work it's way forward. I looked all over the outside of the engine, no leaks from the jugs, or where the case splits. The only shifting problem I've had is in the past coulpe of weeks, I've missed 2nd a coulpe of times while upshifting. The bike has never slipped out of gear.

Any help would be appreciated.

I almost forgot. It is a 2004 with 20,000 miles and on its 4th set of tires.

More pics located here.

[R111S]

If anything it looks like it's been there for awhile...or do you ride allot of dirty roads? Kinda looks like it ran out from the back of the Tranny though doesn't it.

[Hoots]

I went back and looked at the boot. There is some separation from the gearbox & the boot. I guess this weekend I'll pull it apart and take a look.

[tomn]

Hoots: clean it up, change oil, ride more and check often. your box looks a lot cleaner than mine in any day of the year and may be leak will show itself.

[Geoff Anstey]

Check the flange on the exhuast as it is possible that the leak is here, another area to check might be the cylinder barrel and engine housing mating surface.
Both area I have had problems, the exhuast I dismantled, exhuast paste and back togther no problems. The cylinder/engine block I smeared some clear silicon, cleaned off the excess and that solved the problem. The cylinder/engine housing leak, for me was present due to the cylinders being removed. There is no gasket on this mating surface only silicon, if there is a small leak it is possible the engine crank is breathing here. The picture you have looks very similar to the engine breathing problem that I had with no visible oil leaks present.

[Eduardo Solér]

I have a 2002 just turned 20,000 miles, and I noticed the same oil leak.
Yesterday, Sunday I went for a ride, and I noticed my boot slipping off
the peg. I looked down and my boot was covered with motor oil.
Not sure where its leaking, however it started out looking just like
the leak you have ?

[jclark]

Check your Oil Sight Glass ( even though it's plastic )

jeff

[Hoots]

Well, this is not going to be pretty. I have been down for two weeks due to a neck injury, so today, I finally got around to looking at my final drive. Two weeks ago, I thoroughly cleaned the gear box. Today I noticed two small drips on the bottom of the box, that started from the front of the boot. Since my work schedule won't allow me any time to repair it myself, I called the dealer. July 8th is the first they will be able to see the bike. I decided to top the gear lube off and take my chances till then. I nearly had a stroke, the gearbox nearly took a quart to make it to the fill hole. Like I said, this is not going to be pretty.