Me again...

[aquilaalba]

Hello all! New issue developed after a ride today, on the left side of the bike there's something that looks like a creamy white-ish foam dripping from under the plastic cover onto cable entry point (around the plastic clip) - looked like melted cheese but foamy.... Head gasket was my first guess, but why here plus the bike was standing for few years. Had coolant changed, coolant level now stable, no mayo on the radiator cap, nothing in oil - could it be condensation in oil breather or something? Had enough issues with it as it is, just ordered proper handle bars as someone fitted wrong size ones, sorted fuel gauge problem (wire snapped, resoldered, insulated, secured) not mentioning earlier issues...

Details IMG 8834

IMG 8834

[fazersharp]

Ectoplasm

[unfazed]

The crankcase ventilates into the air box and the pipe in the picture with the wire hose clamp left of the clutch cable is part of the excess blow back oil drain which connects to a second pipe on the right side at the same location. It is teed to a single drain pipe with a small one way filter and directed to the ground.
Look at the intake section of the Parts catalogue
If it is leaking out by the bolt then it is most likely someone put a longer bolt in and punctured the air box allowing the waste blow back oil to leak out there. It accumulates there when on the side stand and leaks out. The bolt in question should only be about 10mm in length.

[darrsi]

Is that the creamy stuff that accumalates in the air box, under the filter?

[unfazed]

Is that the creamy stuff that accumalates in the air box, under the filter?

My thoughts also Darrsi

[aquilaalba]

Seems like it, it drips outside on mine though, haven't yet opened the airbox. This is next step whilst changing oil. Will take it for a spin today, as said, been standing for 5 years in pieces before someone put it together, I bought it and this was the first run that lasted longer than 10 mins. So I hope that it might clear itself but will check the airbox and aforementioned bolt's length. Shouldn't be harmful to the bike, I hope.

[Gnasher]

Do you do a lot of short journeys?


If the engine isn't allowed to get to operating temperature on a regular basis you will get this.  It's caused by condensation in the engine breather normally there is minimal condensation as it's just heated away by engine temperature with lots of short journeys it builds up and starts to mix with the oil residue in the air box.  The same can happen in the oil level sight glass.


If you got a lot in the air box and/or it's also in the gearbox it's likely coolant is contaminating the oil system, number 1 likely candidate is the oil cooler.       
If you've not got it anywhere other than the air box it's likely it's just a build up of condensation as outline above.  If you don't do short journeys it's possible your thermostat is stuck open so over cooling again not allowing the engine to reach operating temperature.   
     

[aquilaalba]

That is what I was hoping for, to be honest, that it will do it as it was standing for a long time and when it will be used on a regular basis it will clear itself... Will have to strip it and check the airbox whilst cleaning the filter and replacing oil. Replaced handlebars today, had some odd ones which were too long and were hitting the fairing. It's back to standard now, will test it tomorrow, seems a lot nicer. It's getting there. Few more years and it will be a nice, reliable bike... Yet - it shows there are some muppets out there...

[darrsi]

You need to take the air filter out and mop up the honeycomb looking mayonnaise.
I do shortish journeys, and i've had it happen twice now.
There are some photos of the guilty liquid on here somewhere.
I'll find them tomorrow.