Airhead Engine/Tranny seal exploded and oil spilling...!

[Garnet]

Has the original poster made a 2nd post? Or is someone here working with them to fix this?

Somtimes we just like the sound of our own keyboard.

[Deleted User 287]

Yeah, he is still at only 1 post.
I am slow to work on my bike, but at least I'm not an online* recluse!

*as opposed to real-life recluse, which I do quite well.

[Major Softie]

Keep in mind, he's on the road.

[Rohls]

Thanks so much for the comments!

i bought the parts (rear main seal, oil pump o-ring, oil, etc.) and rebuilt it in my friend's garage with great success.

The culprit (for those of you interested) seemed to be the rear main oil seal.

After 100 miles there is no sign of oil leakage, and I'll be riding from seattle to SF on Monday morning.

I love these airheads; though I am preaching to the choir, it is fantastic to know you can pretty much do all the work on an airhead with the tools you carry with you and some proper lube.....amazing.

THANKS AGAIN!

[Deleted User 287]

Congratulations!

Feedback is very much appreciated. Thank you!

Have a good trip!

[Jean]

We'd ALL still like to know WHY it failed so suddenly tho. Any observations?
What did the old seal look like? Was it torn?

[Rohls]

For those of you still tuned in (my apologies for not being glued to a PC for the last two weeks..) I made it to CA without further incident....just hummed along for 1000 miles of byways(sp?)..

As far as I can tell the old seal must have been just worn out...no visual tear, but definitely harder than normal material when poked.....I figure 35 years of service ain't too bad.

Thanks again for the help;; very much appreciated.

[P51j]

70 mph seems to be what blows the rear seal. I was riding along side a friend on a R 80/7 and he blew out the seal and yes oil went everywhere. Thank goodness for the hardiness of these old boxers. He changed the seal after a clean up and is still riding. This happened to him 6 years ago. I have had seals to weep but no blows in my 35 years of R 90/6's. Good deal that all went well for ya!

[Major Softie]

Glad you made it.

[pkboxer]

Good information on blowing seals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OpuuAa7gdE