Do I Worry about this?

[sdkid]

Have a look:



and closup:





and yes---I know it's dirty!

[snowprick]

Wash the area thoroughly and keep an eye on it. Might as well extend the washing procedure to include the rest of the bike. Dont worry yet.

[CycleRob]

It's strange that it's on the top and not dripping out the bottom and onto the torque arm. The stain pattern even looks like the oily "deposit" was deposited from the outside.

When I took apart the swingarm pivot bolts for a clutch spline greasing, surprisingly, I was able to pry the large diameter ziptied end of the rubber boot off the Aluminum swingarm without cutting the ziptie. You can do the same to check for internal leakage, even wipe out what may only be a heat & speed induced intermittent stress leak. After cleaning away any seepage you'll be able to feed the boot back on, ziptie in it's channel, all the way back home. I tucked on the bottom portion first, then stretched/forced the inboard and outboard portions up-n-over the retaining ridge simultaneously until they met at the top and the boot was back in place. It was so easy! It couldn't have been a designed in feature.

.

[snowprick]

CycleRob,

Shhhhhhhh I'm trying to get him to wash his bike.

[NoRRmad]

Considering that much of it is forward of the boot, I'd check the brake line connection for leakage. It might be dripping onto the boot.

[Boxer]

Yeah, I agree, it looks like its coming from above the boot somewhere...dripping down on it. After washing the bike, ziptie a clean piece of cardboard to that area and see it it gets dripped on.

And another thing....


You're not having near enough fun on the turns with these tires.

[challey]

I have a similar issue, though in my case the leaking is on the underside and the distal end of the boot. The leaking is occasionaly and very slight. Most of the responses I got to my posting on the topic, suggested that this is not uncommon and to just wipe things off and keep an eye on the situation.

I've put over 500 miles on since first noticing the leak and so far, so good.

Charlie

[sdkid]

...And another thing....


You're not having near enough fun on the turns with these tires.

True. My miles are coming from my 43 mile (one way) commute on the 15 freeway. What I lack in twisties, I make up for with some occasional indulgences in speed.

[towerworker]

I am amazed that no one has yet uttered the infamous phrase:

"They all do that"



wayne

[snowprick]

If it was coming from your brake line, your occasional bursts of speed would have spread the fluid rearwards onto the caliper. I believe you will find it is coming from within the swinging arm. We will see.

[towerworker]

My 03 seeped around the boot a tad as does my current 04. The oil level in the FD never seems to drop. A very small drop of oil makes a big mess. Most of the oil would be on the bottom side of the boot but sometimes it seeps to other areas. As CycleRob pointed out you can pry the boot back (even if you cut the tie you can buy a replacements at many places like Lowes or a hardware store. Probably have to buy a small bag-25 or more but they're cheap. Just make sure you buy only black zip ties. Black is UV resistant unlike other colors. Anyway pull the boot back and use a spray solvent cleaner and flush it out. Easy job.

Wayne

[frozennorth]

When I took apart the swingarm pivot bolts for a clutch spline greasing, surprisingly, I was able to pry the large diameter ziptied end of the rubber boot off the Aluminum swingarm without cutting the ziptie.

.

Cyclerob, a little off topic, but how often do you grease the clutch spline. I've got 30k miles on mine and have never done this . . . probably time??

[sweatmark]

Sdkid,
Might drip be from one of following?

Evaporation cannister

Rear brake fluid reservoir

Clutch bleed service hose end

Each is situated above and forward from that side of swingarm.

[Jaguar5]

I had a drip mark in just about the same spot, and it turned out to be a bit of dirt stuck in the clutch bleed hose end. We cleaned it out and it has not been a problem since.

[mwelker]

did you happen to change the final drive oil lately? I slightly overfilled mine one time and it seeped out like that for a while. I filled it to the bottom of the threads, or so I thought. There were some threads slightly farther in I did not see until I changed the oil again. Just my .02