I have a 94 R100GS and removed the bean can last weekend. I found about a teaspoon of motor oil beneath the bean can which tells me I have a leaking cam shaft seal. I checked it out in my Clymer's manual and it says not all models uses a cam shaft seal. Does anyone know if my model uses one or have a clue of the source of oil? Thanks.
► Presence of the oil seal - Consult a parts fiche such as those found on Max BMW web site
► All oil seals and o-rings harden with age. You can't get away from it. It's a fact of life for older engines.
• However, leakage can be promoted by use of some brands of synthetic oils. I have personally had a bad experience with Mobil-1 gear oils in an Oilhead final drive. I swapped out the Mobil-1 for Valvoline non-synthetic and the leak completely stopped. Synthetics need to add "seal softeners", and different brands add different amounts. So try changing your engine oil.
• Added piston ring "blow-by" can charge the sump with more pressure than the engine breather can handle. Try measuring your cylinder compression.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
Thanks Wobbly. I checked the fiche on MaxBMW and no seal for the camshaft is shown. Just for the heck of it I checked other engine models and sure enough, the engines with points have the cam shaft seal. Since there is oil to lubricate the timing chain and gears, possibly oil beneath the bean can is expected?
Thanks for putting my imagination at rest.
Thanks for putting my imagination at rest.
While you may have received a satisfactory answer to your oil question,
I certainly hope your entire imagination wasn't put to sleep ! 😛
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
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