ST 1300 Oil Leak Back Side Of Engine

[970mike]

If you have an oil leak on the back of your engine, check the seal and O-ring on the output shaft of the engine. I found mine leaking on my 07 ST. I can't complain as it has over 238,000 miles on it. You do have to remove the rear end and swing arm to replace it.

If you need to replace your Clutch Slave Cylinder this would be a fantastic time to do it as it is very accessible with the swing arm removed.

Here is a picture of the leaking seal.

 

[dduelin]

Looks familiar.

 

[970mike]

All cleaned up and new seal and O-ring installed. You can see the clutch slave cylinder and how easy it would be to change now.

The original seal was very hard and the O-ring was flat.

Here are the parts I used, the U-Joint looks great now and I will reuse it as it has only 68,000 miles on it and the original one went 170,000 miles.

 

[Igofar]

But your BMW part probably won't go 238.000 miles before having to tear into it
How does your BMW part look familiar to Mike's Honda ST1300 drive shaft

 

[Igofar]

All cleaned up and new seal and O-ring installed. You can see the clutch slave cylinder and how easy it would be to change now.

The original seal was very hard and the O-ring was flat.

Here are the parts I used, the U-Joint looks great now and I will reuse it as it has only 68,000 miles on it and the original one went 170,000 miles.

Good Job Mike, hope your enjoying retirement and your ST's.

 

[dduelin]

But your BMW part probably won't go 238.000 miles before having to tear into it
How does your BMW part look familiar to Mike's Honda ST1300 drive shaft

No, it probably won't go 170,000 miles before having to replace it but I can tell you the RT is not going to lock up the rear brake because of a Rube Goldberg brake system either.

My RT has 120,488 miles on it and the entire drive line is (was) functioning perfectly before I took it apart for this planned maintenance. I planned to do this work at 120K so I wouldn't have any qualms about continuing to ride it long distances. It wasn't because there was a failure or showing signs of impending failure but enough have failed by this mileage that I think it's a good PM to do. The U-joints seem fine and have no roughness or notchy feel. This shaft is a perfectly good spare and I'll keep it as possible rebuild part if I'm still riding this bike over 200,000 miles.

While the ST1300 drive train has demonstrated better reliability over time than the R1200RT, I shouldn't have to remind you that ST1300 driveshafts have failed at less than 120k, some at half that, and some ST1300s eat FD flange bearings in as little as 25,000 miles. I still have an almost complete spare ST1300 drain train in the garage but someone needed a transmission output seal at less than 70,000 miles and I gave the one I had to him and didn't replace it. That's the same seal that Mike is replacing.

After riding an ST1300 to 180,000 miles I can tell you this RT is a lot more fun to ride - great brakes, great suspension, refined handling, better wind management, no engine heat, 100 plus lbs lighter, better mileage/greater range, factory cruise and heated grips/seat. I gladly accept the Beemer's maintenance requirements in the bargain.