Oily boots

Luddite · 02-08-2022, 10:32 AM

There's a particular sinking feeling that will be familiar to anybody who's come back from a ride with a boot covered in streaks of oil.

Several questions spring to mind:

Where's it coming from?
How difficult will it be to fix?
How much will it cost?

I had that very experience the other day when I removed an oily boot and went out to the bike to find a film of lube over the front cylinder.

It was not immediately obvious what the problem was as, on the Evo, the oil cooler and much of the plumbing is hidden behind a cowling.

Was it a punctured cooler? (Unlikely as it has a protector.) A split oil line perhaps? Or maybe a cracked oil cooler like Ron1000 suffered recently?

Once the cowling was removed it was easy to see the cause of the leak - the connector between the upper oil line and the cooler had loosened itself off just enough to allow a trickle of oil past when under pressure. A quick nip up and it was good to go again.

I do check the tightness of various fasteners as a matter of routine but never the oil cooler connections (the other three were fine).

So, no harm done and no cost either.

Ron1000 · 02-08-2022, 12:47 PM

Nice easy fix that one.

My oil cooler has been since changing.

Nasher · 03-08-2022, 11:46 AM

Nice easy fix there Luddite

Luddite · 03-08-2022, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron1000

Nice easy fix that one.

My oil cooler has been since changing.

I think you missed out a word from your post Ron between 'been' and 'since'. Hopefully it was 'fine'!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

Nice easy fix there Luddite

Yes - sometimes we're lucky!

Ron1000 · 03-08-2022, 10:08 PM

yes I definitely missed out a word

Has been fine since

Albie · 04-08-2022, 07:31 AM

Just a few pounds for new aluminium washers from ducati. I replaced a leaking top one the other week on a evo or similar.

Jez900ie · 04-08-2022, 09:05 PM

Phew! Great when it all turns out well.

Bitza · 05-08-2022, 09:05 AM

Well I've just had an equivalent experience with my hot water cylinder, just a bit of leakage. Turned out to be a crack in the tank, so not just quick tweak of the nut for me.

But I am happy yours was such a simple fix.

P.S. Apologies for bringing up domestic water heating systems on the thread.

dacs · 05-08-2022, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitza

Well I've just had an equivalent experience with my hot water cylinder, just a bit of leakage. Turned out to be a crack in the tank, so not just quick tweak of the nut for me.

But I am happy yours was such a simple fix.

P.S. Apologies for bringing up domestic water heating systems on the thread.

No apologies, its nice to know that other misbehaving mechanical devices are available.
Here's Bure Valley Railways' diesel loco on the naughty step yesterday after blowing the coolant pump seal -

Rrawlings · 06-08-2022, 09:26 AM

Had the exact same issue yesterday Vince. Pulled into Hawes and thought my boot was slippy, looked down and oil everywhere. Including the full length of the bike and the back tyre. A helpful chap who was decorating some shop windows had an adjustable spanner and some Allen keys so the bottom oil cooler pipe was nipped up, it was less then finger tight! Called for a washer at Shipley (Ducati Leeds) where the great parts man gave me the required washer he said he couldn’t charge me 22p. All was cleaned in Hawes with my dads old mcn in his rucksack from this week at work but always had it in the back of my mind so kept stopping to check. One lucky escape after the spirited ride from ribblehead

Luddite · 06-08-2022, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rrawlings

Had the exact same issue yesterday Vince.

What a coincidence! I wrote earlier that it was the upper oil line that was loose but I actually meant the lower one (i.e. the same as yours).

It was the nipple (no. 9) which had loosened from the cooler - the oil hose itself was still tight in the nipple.

Rrawlings · 07-08-2022, 08:47 AM

Exactly the same part on the diagram. Recommendation from one of the mechanics at Ducati was to make it part of a monthly check over just get a couple of spammers and check it.

02-08-2022, 10:32 AM	#1
Luddite Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southampton Bike: M1100evo Posts: 2,465	Oily boots There's a particular sinking feeling that will be familiar to anybody who's come back from a ride with a boot covered in streaks of oil. Several questions spring to mind: Where's it coming from? How difficult will it be to fix? How much will it cost? I had that very experience the other day when I removed an oily boot and went out to the bike to find a film of lube over the front cylinder. It was not immediately obvious what the problem was as, on the Evo, the oil cooler and much of the plumbing is hidden behind a cowling. Was it a punctured cooler? (Unlikely as it has a protector.) A split oil line perhaps? Or maybe a cracked oil cooler like Ron1000 suffered recently? Once the cowling was removed it was easy to see the cause of the leak - the connector between the upper oil line and the cooler had loosened itself off just enough to allow a trickle of oil past when under pressure. A quick nip up and it was good to go again. I do check the tightness of various fasteners as a matter of routine but never the oil cooler connections (the other three were fine). So, no harm done and no cost either.

03-08-2022, 11:46 AM	#3
Nasher Registered User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Portsmouth Bike: M900 Posts: 1,518	Nice easy fix there Luddite __________________ Heaven doesn't want me, and Hell is afraid I'll take over.

04-08-2022, 07:31 AM	#6
Albie Fanactical volunteer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Kent Bike: M900 Posts: 9,034	Just a few pounds for new aluminium washers from ducati. I replaced a leaking top one the other week on a evo or similar. __________________ http://albies93m900.blogspot.co.uk/

04-08-2022, 09:05 PM	#7
Jez900ie Pleasantly surprised! Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Stoke on Trent Bike: M900ie Posts: 780	Phew! Great when it all turns out well. __________________ Monsters don't hide under the bed, they sleep inside the shed

05-08-2022, 09:05 AM	#8
Bitza Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Poole Bike: M900ie Posts: 508	Well I've just had an equivalent experience with my hot water cylinder, just a bit of leakage. Turned out to be a crack in the tank, so not just quick tweak of the nut for me. But I am happy yours was such a simple fix. P.S. Apologies for bringing up domestic water heating systems on the thread. __________________ Bitza

02-08-2022, 12:47 PM	#2
Ron1000 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Livingston Bike: M1100evo Posts: 867	Nice easy fix that one. My oil cooler has been since changing.

03-08-2022, 10:08 PM	#5
Ron1000 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Livingston Bike: M1100evo Posts: 867	yes I definitely missed out a word Has been fine since

06-08-2022, 09:26 AM	#10
Rrawlings Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Bradford Bike: M1100evo Posts: 175	Had the exact same issue yesterday Vince. Pulled into Hawes and thought my boot was slippy, looked down and oil everywhere. Including the full length of the bike and the back tyre. A helpful chap who was decorating some shop windows had an adjustable spanner and some Allen keys so the bottom oil cooler pipe was nipped up, it was less then finger tight! Called for a washer at Shipley (Ducati Leeds) where the great parts man gave me the required washer he said he couldn’t charge me 22p. All was cleaned in Hawes with my dads old mcn in his rucksack from this week at work but always had it in the back of my mind so kept stopping to check. One lucky escape after the spirited ride from ribblehead

07-08-2022, 08:47 AM	#12
Rrawlings Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Bradford Bike: M1100evo Posts: 175	Exactly the same part on the diagram. Recommendation from one of the mechanics at Ducati was to make it part of a monthly check over just get a couple of spammers and check it.