It's always the simple jobs that take the longest...

[Macflurry]

The clutch has been slipping on my bike so I ordered up some new friction plates to throw in. But when I opened it up I was greeted by my "not-so-dry" clutch:

[Nasher]

Bugger.

The big oil seal is easy enough to change, and not that expensive, but it's annoying to have to do it.

Nasher

[Macflurry]

Ha, thanks Nasher.

I tried getting a list of all possible seals and o-rings last night from a parts catalogue. For a few pieces of rubber they add up pretty quick.

There was only the big one and two at the slave cylinder end labelled oil seal. But I was wondering is it worth just swapping out the o-rings and bearing if it’s apart anyway?

[Dukedesmo]

If you're lucky, it might just be the small oil seal in the clutch end of the shaft.

Easy to replace as it doesn't need the side casing removing.

[bobbertandsammy]

Originally Posted by Dukedesmo

If you're lucky, it might just be the small oil seal in the clutch end of the shaft.

Easy to replace as it doesn't need the side casing removing.

Is there a walk through or a link to the required tool for this anywhere? Need to do this soon on the 750 I got off of Madhatter

[Dukedesmo]

Originally Posted by bobbertandsammy

Is there a walk through or a link to the required tool for this anywhere? Need to do this soon on the 750 I got off of Madhatter

For the seal in the shaft, just pick it out with a dental type pick and then drive it in (making sure it's the right way round) with a small socket, obviously you'll need the pushrod out to do it and you may as well fit new 'O' rings on the rod whilst you're at it.

The small bearing behind it is a pig to remove so, unless it needs it changing I'd advise leaving it alone.

As for the large seal in the case, I've never changed one but remove the RH engine case along with all the clutch assembly and it'll be easy to remove, refitting might be a tad trickier without some sort of tool (as per Capo's post) to keep it straight as I doubt you'd have a socket that big...

[Flip]

My apologies for my somewhat misleading post earlier- it seems it wasn't the crankcase oil seal that I replaced when it leaked but the driven gear seal (the part the clutch drum bolts to).

I know this as I've just gone through my box of bits and have found a new crank case oil seal there as I bought the set before finding out which had leaked.

In my defence it was nineteen years ago so the memory has faded a bit but I definitely did it all in situ (clutch out obviously) and I don't remember it being too much of a bother to do that's for certain.

I also had a little look through my Haynes manual and it explains how to do all the associated bearings and seals so if you haven't already got one it's probably worth buying.

Later edition '91-'05 Variants (including the 620) here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-60...jNzn:rk:1:pf:0

I have the earlier edition '91-'96 as that was the only one available at the time:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Haynes-Du...JfqY:rk:2:pf:0

[Macflurry]

Thanks Dukedesmo.

To be on the safe side I've ordered a set of the oil-seals and all the o-rings I could see to give it a relatively cheap refresh.

I'll play with the bearings as they come out and order them if needed as they were bumping the cost up. Knowing they're swapped out is another job done for peace of mind.

[Mr Gazza]

I have heard that the big oil seal behind the clutch is extremely easy to damage when fitting. I think there is a tool for easing it into place without nicking it?

BTW have you moved to the North Norfolk coast?

[Capo]

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

I have heard that the big oil seal behind the clutch is extremely easy to damage when fitting. I think there is a tool for easing it into place without nicking it?

BTW have you moved to the North Norfolk coast?

I have such a tool, Jeff made it for me.

Some years ago I did some work for a US company Sealol. Talking to their service department, they told me that 99% of failures were due to damage during installation.

[Dukedesmo]

Originally Posted by Capo

they told me that 99% of failures were due to damage during installation.

I replaced the small seal in the shaft on my 916 whilst the engine was apart as it seemed a sensible thing to do given the age, mileage and the fact that the seal is cheap, even though it wasn't leaking.

It did however leak afterwards because I fitted it the wrong way round

Next ride out the clutch slipped due to the oil in it and when the bike sat, oil dripped onto the exhaust to make a smokescreen on startup.

In my defence, it's a small seal and not so easy to see which way the 'lip' was pointing - I should've gone to specsavers...

[Macflurry]

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

I have heard that the big oil seal behind the clutch is extremely easy to damage when fitting. I think there is a tool for easing it into place without nicking it?

BTW have you moved to the North Norfolk coast?

No mate, Gloucester. I've noticed Sat Nav and Google Maps have a bit of a fit when trying to work out which Blakeney to use.


Do either of you guys have a pick of the tool for the seal?

[Mr Gazza]

Well! I didn't know there where two Blakeney's.

Sorry I don't have a picture..Just a notion that the tool exists.

[Capo]

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

Well! I didn't know there where two Blakeney's.

Sorry I don't have a picture..Just a notion that the tool exists.

There is a pic in the manual, it was from that pic I made mine

[Darkness]

Originally Posted by Macflurry

No mate, Gloucester. I've noticed Sat Nav and Google Maps have a bit of a fit when trying to work out which Blakeney to use.

I used to really like the A48 through Blakeney [Gloucs.] but they seem to have ruined it over the last forty years.