Shift shaft tiny lateral movement?

[alexdecker]

Trying to source a left side oil leak, either from the pump or the shift shaft seal. Both the pump and the shift shaft has gotten new seals in the rebuild, but when taking the first ride, it leaked rather a lot still.

Noticed a tiny bit of lateral movement in the shift shaft. Is that normal?

Is there a place I can source all five o-rings for the oil pump in Europe? I noticed that you can not get new screw nor the o-ring for the oil pump, and it’s not in the part list either?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Have you tried Nurse Julie I bought my 400 pump kit from Julie?

[alexdecker]

Have you tried Nurse Julie I bought my 400 pump kit from Julie?

I will write her!

[Laverdaroo]

I got the kit, its spot on and dead cheap Alex

[Trigger]

Is the gear change seal flush with the case ? If you push it too far back, there is a oil channel that can be blocked by the seal and if this happens the oil is not feeding the internal parts. Engine will not last long and the seal will leak 

[alexdecker]

Is the gear change seal flush with the case ? If you push it too far back, there is a oil channel that can be blocked by the seal and if this happens the oil is not feeding the internal parts. Engine will not last long and the seal will leak 

I think I put it in the right amount. There was a slight size in diameter from where the seal should sit to the oil passage, indicating how far in it should go. Shot a few pics of it today. Doesn’t it look okay?

The seal is completely dry though, but starting the engine up, the oil pump cover seal started dripping almost immediately, so pretty positive that’s where the leak is. Ordered a new complete set from Julie, so hopefully I will kill this soon, and no other leak will surface when I rev this thing up and put it through some pressure!

[Oddjob]

Looks like an O-Ring chain, make sure there is clearance for it.

Seal looks ok, looks dry as well.

[alexdecker]

Looks like an O-Ring chain, make sure there is clearance for it.

Seal looks ok, looks dry as well.

Mmh. I don’t know if it is. I have not had any problems with it. Where should it need clearance? I can’t hear any rattling noise again any metal when I run it.

EDIT: Just googled the matter. How in the world can you spot the difference? Mine does not have a master link if that means anything. Only one of the links have some dimples in the end of the small pins holding the links together.

[Oddjob]

The O-Ring is a thicker chain than standard so check where the rivet pins go as it goes around the front sprocket, there are some reports of them gouging a track in the crankcase, hitting the chain guard that you're after and on the 500 breaking the clutch push rod. See if you can spot any shiny areas where it might be touching.

[JezzaPeach]

Hi, I was comparing this (550) to my 500 and I think I can just see on Alex’s pic where the deeper part of the casing ‘swells out’ maybe about 15mm deeper in.
On mine I have no pic further in, but the seal is recessed only about 2mm in, which is where it was gently pushed to, and stopped.
It can just be seen in the attached pic, does that look normal for the 500/4?

[Oddjob]

Looks too far in to me but the pic is really small and I can't expand it to see clearer.

The seal should sit flush with the casing.

[JezzaPeach]

Thanks Oddjob. It’s in by 1-2 mm, the edge of the seal is just visible to the right of the tip of the arrow.

[Oddjob]

TBH it looks deeper than that but pics can deceive. As Graham says there is an oil hole behind that seal to keep the gear shaft lubricated as it passes through the casing, if the seal is too far back it blocks this hole and the shaft can start to seize inside the casing and the seal doesn't get lubricated either so the edges of the seal lips wear, the internal seal spring can go rusty and fail.

I'm not saying replace it, it may not be deep enough to fully block the oil hole, just keep and eye on it and see if it starts to leak. If it does, replace and don't make the same mistake next time. Live and learn, at least it's not an expensive mistake.

[JezzaPeach]

Understood now good call thanks Oddjob.

[JezzaPeach]

PS any idea how far back the oil hole is? then I can judge it as I can recall the thickness of the seal.