Please help! I'm not sure if I can ride home

RiderOnTheStorm · May 18th, 2013, 04:33 PM

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the dramatic title, but I'm at a crossroads here. I'm about 4 hours from home (in a city at a hotel so I'm safe) and I've noticed this black tar like substance oozing from the front sprocket.

Last weekend I did clean my chain and then generously reapplied chain wax, however the amount that has oozed onto the lower cowling makes me believe it is not excess chain wax. I rode 4 hours to where I am, which was all highway, so 75 mph/9500 or so RPM.

Does this sound like a front seal leak or could it be something else? I don't want to ruin the bike to try to get it home. I can probably pull a few favors to truck it back to Cleveland if the consensus is I'm losing oil.

csmith12 · May 18th, 2013, 04:41 PM

Sounds like hot wax. If your unsure, take the cover off to make sure. But I don't think it's anything to worry with.

Alex · May 18th, 2013, 04:42 PM

Black tar oozing doesn't sound like much of an oil leak to me either. My vote is gunky chain oil/chain wax pooling there. Check the oil level when you start, and check it again in 30-60 min of riding, to confirm for yourself that the bike is still oil-tight.

Joshorilla · May 18th, 2013, 04:43 PM

I think engine oil comes out from a breather there, possible some got expelled on your long ride.

I got this once after I layed it down on the left side.

RiderOnTheStorm · May 18th, 2013, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

I think engine oil comes out from a breather there, possible some got expelled on your long ride.

I got this once after I layed it down on the left side.

The bike was down on it's left side over 5k miles ago. She was inspected and cleared. I had done some searching and saw that sometimes oil can get up into the air box at high rev trips.

RiderOnTheStorm · May 18th, 2013, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Black tar oozing doesn't sound like much of an oil leak to me either. My vote is gunky chain oil/chain wax pooling there. Check the oil level when you start, and check it again in 30-60 min of riding, to confirm for yourself that the bike is still oil-tight.

What brought this to my attention was I was out trying to get Kentucky and I heard a loud "pop, pop". I was not sure what had happened (I didn't notice any performance changes or sounds) but I pulled off to check it out. I did check the oil then and then again just now. With the engine running there was a bit in the eye, and then with the engine off, I the eye appeared full.

Even if it is a leak, I can just check on the way home. I think you guys sound correct and that it is just chain wax. I did probably go a bit overboard relubing it.

cuong-nutz · May 18th, 2013, 06:38 PM

Just excess wax melting and oozing off.

JohnnyBravo · May 18th, 2013, 06:38 PM

What in the world is " getting Kentucky"?

csmith12 · May 18th, 2013, 06:40 PM

KY aye? If you find yourself in northern KY with some extra time, lemme know. I will be out riding tomorrow before the rains.

RiderOnTheStorm · May 18th, 2013, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBravo

What in the world is " getting Kentucky"?

That is a typo. I meant to say trying to get to Kentucky to ride. I'm trying to ride all 48 contiguous states since I move a lot for my job. I'm by Cincinnati right now so this might be as close as I get for a while.

old3 · May 18th, 2013, 06:50 PM

Can't you check the oil level?

BFisher244 · May 18th, 2013, 07:50 PM

can we see a pic?

1LoneWolf · May 18th, 2013, 09:15 PM

My bike has some tar looking crap on the sprocket cover, it's just chain lube mixed with dirt, debris, and gravel. Chain guard had it too on the inside when I took it off. Maybe some pics would help?

May 18th, 2013, 04:33 PM	#1
RiderOnTheStorm ninjette.org member Name: Brian Location: El Paso, TX Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Blue 08 250 - Blue Magic Posts: 162	Please help! I'm not sure if I can ride home Hey everyone, Sorry for the dramatic title, but I'm at a crossroads here. I'm about 4 hours from home (in a city at a hotel so I'm safe) and I've noticed this black tar like substance oozing from the front sprocket. Last weekend I did clean my chain and then generously reapplied chain wax, however the amount that has oozed onto the lower cowling makes me believe it is not excess chain wax. I rode 4 hours to where I am, which was all highway, so 75 mph/9500 or so RPM. Does this sound like a front seal leak or could it be something else? I don't want to ruin the bike to try to get it home. I can probably pull a few favors to truck it back to Cleveland if the consensus is I'm losing oil.

May 18th, 2013, 04:41 PM	#2
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Sounds like hot wax. If your unsure, take the cover off to make sure. But I don't think it's anything to worry with. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

May 18th, 2013, 04:42 PM	#3
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Black tar oozing doesn't sound like much of an oil leak to me either. My vote is gunky chain oil/chain wax pooling there. Check the oil level when you start, and check it again in 30-60 min of riding, to confirm for yourself that the bike is still oil-tight. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

May 18th, 2013, 06:38 PM	#7
cuong-nutz RIP Alex Name: Cuong Location: Houston, TX Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 2	Just excess wax melting and oozing off. __________________________________________________ HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days

May 18th, 2013, 06:40 PM	#9
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	KY aye? If you find yourself in northern KY with some extra time, lemme know. I will be out riding tomorrow before the rains. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

May 18th, 2013, 04:43 PM	#4
Joshorilla Bass Master General Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 24	I think engine oil comes out from a breather there, possible some got expelled on your long ride. I got this once after I layed it down on the left side.

May 18th, 2013, 06:38 PM	#8
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	What in the world is " getting Kentucky"?

May 18th, 2013, 06:50 PM	#11
old3 ninjette.org sage Name: Jim Location: NJ Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300, KTM EXC610SMR Posts: 913	Can't you check the oil level?

May 18th, 2013, 07:50 PM	#12
BFisher244 Ninja Noob Name: Craig Location: Norwalk, CT Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Candy Plasma Blue Posts: 128	can we see a pic?

May 18th, 2013, 09:15 PM	#13
1LoneWolf ninjette.org member Name: R. Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 86	My bike has some tar looking crap on the sprocket cover, it's just chain lube mixed with dirt, debris, and gravel. Chain guard had it too on the inside when I took it off. Maybe some pics would help?

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