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oil leak

M

mark58

Took lad to the zoo at Blackpool this morning..When we got back to the bike, noticed the fairing lowers swimming in oil..
Rode it slowly to build the level up in the sight glass, and it's half way up the pipe, so rode home..
When I took the panels off, it turns out that the oil tank is weeping, looks like the tank has a slight crease in it where it's leaking..I've not dropped it, so it's either a manufacturing fault or the first owner dropped it..
But as I've put 22k on the bike, I can't really complain.

So, what to do? Wondering if I drain the oil and rub the tank back to bare metal, whether silicone will seal it? or Araldite? or even a machine shop to weld it..
New are £280,
 
Wouldn't silicone or araldite mate :eek: just not gonna last ....

Probably a brazing job ......
 
check its not the hose a bit loose on the right, my oil tank was covered in epoxy along the seal when i got it but still oil would drip off bottom of oil tank, i fitted new screw clip on hose and oil leak stopped :)
 
it is the front mounting bracket that cracks behind the bracket, take tankl off and flush out with thinners etc and give it a good clean outside where the split is, rough it up with something to give the glue a key, then mix some rapid araldite and heat the tank up with a good hairdryer or something till it is pretty hot, then put on the araldite, it will turn very runny and run into the split, it will also harden very very quick.

I did this to my 04 factory and it has done 9k hard miles since then, does not even weep, the tank is not under pressure
 
Mines weeping on the flat section as you look at it..Not on any joints or brackets..Which is why a strange place to leak..I think its been dropped at that side at some point and just gone now when the oil was changed. Probably tightening the drain bolt twisted the tank enough to do it..

May get the guy who services the bike to have a look, as he's very good and may be able to braise it as suggested or Araldite..
Not in a position to spend £300 on a new one at the mo..
One on ebay now that looks like it's been driven over by a tank, and he wants £85 for it..JOKER..

But, apart from that, bike ran great as usual, and lad loved the zoo, especially in the Lemur section which is open, and they're so tame, one held a little ***** hand while she stroked it..Very cute.. Er the Lemur not the ****:roll
 
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Weld it its mild steel so no problem if you was near me id do it for you but bit far to go
 
any one desent with a welder sould be able to sort it or if your passing accrington give us a shout and i,ll sort it for you:thumbup
 
Thanks for the offers..Got the guy who serviced it coming to have a look..Could have braised it myself if still at old firm, but no access to the equipment now..Where do Aprilia get their prices though? £300!!
 
mark58 said:
Thanks for the offers..Got the guy who serviced it coming to have a look..Could have braised it myself if still at old firm, but no access to the equipment now..Where do Aprilia get their prices though? £300!!
Click to expand...

Dont keep him talking will you mark let him get on with the job :thumbup

:biggrin
 
Hi mark58.. I've got a leak in exactly the same place on my oil tank.. must be a manufacturing weakness... I'd be interested to know how you get on with the repairs, as you say Aprilia prices are a bit steep and second hand tanks are as rare a rocking horse whatsit
 
d6nutz said:
Hi mark58.. I've got a leak in exactly the same place on my oil tank.. must be a manufacturing weakness... I'd be interested to know how you get on with the repairs, as you say Aprilia prices are a bit steep and second hand tanks are as rare a rocking horse whatsit
Click to expand...

Hi
Yes, must be a manufacturing fault, but a very strange place to go, as not near any joints/brackets.
What's the mileage on your's? Mines on 23,000, so not too bad considering..
 
mark58 said:
Hi
Yes, must be a manufacturing fault, but a very strange place to go, as not near any joints/brackets.
What's the mileage on your's? Mines on 23,000, so not too bad considering..
Click to expand...

About 13k I think. The dealer I got it from disconnected the battery so it's a bit of a guess based on the last MOT..

I'd heard that the tanks can expand a bit when your riding, as there are a couple of bends in the metal there maybe that reduces the strength of the metal :dunno
 
As this is a common fault, you would have thought someone would have made an after market tank by now ....... bit shoddy from aprilia though dont you think....been waiting for mine to leak since i got it cos the AF1 guys are always on about this subject :rant
 
Oil tank

Well, guy who does the servicing reckons he may be able to get a second hand tank from one of his suppliers for £20..plus postage..In the meantime, put some rapid araldite on and heated up to make run as suggested and looks ok at the mo. Also seen some high temperature (1200 deg) non hardening silicone based sealant online which looks promising also..Anything to avoid paying for a new one..Yorkshire born and bred..:biggrin
 
mark58 said:
Anything to avoid paying for a new one.
Click to expand...

+1, I may be a southerner, but I recon I've got northern blood... Mind you, I would pay £20..

I'm using some stuff I got from B&Q at the moment. Can't remember what its called at the moment. seems to last about 500-1000 miles before the vibrations or expansion cracks it again.

I've got a mate who's a mechanic, he did say that it may be possible to get the tank sealed from the inside with some silicone type spray stuff. Tank will have to be completely cleaned down first though. Seeing him for a few beers on Friday so I might ask about that and post what he says..
 
If any of you guys live in the northwest you could bring your leaking tanks to my engineering firm in Widnes and I will TIG weld them up for you,piece of cake coz there only pressed steel although the one on my 02 RSV-R looks like stainless (even easier to TIG weld),I think the problem stems from the press tool when they are punched out,it looks like there is a small bend in the plate and what has probably happened is the tooling gets a bit close to each other when forming and "thins" the metal leading to a weak spot ?
 
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