Smoke from under bike after ride in rain?

[ducpainter]

Is this where it would be leaking from if it were the clutch slave?

If so, there doesn't seem to be anything from that area at all. If that isnt the area, where would it be?
I ran the bike in my shed and there was a little bit of smoke, having it up on the rear stand gave me a better view of where it was coming from:

It seems to be on the exhaust pipes more towards the left side of the bike under the chain area.
The black crap on the floor under the bike isnt from leaks, it's from the globs that I pulled out of the sprocket area.

I didn't realize you had a 97 M750 with the slave built in to the clutch cover.

The newer bikes (all models) have the slave on the other side.

If your slave leaks it leaks into the engine oil.

The only other source of fluid on the left side would be a leaky countershaft (trans) seal right behind the sprocket.

I suggest you really clean it up in there and use the aerosol powder method to trace a leak.

The bellows I was referring to is the pointy black part of the gasket, and yes it does displace some fluid when installed. If you look at it closely you'll see that it can extend. If it didn't the fluid would not enter the piston part of the master because there would be a vacuum in there.

[Mike Qube]

I didn't realize you had a 97 M750 with the slave built in to the clutch cover.

The newer bikes (all models) have the slave on the other side.

If your slave leaks it leaks into the engine oil.

The only other source of fluid on the left side would be a leaky countershaft (trans) seal right behind the sprocket.

I suggest you really clean it up in there and use the aerosol powder method to trace a leak.

The bellows I was referring to is the pointy black part of the gasket, and yes it does displace some fluid when installed. If you look at it closely you'll see that it can extend. If it didn't the fluid would not enter the piston part of the master because there would be a vacuum in there.

Aerosol powder method?

Whats the best way to clean the engine? Can I use stuff that you use for car engines to get the crap off?

[ducpainter]

Aerosol powder method?

Whats the best way to clean the engine? Can I use stuff that you use for car engines to get the crap off?

I would use a plain degreaser like simple green. The more powerful ones like gunk aren't recommended for use on rubber like the seal.

Chain lube is pretty water resistant so it may take a few applications. I'd also do the underside of the motor, around the oil drain, the filter area, and any case/cover joints.

After you rinse let it dry thoroughly and get a can of aerosol foot powder and spray the areas you want to check for leaks. Run the bike and look for the brown stains in the powder. They will be very apparent.

[Mike Qube]

I would use a plain degreaser like simple green. The more powerful ones like gunk aren't recommended for use on rubber like the seal.

Chain lube is pretty water resistant so it may take a few applications. I'd also do the underside of the motor, around the oil drain, the filter area, and any case/cover joints.

After you rinse let it dry thoroughly and get a can of aerosol foot powder and spray the areas you want to check for leaks. Run the bike and look for the brown stains in the powder. They will be very apparent.

I cleaned it up really good yesterday. It seems the gunk that was on the left side was most likely from the chain, after I scrubbed it off the pipe, none returned.
But, there does seem to be a leak of something. It seems to be coming out of where the neutral light sensor is.

It kind of looks like brake fluid. I noticed when I started the bike this morning that a couple of drops came down onto the right side of the exhaust and burned up pretty quickly.

[Mike Qube]

Also, I dont know if this matters. But it seems that the leak only comes while using the choke.

[Mike Qube]

Upon closer inspection of the fluid, it seems that it is likely oil. I went out for lunch, cleaned the area up so there was none at all and went for a ride. When I came back there was some in the area again. It seems to be seeping out of where the neutral sensor is, pooling in that area and then dripping onto the exhaust. Is this something that is known to leak? I looked around and there doesn't seem to be anything above it that it could be coming from.

[ducpainter]

I don't think it's a common issue, but there is a gasket on that switch.

It's in a tight spot, but you could try tightening the switch or remove it and get a new gasket. They came in different thicknesses to adjust the switch plunger depth.

[Mike Qube]

I took the switch off, it was quite easy to do. Not much effort in the wrench. I figured while I was in there I would take it off and re-solder the wires, so now I actually have a neutral light(it hasn't worked since I got the bike). The hardest part of it was actually getting the wrench in there. Calling it a tight spot is stating it mildly, took about 15 minutes to get it back in. I tightened it up, connected the wires for thew switch back up, started it and let it run with the choke on for about 5 minutes and no drips. Went for a ride for about 20 minutes, came back and it was as clean as when I left.

Thanks for the help!

[ducpainter]

Yeah...tight spot is putting it mildly.

Glad it worked out.

[Mike Qube]

Yeah...tight spot is putting it mildly.

Glad it worked out.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I noticed a tiny bit of oil in the area this morning when I warmed it up, I'm hoping that it might be residual from before. I rode it to work today (about 5 miles). The amount didn't change, it was just a little in the corner where I probably didn't clean it all off. Yesterday it was pooling in that area.