Quick oil leak question

[lazylightnin717]

This should be pretty simple. First and foremost, it's an '02 S4

What kind of gasket is between the case and the clutch case side cover? Looks like oil is building up a tiny bit right beneath the clutch and it's pretty obvious where it's coming from.

1. Special gasket from Ducati or some other solution?

2. No special tools for yanking it right?

3. Will I need to pull the entire clutch out along with it?

Thanks!

[ducpainter]

Pretty sure they used no gasket from the factory.

Yes the entire clutch needs to be removed

[Slide Panda]

1. No factory gasket. It's sealant. But CA-Cycle works does have gaskets

2. No. Just patience. Once you get a bit of a gap a razor can be slipped in and used to carefully cut the sealant.

3. Yep whole clutch needs to come out.

[ducatiz]

1. Any liquid gasket from Permatex or Threebond.

2. No. Just patience. Once you get a bit of a gap a razor can be slipped in and used to carefully cut the sealant.

3. NOPE.  DRAIN THE OIL.  REMOVE ALL THE BOLTS AND YOU"LL HAVE ABOUT 1/2 inch of play to apply a bead.  It isn't easy to do this way and the mating surfaces need to be DRY so just remove the clutch.

[2-Skinny]

I would use Toyota black FIPG (form in place gasket). The parts counter at dealership will sell it to you- same stuff they used on their F1 motors afaik...

[zooom]

the best sealant.... go to any VW or Audi dealer and pick up pt# D-176-404-A2 sealant ( am pretty sure Porsche uses it also, but may not use the same PT# ) and it MSRP's for $24.80 and is more than enough for this job and many others....I have one customer who buys it from me to use all the time instead of RTV on all the domestic cars he works on.

[lazylightnin717]

Thanks everyone. 

I think I'll be ripping this thing apart just to see what's in there. It'll also give me a good chance to check for chrome flakes in the oil.

I'll check out a few of the liquid gaskets that people mentioned but I'm more drawn to the gasket from CA Cycleworks. (Thanks Yuu for the heads up)

The good news is that it's barely accumulating and not dripping so that gives me some time to look around first and  [moto]

[Speeddog]

Have you checked that the bolts that hold the cover on are tight?

I use 3-Bond 1194 on sidecovers and case halves.

[lazylightnin717]

Haven't checked the bolts but at a quick glance, I can clearly see that whatever Ducati used as a sealant is coming off. I can pick it off very easily

[Speeddog]

The sealant on the outside doesn't help anything.

It's just what's between the mating faces that counts.

[lazylightnin717]

I was just saying that it looks like whatever they used got pressed out from between the surfaces and now it's flaking off.

Speeddog: I know you had/have an S4 and I remember a post about your rockers still rockin'. What exactly should I look for in the oil to identify for flaking rockers?

.....other than the obvious flaking chrome

[pitbull]

I was just saying that it looks like whatever they used got pressed out from between the surfaces and now it's flaking off.

Speeddog: I know you had/have an S4 and I remember a post about your rockers still rockin'. What exactly should I look for in the oil to identify for flaking rockers?

.....other than the obvious flaking chrome

the flaking off of excess sealent , where it has squeezed out is pretty common on monster motors even when there are no leaks at all.

you sure it's not your clutch slave?

[lazylightnin717]

you sure it's not your clutch slave?

Would that cause a leak on the clutch side? 

I went about business this evening. Pulled the clutch plates and kept them in order. There were small notches on every other plate and they didn't seem to be placed in any specific order. What's the deal with 'em?

Couldn't get the basket out though. I'm assuming that the large bolt in the center needs to come out. A 1.25" socket fit on it nicely. I couldn't get it to budge though. What's the trick with it?

Keep in mind, I don't have a rear stand for the bike.

Also, I took the bolts out around the case cover. They were extremely loose and that might just be the problem. Torque values anyone? I don't want to strip the case

[Speeddog]

I was just saying that it looks like whatever they used got pressed out from between the surfaces and now it's flaking off.
~~SNIP~~

As Pitbull said, that's pretty much what happens.

The late model ducs (certainly the last decade's worth) have good machining of the cases and sidecovers.
I've found that a thin layer of 1194 is plenty to seal 'em.
Like a thin layer smeared on with your finger, finger-paint style.

~~SNIP~~
Speeddog: I know you had/have an S4 and I remember a post about your rockers still rockin'. What exactly should I look for in the oil to identify for flaking rockers?

.....other than the obvious flaking chrome

You can see flakes of chrome in the oil screen, and more-than-usual steel dust on the drainplug magnet.

It's better if you catch it before that, so a visual inspection of the rockers is necessary.

[Speeddog]

The notches on the steel plates mean nothing.

If the bolts holding the sidecase on are loose, then 99% sure that's your problem.
Put 'em back in, 7 ft-lb is plenty.

Reassemble your clutch.

Then see if it still leaks.

Would that cause a leak on the clutch side? 

I went about business this evening. Pulled the clutch plates and kept them in order. There were small notches on every other plate and they didn't seem to be placed in any specific order. What's the deal with 'em?

Couldn't get the basket out though. I'm assuming that the large bolt in the center needs to come out. A 1.25" socket fit on it nicely. I couldn't get it to budge though. What's the trick with it?

Keep in mind, I don't have a rear stand for the bike.

Also, I took the bolts out around the case cover. They were extremely loose and that might just be the problem. Torque values anyone? I don't want to strip the case