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Tach cable leak

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Ribo, Sep 2, 2017.

  1. Ribo

    Ribo Prefectionist

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    Hey,

    I just rebuilt the tach mechanism with new rubbers and the oil leak I had seemed to have stopped but after riding for a while I'm still getting a little oil coming out and it looks to be leaking from between the cap on the cable. Is there supposed to be a rubber seal on the inside of that cable where it connects to the engine?
     
    Ribo, Sep 2, 2017
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  2. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    There is ni seal for the cable. There is just the oil seal for the tach drive output shaft, and the o-ring that seals the drive to the head.
    Did you inspect and polish the output shaft, and clean the housing?
     
    k-moe, Sep 2, 2017
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  3. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    I bought my xj550 brand new. Within 6 months the tach cable starting leaking slightly around the cap. Rebuilt several years ago with new seals from Chacal. Within six months it was weeping oil again.

    Everytime I wash the bike I use a bit of Simple Green to clean the housing.
     
    cgutz, Sep 2, 2017
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  4. Ribo

    Ribo Prefectionist

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    Yeah I really took that thing apart and give it a proper clean and polish. it seems to me that the way the cap just holds a the metal lip of the cable housing to the body of the mechanism there's always going to be a way for oil to seep though as it's metal on metal..
     
    Ribo, Sep 2, 2017
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  5. Rooster53

    Rooster53 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    But there should not be any oil seep as there should be no oil on that side of the seal. If oil is present, then the seal has failed. Note the seal has to be oriented correctly and the shaft / housing not damaged in any way, and it is not a standard O-ring.

    Bigfitz did a great write-up on it, unfortunately the photos have not been restored.
     
    Rooster53, Sep 2, 2017
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  6. Ribo

    Ribo Prefectionist

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    Yeah I followed that write-up and got the photos. I'm pretty sure i did that correctly. I'll take it out again and check to see - perhaps I over-lubbed the cable and it's that that is coming out
     
    Ribo, Sep 2, 2017
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  7. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Or the shaft has worn far enough undersized that the oil seal can no longer contain the oil.
     
    k-moe, Sep 2, 2017
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  8. Ribo

    Ribo Prefectionist

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    It a fairly new cable - like 2 years old.

    edit - oh you mean the shaft of the internal mechanism?
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2017
    Ribo, Sep 2, 2017
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  9. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Yes.

    Keep in mind though, that small oil seals tend to weep anyway, particularly when the shaft they ride on spins fast. There is a good reason why everyone switched to electric tachometers in the 80's (not that you should, but you can if the oil leak keeps being bothersome).
     
    k-moe, Sep 2, 2017
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  10. Ribo

    Ribo Prefectionist

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    ok so how do I determine that?

    P.S. on a side note a good friend of mine is a baker and made a wonderful burbon bacon apple pie that I'm eating right now and just noticed your avatar notation ... :)
     
    Ribo, Sep 2, 2017
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  11. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Your friend is an awsome person.

    You determine that by deciding when it's too much hassl to live with, or by measuring the shaft diameter where the seal wipes it. Compare that to an unworn section of the shaft, and to the ID of the oil seal. The seal ID needs to be slightly smaller than the shaft; enough to deform the lip so it can seal.
     
    k-moe, Sep 2, 2017
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  12. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    Is there any other kind? I've never heard of that before, and yet I already know!
     
    MattiThundrrr, Sep 3, 2017
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