Oil spot under bike

I came out after work to realize the there was a oil spot under the bike. It looks like it is coming from the middle of the bike. Is it from the chain? Anyone else have the same problem?

 

My 900's leaving a drop right in the same place, every night.

I looked-in as best as I could to see what's leaking.
Looks like the Oil Level Sender.
I can't tell if the Oil is coming out where the Sender mates to the Sump ... a bolt ... or, where the Wires go into the Unit.

It has to be run pretty hard before is gets warmed-up enough to have it drip on me.

 

Check the tachometer cable drive where it goes into the engine. I have had a leaky one in the past. Just a slow drip but more when I rode. Just run your finger around it and see if there is oil or even a new drop forming. Also look along the header. If that is leaking it is probably running down the header before dripping onto the ground.
Thats only if that is leaking though.

 

There is an 'O' ring on the sender that can fail & put a dab of RTV on the 2 bolt threads.

 

middle of the bike meaning left to right, or front to back? any dripping down the side? check your valve cover gasket, my bike was producing a small drop every week or 2 in the front to back middle of the bike on the left side, noticed a hidden stream of oil coming from the valve cover, new gasket and crush washers fixed that.

 

Oil drain plug crush washer will do that too. Lots of them damaged by POs over torquing.

 

Leak under the bike this morning again. Is it possible to leak from the gear shift assembly?

Matt Renken

 

clean it off good follow the wet to the soarce

 

Put the Bike on the work stand and use a bright light to try and pick-up the trail to the source.

If you can't find the leak.
Blow some Baby Powder on the whole area.
The leak will stand-out when it trails over the powder.

Likely spots that leak:

Shifter Shaft Seal.
Oil Level Sender. (Also smokes)
Timing Chain Tensioner.
Alternator Rotor Shaft Seal.
Rear Output Shaft. (Drips from drain in Boot)

 

Except that. The 550 is chain driven.

And highly doubtful it's chain lube; there is no seal in the outer cover around the shift shaft, but there is an INNER seal plus the output shaft seal, both located inside that (front sprocket) cover.

That being said, it could be leaking from any of the other places Rick listed, and "traveling."

Best bet is to get the whole thing scrupulously CLEAN and then try to trace the "new" drip.

 

Likely spots that leak:

Shifter Shaft Seal.
Oil Level Sender. (Also smokes)
Timing Chain Tensioner.
Alternator Rotor Shaft Seal.
Rear Output Shaft. (Drips from drain in Boot)

This is a list.
The list is correct.
There's no reason to quote me and mention that the Bike is a 550.
That does not change the list.
Does it?

I don't have an obsession to correct other peoples posts.
And I don't do so just to embarrass someone.
That's something decidedly inimical and unnecessary.