Countershaft sprocket seal

[Dynamohum]

I don’t have any leaks on the floor beneath the bike ever but I do have an oily mist that covers the underside and the inside edges of the hardbags. Also on the sides of the tail section. A mechanic looked at it today, mostly at the crankcase breather hose which was ok. The area behind the sprocket was soaked as if the chain had been over lubed. The only area left that could produce a fine oily mist on everything to the rear of the motor has to be the seal behind the sprocket. Thankfully it appears to be replaceable w/o splitting the cases. Now to find a new seal. There seems to be several for sale from various sources and for various prices. This looks like it though. Prices range from $2.24 to $11.02 and all the way to $38! (That) much of a difference seems odd too. Where would you buy one?

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[NobleHops]

No, that seal has a lip and the cases should be split to install it. Oil is cheap, wash your bike more.

[Dynamohum]

The question was where would you buy a seal, $2 to $33. I just read where it’s possible to remove the lip and replace the seal w/o splitting the cases, in this very thread. If that’s faulty information it should be removed. If it’s simply not recommended but works, why is it not recommended?

[daves79x]

Several things: Are you sure the o-ring on the sprocket bolt is in place and in good shape? That's the place a leak is common in that area. Also, the oil cooler line runs right in front of the sprocket. Are you sure it's not leaking there, also very common. A bad countershaft seal is the least common leak in that area.

It is not a 'recommended' procedure by many because it is an amateurish, backyard kind of fix. Lots of things may 'work' but are not recommended.

The big difference in seal cost is the OEM Honda seal vs all the other cheap ones. That is pretty obvious. Retail on the genuine Honda seal is about $25.

If you read the entire thread, you should have gathered that changing the seal in situ has been a fairly controversial topic.

Dave

[CBX-tras]

Whenever possible, I buy OEM Honda parts. The price of the part is cheap compared to doing the work, again.

[Jeff Bennetts]

Dyna, 35 years ago this repair could be done in a parking lot of a Honda dealer in the middle of the night with a six pack. Nowadays the bike would be loaded up on a trailer and taken to your garage, a garage, someplace with a lift and the proper tools to split the cases and install the Honda seal intact like the book says!

Different times, different owners but room for everybody.
jb

[Jeff Bennetts]

P.S. I have seen Dave McMunn change a CS seal in a parking lot, by the book! With multiple six packs being consumed by the helpers.

[Dynamohum]

Dyna, 35 years ago this repair could be done in a parking lot of a Honda dealer in the middle of the night with a six pack. Nowadays the bike would be loaded up on a trailer and taken to your garage, a garage, someplace with a lift and the proper tools to split the cases and install the Honda seal intact like the book says!

Different times, different owners but room for everybody.
jb

…”different owners but room for everybody.”

Thanks for that. I’ll check that O ring on the sprocket bolt too. I also prefer OEM parts except for some NOS pieces that were manufactured forty years ago. I sourced a genuine set of tank decals for my 79 once that turned out to be a waste of money. Even the OEM seals I found had a helluva difference in price. Were they all made forty years ago? Seals warp and dry out so I guess it’s a crap shoot either way.

[Jeff Bennetts]

Were those OEM tank decals for the supersport on each side of the tank? Those decals had a fiddly process to apply, just like the old waterborne decals we used as kids on our model cars and planes. They were tough to apply even new, tendency to split and rip. I found the best way is to do a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water, soak the decal and slide them on with a pair of tweezers and pat dry.

[Dynamohum]

They were the colored stripes along the edge of the silver tank and they (were) the original water transfers. Soaked them a good while and they disintegrated as they came off the backing paper.

[Jeff Bennetts]

They were the colored stripes along the edge of the silver tank and they (were) the original water transfers. Soaked them a good while and they disintegrated as they came off the backing paper.

Yep, I hear you. I could send you a couple of the OEM SS tank decals, just to piss you off, for the postage! LOL

[pmcburney]

So, having read the whole thread again I'm inclined to make just a couple of now more informed comments.

1. The gold-plated best solution is cases split, OEM seal replaced, etc., no doubt,
2. I cede to the knowledge and experience of members here, however there's more than one way to skin a cat and adopting an automatic dislike or distrust of someone else's experience because 'it's just not the done thing to these bikes, don't you know!' is childish, myopic and unhelpful.

A solution is reasonable, valid and efficacious if it solves the bloody problem.
I replaced the countershaft sprocket seal without damage to anything and without needing a partial engine teardown, and it stopped the leak on my bike so AFAIC it's an effective solution.
Like the way I did it or not.

Will I ensure I replace the seal with OEM the next time I have the bottom off the engine?
Definitely.
Is this method absolutely necessary to ensure a successful, leak-free seal replacement?
No, no it isn't.

Thinking outside of or sourcing a solution to a problem beyond a manufacturer's intent isn't heresy, no matter your indoctrination into the brand, if it solves the problem.

[512tr]

I fully support your rational way of thinking

[Dynamohum]

I got in 100 miles today after replacing the O ring under the counter sprocket bolt and will put on a couple hundred more before checking the bags for the oil mist. Hopefully the condition of the old O ring will be the cause. One of the things the PO did after taking it out of storage was to replace the chain and sprockets. His friend who is a Harley shop mechanic did the work. Anyway the new O ring is in place so I’m crossing my fingers. Here’s the old O ring.

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[daves79x]

Occam's Razor strikes again!

Dave