Posted by INTRUDN on February 17, 2000 at 03:15:45:
I can't remember if this has been posted before, so here goes. First off, Thank You WitchDoctor for your advice on my oil leak problem. You were most helpful and kept me from going crazy!
Stef's bike was leaking oil, and from what I could tell, it was comming from the top of the cylinder somewhere. But "where" was the big question. It didn't leak all the time, just every now and then. I thought I was gonna go nuts until WD directed me to a possible cause. Turns out he was right! I had just about had it with the bike. I tightned all the mounting bolts and it stopped leaking. Stef rode around without any problems. Then, the leak came back. I checked the bolts, still tight. What the hell is going on here? Gremlins or something? Well, I bit the bullet and took the bike to the dealership. I know what you are thinking, BIG MISTAKE!! right? WRONG! It was a blessing!
When we got to the dealership I asked the little wormy guy behind the counter if I could talk to a mechanic. He said no problem and disappeared into the back of the shop. Out comes the mechanic. I told him what was happening and what I had done to try and remedy the situation. He just smiled and said "Come here. I want to show you something." He just happened to have a '97 LS650 in the shop that he was working on (just like Stef's). He said "This little thing right here is your problem (holding up the little rubber plug)". It is the plug that covers the access hole to the lower engine-mount nut. He said that after a few years or several thousand miles, the plug has a tendency to vibrate loose. Not enough to come all the way out, but enough to leak ALOT of oil. When the engine cools down it will sometimes "pop" back into place. This is why it didn't leak ALL the time. He said Suzuki used the same type part on their ATV's also. The replacement plug has a metal band built into it to help prevent this from happening.
This guy was just TOO nice! I couldn't believe it! He walked me through the steps and even made photocopies of the procedure out of the "Official Suzuki Mechanics Manual" for me so I could do it myself and get it right. Guess how much all of this valuable info and photcopies cost me? Go ahead, guess. Nope, not even close! It cost me a grand total of one "handshake" and one "thank you very much". I was grinning like an idiot when I came out of the back. Stef said the mechanic and I where back there long enough to have a few beers and from the "stupor" I was obviously in she must be correct in her assumption. After I told her what had taken place in the back of the shop she had the same look on her face. She couldn't believe that the mechanic would go to those lengths to explain something like that when he could have screwed us just as easily us because I was obviously at his mercy.
I just thought Y'all might like to know that there are some decent and honest mechanics out there. Hope to see ALL of you at the Rally, and I do mean ALL. Come on folks, WD and WDO have gone to an awful lot of trouble to put this together. Lets not let them and ourselves down. It would be a great opportunity missed if it has to be called off.
Keep it between the ditches!
INTRUDN