Duke 690 flinging and dripping oil or lube?

Yackadus · 01-10-2012, 06:10 PM

I have a 2010 Duke 690 and about 2,000 miles on it. Right after I had the first service (around 700 miles) it started to drip black liquid onto the shifter and under the tail was splattered with black spots. This is only on the chain side. When I brought it to the dealer to get a new tire the other day, they said the guy who serviced it probably used too much chain lube.

So... how do I know if this is chain lube or if oil is leaking from somewhere? It is getting worse and worse, dripping on the pipe, smoking up the bike etc. I would think if it's chain lube, it wouldn't be getting worse.

Any suggestions on what to look for?

bajadog · 01-10-2012, 09:42 PM

Couple of things I would do:

Check the oil level, is the oil level still sufficient?

Clean the bike up (I use simple green or dawn dish soap) so
you can spot any fresh leaks.
Run the bike on the kick stand until it's operating temp.
Shut it down.
Check around the valve covers, general engine area for
any oil.
I've seen the counter sprocket seal leaking on RFS KTM engines,
yours has an o-ring #9.
This would be my main culprit if it's truly engine oil.

What puzzles me is why the liquid would be black, if it was engine oil.

Yackadus · 01-10-2012, 11:04 PM

I did do the simple green clean. It was good for about 100 miles, but after another 150, it was leaking worse than ever. Now it starts leaking when only going about 15 miles. I also did checked the oil level through the window and it's good and certainly not black. The leaking stops when the bike cools down. If it was the counter sprocket seal, would that be black fluid?

bajadog · 01-11-2012, 04:48 PM

That's what puzzled me the black fluid.

The o-ring could be disintegrating into the oil, or
it's picking up mung from the chain as it leaks
out and get's flung.

Midwestrider · 01-12-2012, 11:03 AM

That's wierd how there is so much of this oil getting flung around. Black stuff under the tail has always been excess chain lube for me.

dwr302 · 01-15-2012, 03:41 PM

When I first got my Duke I used the recommended Motorex chain lube and it would do the same thing as what you describe. Since I switched to Motul the flinging mess has dramatically reduced. I suspect that since it was a dealer that serviced the bike, that they probably used the Motorex. I would try cleaning everything and then use a different brand and be careful not to over do it. There is always going to be some lube flinging though.

anzhsb · 01-16-2012, 07:03 AM

change the o-ring (item 9) and it will fix the problem . I had the same problem too .

Yackadus · 01-16-2012, 07:43 AM

I'll be heading up to the shop today. They said it sound like the o ring also. I don't think it is just chain lube, only for the fact that it's getting worse. I'll post later and let everyone know what the final outcome is.

Thanks for everyone's advice so far.

anzhsb · 01-16-2012, 09:31 AM

not to scare you .. I change my about 6 months ago ... and it happen again . I just order 9 and 10 from ktmtwin in San Francisco and will change it again once I got the parts.

Yackadus · 01-17-2012, 04:51 PM

I took off the sprocket (which the nut was finger loose) and I took off the clutch slave. Both were pretty clean and dry, clutch oil did drip out, but the resevoir is not low at all. I degreased the chain, cleaned everything up real good, put it back together and rode for about 30 minutes without a problem. I'll have to take it on a longer ride though to see for sure.