[rgberger67]

I had my output shaft seal start leaking on my 1999 K1200lt about 2 months ago. Ordered a new seal and was not very happy with the design, this seal looks like a grease seal on the old trucks I used to work on. Great for keeping grease in but not a good oil seal because there is no spring for tension. So I started looking at an after market seal and found a Viton oil seal for high pressure pumps, it has a spring for slight pressure on the sealing shaft and is the same dimensions as the OEM part. I checked the sealing surface location and it's the same as the OEM so I installed it last weekend. I have about 50 miles on the bike and no leaks, I know that is not many but time will tell. My question is has anyone else tried this? I can't believe that BMW would not up grade a seal that has such a poor track record.

 

[jzeiler]

Usually it is NOT the seal that leaks but the o-ring on the shaft. It gets hard and cracks. Many have sourced a Viton o-ring but not for the main seal. If you are that concerned with the seal design then don't look at the seal on the front of the crank under the hall effect plate it is even whimpier. But then we have never had one of those leak.

 

[cfell]

I had my output shaft seal start leaking on my 1999 K1200lt about 2 months ago. Ordered a new seal and was not very happy with the design, this seal looks like a grease seal on the old trucks I used to work on. Great for keeping grease in but not a good oil seal because there is no spring for tension. So I started looking at an after market seal and found a Viton oil seal for high pressure pumps, it has a spring for slight pressure on the sealing shaft and is the same dimensions as the OEM part. I checked the sealing surface location and it's the same as the OEM so I installed it last weekend. I have about 50 miles on the bike and no leaks, I know that is not many but time will tell. My question is has anyone else tried this? I can't believe that BMW would not up grade a seal that has such a poor track record.

Vendor and Part Number please.

 

[rgberger67]

Called Southwest Seal to get the manufacturer since it was not on the invoice.

Part number 5080-10VTC
Manufacturer TCM

Still would like to know if anyone has tried using anything other than the OEM seal?

 

[bigbear]

Called Southwest Seal to get the manufacturer since it was not on the invoice.

Part number 5080-10VTC
Manufacturer TCM

Still would like to know if anyone has tried using anything other than the OEM seal?

My old 85K had a spring loaded lip seal in it as stock. The new replacement seal was what you are describing. I installed it around 20 K miles ago. So based on that yes BMW did use spring loaded seals but not sure if they changes seal designs due to shaft material changes or hardness changes etc. A loaded lip would potentially create more friction and thus could cause wear on the shaft.

I talked to seal supplier I deal with at work and showed him the different seals. His thoughts and comments where to the best of my recollection and interpretation are:

The non-loaded seal is typically used in applications where lack of lubrication is a concern like on out board motor prop shafts. These seals will work on the crank also IF there is no significant out of roundness of the shaft.

Like Jzeiler stated. The usual leak point is the 50 cent O-ring. That is what was leking on my old K but to remove the O-ring potentially damages the main seal.

Roy

 

[Pedro]

Hi anybody else used aftermarket seals in doing the clutch?had the dreaded clutch slip in mine recently and given the prices for BMW parts in Australia got the plate and slave from England (sorry had a recent bad experience buying new stickers from America for my K1) and with the BMW seal sizes listed bought all the seals locally,I drilled the weep holes and she has been going fine for a few hundred kilometers,no sign of leaks,but are there going to be any issues not using BMW seals?

 

[jzeiler]

The most important think you should have done is use a good Viton o-ring (19 x 4) on the output shaft. The stock o-ring gets hard and cracks over time and that is usually what leaks the oil.

 

[Pedro]

I tried to get a viton O ring but they are not available locally,the gearbox input seal had caused the problem.A new O ring was fitted,I wonder if I should have put the O ring back with a silicone sealant to help make the best possible seal?

 

[1dbweldor]

I put better than OEM in my 99 three years ago and still no leaks. I went viton all the way around including the o-ring on the output.