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help, GS 850 leaking from oil filter cover

  • Thread starter Thread starter realslacker
  • Start date Start date
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realslacker

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This is the second time I've used a Fram oil filter and had the gasket that comes with it leak... I have the cover tightened down as much as I dare and it still drips!

What filters do you use, or what tricks do you know to keep the oil filter cover from dripping?

I'm going crazy, I have to keep dumping in oil every 300 miles for a bike that doesn't burn a drop... [-o<
 
The only times I've had any problems with the O-ring gasket is when it popped up out of the groove and got squeezed between the cover and the block.

I find that a bit of oil in the groove will help to keep it in place while you tighten down the cover. I also tighten the acorn nuts in a rotary pattern to draw the cover down evenly.

If the O-ring isn't damaged and fits in the groove, doing the above should solve your problem. I also reuse the O-ring many times, since the filters I use don't come with them.
 
Be really careful not to overtighten the nuts on those studs. The threads strip easily.

My suspicion is that the o-ring seal around the oil filter cover is slipping when you install it, and it's getting pinched. I reuse an o-ring once or maybe twice, before replacing it, but if you're having problems with leaks, replace it every time.
When you install the o-ring the first time on the cover, coat the o-ring liberally with a little bearing grease. That not only keeps it lubed so that it slips easily into the proper groove when you snug down the nuts, but the grease helps it stay in place on the cover until you're ready to put the hardware on.

Check the mating surface of the cover and the crankcase area for gouges or deep scratches (I will not even say the word "cracks"). If scratches or gouges are found, polish them out as best as possible with crocus cloth or #600 wet-dry.
 
Another Possibility. I have heard that Some Aftermarket Oil Filter Gasket O-rings are a Little Thinner than the Suzuki OEM ones. You might try a Different Brand Oil Filter/Oring. They Sell one at Advance Auto Parts that Worked Great on My 850.
 
I'm in the same spot with a Fram filter on my 750E

I'm in the same spot with a Fram filter on my 750E

I'm in the same spot. I just did an oil change on my '82 GS750E and used a Fram CH6001 filter and o-ring. Low and behold, I'm leaking oil from the cover. The o-ring definitely seemed small in the groove. Tomorrow I'll be pulling everything apart in daylight, starting over, hopefully with a Wix filter and o-ring if NAPA is open.

- Tim
 
Thanks for all the quick replys... seems I might be having the same problem as MinnesotaTim. The gasket that came with the fram filter i picked up seems small in the groove and doesn't really stick out very far when it's seated.

After the first oil change I've been extra carefull to get the gasket seated properly before tightening it... so I'm pretty sure it's not pinched. I'll pickup a new filter from Napa and see what happens!
 
realslacker said:
What filters do you use, or what tricks do you know to keep the oil filter cover from dripping?
Click to expand...
S.T.P. the first filter change and a Fram filter on it now with a little grease on the o ring.
 
there is a fix, but the mess up factor is way to high to do it on a good part. if your at a junk yard and can get a oil filter cover on the cheep. then you can go a head with the fix.

with the spair filter cover. get some valve grinding grit and a window pane. place the grit on the pane then spred it around. now place the spair filter cover on the pane of glass and move it around till you grind off a few thousands of a inch. when done mark the cover so you know its for small gaskets.

I can not say this enuff get a used one from a bike junk yard. If you mess up then its still scrap, and you will have your cover for your bike in good shape.

this will let the smaller gasket fill in the smaller space.


the best thing i have found to hold the gasket in place is to let it sit in the sun to flaten out. then use rtv black. to hold the gasket in place let it dry just a bit befor putting on the cover. just a few dabs around the gasket will hole it. dont go over board.
 
Having GS'es over 20 years have had a few occasions the oil filter cover leaking after an oil change.
- like other said, o-ring did not stay in grove. Oil or grease does help it stay.
- maybe some grit of dirt got in between the mateing surfaces. So make a point to wipe off the areas before reassembly, including wipeing area up just above the cover.
- And on this bike I just got: I noticed two things, 1) PO had lots of silicon sealer slobbered all over YIKES. And 2) the washers wre missing from the three studs. I found that the two observations were related. Without the washers the acorn nuts bottom out on the studs before completly sealing the cover. Went and got some washers, no more problem.

Have used Fram filters from time to time (but not recently) have liked that they come with a new o-ring, havent noticed a problem with them.
 
realslacker said:
This is the second time I've used a Fram oil filter and had the gasket that comes with it leak... I have the cover tightened down as much as I dare and it still drips!

What filters do you use, or what tricks do you know to keep the oil filter cover from dripping?

I'm going crazy, I have to keep dumping in oil every 300 miles for a bike that doesn't burn a drop... [-o<
Click to expand...

What I do is take the cover down to a machine shop and have them take a few .000's off so that the oring actually seals better. Take it off of the grooved side of course.
 
Turns out it was the gasket included in the fram filter, I went to Napa and picked up some Wix filters and the gasket is noticably larger! Now, I've got no leaks and it's just snugged down... feeling much better about how tight those nuts are torqued.

Thanks everyone!
 
I did not even know my '80 GS850G was SUPPOSE to have washers under the cap nuts!!!
 
MinnesotaTim said:
I'm in the same spot. I just did an oil change on my '82 GS750E and used a Fram CH6001 filter and o-ring. Low and behold, I'm leaking oil from the cover. The o-ring definitely seemed small in the groove. Tomorrow I'll be pulling everything apart in daylight, starting over, hopefully with a Wix filter and o-ring if NAPA is open.

- Tim
Click to expand...
I have always used fram and had no problems.put oil all over the o-ring and position in the groove on the cover then slide on the bolts and put the nuts on.I always make sure i cover the o-ring completely with oil and have had no leaks at all this way.
 
tconroy said:
I have always used fram and had no problems.put oil all over the o-ring and position in the groove on the cover then slide on the bolts and put the nuts on.I always make sure i cover the o-ring completely with oil and have had no leaks at all this way.
Click to expand...

There is probably some tolerance in the manufacture of the covers. I wouldn't be surprised if the Fram filters/o-rings work for the majority of GS owners... us lucky few only get a couple choices though: buy a filter with a larger o-ring or machine of a fraction of a mm.

For now it's Wix filters for me :-D
 
Nuts striped and NO REPLACEMENTS!!

Nuts striped and NO REPLACEMENTS!!

shortlid said:
I did not even know my '80 GS850G was SUPPOSE to have washers under the cap nuts!!!
Click to expand...

OK, went to the Suzuki dealer becasue two the the 6mm cap nuts for the oil filter cover are striped and the filter cover is leaking. When I got there they said they had the nuts in stock (great). Well not so great they were LOW rise cap nuts and will only go half way dow the stud before bottoming out. They had no part# or anything for the high dome ones that are stock for the bike. So to keep it from leaking I went to Home dept and picked up regular 6mmX1.0 pitch nuts and THEY DON"T seem to have the right pitch!! So what is thread of these MAGIC high dome nuts, since Suzuki no longer has them avilable?
 
Take the low rise nut to home depot and size it up. They have one of those templates which have all the sizes. You just need to thread it on the post, and you'll know what the pitch is.

A quick fix for you might be an extra washer under the low rise nut.
 
Tried no luck?

Tried no luck?

Tried and NONE of the sized and pitch posts at HD alow for the stock nut to be screwed on?

Anyone know for sure what the thread pitch is?
 
shortlid said:
Tried and NONE of the sized and pitch posts at HD alow for the stock nut to be screwed on?

Anyone know for sure what the thread pitch is?
Click to expand...

PO of my GS850 lost one of the studs and didn't use the Suzuki domed nuts. I ordered a replacement Suzuki stud, the original washers and nuts. They weren't pricey and arrived in several days and work fine. So just order new studs and nuts and washers and start fresh. That way you'll know that everything will work together.
 
It's a standard 6mm X 1.0 pitch thread.

Go to a real hardware store (hint: it will be a little smaller than Home Depot), and they will have the goodies you seek. I use the stainless steel nuts with the nylon locking inserts. They also should have stainless metric acorn nuts and washers, if you insist on the acorn nut look.

The OEM studs are made from lightly pressed cheddar cheese, and if they aren't already stripped, they probably will be soon. I also found replacement metric studs at my corner Ace.

Ordering from Suzuki is ridiculous for standard fasteners like this. You're just going to get the same low-rent crud that you're having problems with now, plus you're going to pay more and wait a week or two.
 
realslacker said:
This is the second time I've used a Fram oil filter and had the gasket that comes with it leak... I have the cover tightened down as much as I dare and it still drips!

What filters do you use, or what tricks do you know to keep the oil filter cover from dripping?

I'm going crazy, I have to keep dumping in oil every 300 miles for a bike that doesn't burn a drop...
Click to expand...

The trouble is that these filters fit more than one bike and Fram supplies the O-ring for only one of two O-ring types. Fram filter O-rings will fit and seal properly only with bikes using the O-ring type that Fram supplies. On a bike like mine, the Fram filter is the right size but the O-ring supplied will be too thin, the wrong shape, too small, and will leak. I would avoid Fram filters.

I've been using the Hiflofiltro Oil Filter with good results. It's a high quality filter and comes with two different O-rings to fit all applications for the filter. Go to the Oil Filter Application Chart to confirm the filter size.

jgordon said:
What I do is take the cover down to a machine shop and have them take a few .000's off so that the oring actually seals better. Take it off of the grooved side of course.
Click to expand...

This is a bad idea and unnecessary. Using the correct O-ring is all that is required.
 
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