KDXRIDER.NET

Just wondering if riding with bad crank seals will do any perminate damage? If I keep the trans topped off would there be any problems. Rode 20 miles yesterday and didn't even foul a plug and the oil level just about dropped from where it was when we started. There are only a couple of months left in the riding season here in New England and really don't want to split the cases until the state forests are closed. I might get in 4 or 5 more rides by then.

Yes, premature wear and possible piston seize.

The big problem is if your flywheel side is leaking and your engine is sucking air.

I should have been a little more specific, it is the clutch side that is leaking. I pulled the flywheel tonight and it is not leaking there. If there was oil leaking there, I wouldn't ride it at all.

You're drinking transmission oil into the cylinder - not good...

I know a guy on a cr250 that's ridden for a year on bad crank seals however when he changes transmission fluid he gets 100ml out of it, his bike idles erratically, smokes a ton, is hard to start and gets harder to start every time we ride. however he claims there's nothing wrong with it...

Good points, when you are burning transmission oil you are also getting clutch friction material with it.

As long as you have everything you need, you could replace the seals in a weekend no problem and not miss out on much riding.

But there is no sense in replacing just the seals if you are splitting the cases. Replacing bearings doesnt add much time, just more money.

Looks like my season is over. If I am going to split the cases, I might as well change out all the bearing, have a new rod put in and the cylinder replated. Anyone know if all the bearings in the cases need to be put in with heating the cases and freezing the bearings? I know the crank bearings need that method.

I couldnt get them all in with just heat/cold. But you cant rule out that my technique was wrong on the smaller bearings.

check my sig for newb info and how to, there is a section about splitting case, does and don't...