Leaking something - Help!

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Jave · #1 Unread post by **Jave** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:57 am

So I went to take the bike out of winter storage and when I got there, I saw a puddle under the bike. First I thought it was oil since I had just changed it before putting the bike away and since it was my first time changing oil on a bike I thought maybe I didn't tighten the bolt enough or something.

The puddle wasn't very big so I don't think it leaked a lot so I went to start the bike. The first thing I noticed was the clutch grip was completely loose. Made sure the bike was in neutral and started it anyway. It had issues starting but eventually did... it would not stay running if I didn't give it some gas though. After letting it run for about a minute, I look down and I see some liquid leaking on the ground pretty quickly (and a lot of it!) so I turn the bike off. The liquid seemed to be coming from everywhere but I did notice that it also was coming out through the small crack that I circled in the picture below (except it's on the other side of the bike, just couldn't find a picture showing that side). This seems kind of odd to me since it's so high up.

I'm not very mechanically enclined so I'm not sure what the liquid is. It was yellow and had a smell to it but it didn't smell like gasoline.

Any thoughts on what is wrong? It's a 2001 Ninja 250. Does the bike have transmission fluid and if that all leaked out, would that explain the clutch grip being all loose or is that likely a separate issue?

78XS400 · #2 Unread post by **78XS400** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:35 pm

if ure leaking a yellowish fluid, and ure having clutch issues..... i would imagine ure leaking brake fluid from ure hydraulic lines (that acuate the clutch). Im not too familiar with those bikes so not sure if its a cable clutch or hydraulic clutch. but it sounds like hydraulic fluid.

Jave · #3 Unread post by **Jave** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:58 pm

I was told by someone else that it's a cable clutch so it wouldn't be hydraulic fluid. It couldnt've been I don't think since it was A LOT of liquid. Someone else also mentioned it sounded like coolant?

78XS400 · #4 Unread post by **78XS400** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 6:34 pm

well, smell it, does it have a sweet smell? coolant has a distinct smell. Id say take it to ure closest dealer, i wouldnt wanna run that bike with a coolant leak

Jave · #5 Unread post by **Jave** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:53 am

It didn't really have a sweet smell, at least not in my opinion. It had a strong smell but it definately didn't smell good.

#6 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:18 am

Common sense says it's overflow from the carbs. I'd assume gasoline that's been sitting a little long.

Can't be brake fluid - no brake runs through that area. Cannot be transmission fluid, as it's lubricated with engine oil. Cannot be coolant because coolant is green, blue or red.

It might be engine oil... did it feel like oil?

Jave · #7 Unread post by **Jave** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:28 am

Can't coolant be yellow as well? Either way, it didn't really seem like oil. The consistency was like water, very thin. If it was oil, what could've happened? Because it was literally gushing out.. not like a small drip or anything.

jonnythan · #8 Unread post by **jonnythan** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:31 am

I'm thinking old gas.

Jave · #9 Unread post by **Jave** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:34 am

If it's old gas, what should I do? Just start the bike and leave it running till it's all out?

jonnythan · Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:50 am

Jave wrote:If it's old gas, what should I do? Just start the bike and leave it running till it's all out?

If you have fuel pouring out of the bike, I'd suggest you turn it the hell off and leave it be until the engine is cold.

Then pull it apart and see where the leak is coming from. Then fix it. Then make sure there's no gas anywhere there shouldn't be, then turn the bike on, then try to start it.