Odd Leak/Drip Question??
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 320
Likes: 48
From: Mobile, AL
As far as I know that is the only weep hole on the entire frame and if it is even partially blocked as mine was it will take forever to drain any accumulated moisture from inside the frame. Mine dripped for a couple of days after I opened it up.
My 2011 leaked a bunch of water from the rear swing arm.
There was actually a rust stain from it.
Take the belt guard off, and there is a bolt that when removed let out about a pint of fluid.
I sprayed a bunch of WD40 in there to try and eliminate the rusting, it seemed to help some, but not much.
IIRC there is a hole on the top right side, maybe holding a brake line clip, that I found not tight. I siliconed that hole, and seemed to help.
There was actually a rust stain from it.
Take the belt guard off, and there is a bolt that when removed let out about a pint of fluid.
I sprayed a bunch of WD40 in there to try and eliminate the rusting, it seemed to help some, but not much.
IIRC there is a hole on the top right side, maybe holding a brake line clip, that I found not tight. I siliconed that hole, and seemed to help.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
My 2011 leaked a bunch of water from the rear swing arm.
There was actually a rust stain from it.
Take the belt guard off, and there is a bolt that when removed let out about a pint of fluid.
I sprayed a bunch of WD40 in there to try and eliminate the rusting, it seemed to help some, but not much.
IIRC there is a hole on the top right side, maybe holding a brake line clip, that I found not tight. I siliconed that hole, and seemed to help.
There was actually a rust stain from it.
Take the belt guard off, and there is a bolt that when removed let out about a pint of fluid.
I sprayed a bunch of WD40 in there to try and eliminate the rusting, it seemed to help some, but not much.
IIRC there is a hole on the top right side, maybe holding a brake line clip, that I found not tight. I siliconed that hole, and seemed to help.
Figured it had to be some sort of accumulated water up there somewhere. Because of the jiffy stand on the left side, this is where it drips...lowest point.
The dealer told me there was an issue with that in '09 that "should have been fixed" before my '11 was built.
Apparently there were some old stock parts on a shelf somewhere. Yours is the first '12 I've heard of, but it sounds like the same exact issue.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
Before trying the fix, I believe there is like a self tapping screw, or similar, on the left side... it might be one of the belt guard screws, take it out, and let it drain.
The dealer told me there was an issue with that in '09 that "should have been fixed" before my '11 was built.
Apparently there were some old stock parts on a shelf somewhere. Yours is the first '12 I've heard of, but it sounds like the same exact issue.
The dealer told me there was an issue with that in '09 that "should have been fixed" before my '11 was built.
Apparently there were some old stock parts on a shelf somewhere. Yours is the first '12 I've heard of, but it sounds like the same exact issue.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
Will try the suggestions from SafetyMan as there looks to be a small screw underneath the belt guard where the drip is coming from.
Will update with what I find. Thanks again to all for the responses!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
Before trying the fix, I believe there is like a self tapping screw, or similar, on the left side... it might be one of the belt guard screws, take it out, and let it drain.
The dealer told me there was an issue with that in '09 that "should have been fixed" before my '11 was built.
Apparently there were some old stock parts on a shelf somewhere. Yours is the first '12 I've heard of, but it sounds like the same exact issue.
The dealer told me there was an issue with that in '09 that "should have been fixed" before my '11 was built.
Apparently there were some old stock parts on a shelf somewhere. Yours is the first '12 I've heard of, but it sounds like the same exact issue.
I took out one of the screws that holds the belt guard. I was shocked at the amount of grungy, rusty water that came out.Mine being a 2012, I guess they still had not "fixed" or entirely addressed the problem by then.
I took the bike off of my floor jack and put it on the jiffy stand. Will leave the screw out overnight and hopefully all the water will drain out. Guess it's something I (and others should) will keep my eye on and regularily remove that screw to make sure not too much water accumulates in the frame/swingarm.
Thx again! This forum is a wealth of information.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 606
From: USA
This is the info about the leak on the 2009 swingarm that was mentioned in a previous post. I don't know if your bike would be affected.
TT413: 2009 Touring Rear Fork Rusty Water
Leakage
June 3, 2009
2009 Touring Rear Fork Rusty Water Leakage
Some 2009 Touring models exhibit drainage of rusty water from the swingarm (where the debris
deflector mounts), which has raised customer concern.
NOTE
This is a cosmetic concern and not an indication of an internal issue.
The potential water entry points are a forward facing drain hole (used in production) in the pivot
shaft area, the two upper holes for the brake line retention clips, and the holes underneath the
lower belt guard. On low mileage vehicles this may be residual after-wash from manufacturing's
pre-paint procedure that did not boil out during the paint bake process, or it may be from external
sources (puddles, washing, etc.) after the motorcycle was put into service. Dependant upon the
amount of debris remaining inside the fork from the manufacturing process, and the fact the belt's
debris deflector runs across the lower drain hole, it is possible for the water to build up and become
contaminated. Add a few MPH to the equation along with the associated air flow and this stagnate
water can slowly work its way out and onto the rear of the vehicle.
We have yet to hear of any parts that could not be cleaned up using normal maintenance and
cleaning / polishing procedures, as outlined in the owner's manual.
However, to ensure the condition does not continue we recommend opening up a clear escape
path for the water to exit by:
1. Removing the debris deflector
2. Marking the location of the swingarm's drain hole, using some grease to find the drain hole
(just forward of the center mounting screw)
3. Drilling a 0.250" hole in the plastic debris deflector (not the swing arm), directly in line with
the swingarm's drain hole
4. Clean the vehicle, if necessary
5. Reinstall the modified debris deflector
Figure 2. Debris Deflector
If this repair is made while the vehicle is within its factory warranty and the components are
"OEM", please file a warranty claim with the following information. Use the swing arm as the
failed part without a quantity and labor code 2616 for 0.2 hours of labor. Also, please use 6106
as the Customer Concern Code and 1116 as the Condition Code. Please reference this Tech
Tip number in the comment section of the claim.
2 /
TT413: 2009 Touring Rear Fork Rusty Water
Leakage
June 3, 2009
2009 Touring Rear Fork Rusty Water Leakage
Some 2009 Touring models exhibit drainage of rusty water from the swingarm (where the debris
deflector mounts), which has raised customer concern.
NOTE
This is a cosmetic concern and not an indication of an internal issue.
The potential water entry points are a forward facing drain hole (used in production) in the pivot
shaft area, the two upper holes for the brake line retention clips, and the holes underneath the
lower belt guard. On low mileage vehicles this may be residual after-wash from manufacturing's
pre-paint procedure that did not boil out during the paint bake process, or it may be from external
sources (puddles, washing, etc.) after the motorcycle was put into service. Dependant upon the
amount of debris remaining inside the fork from the manufacturing process, and the fact the belt's
debris deflector runs across the lower drain hole, it is possible for the water to build up and become
contaminated. Add a few MPH to the equation along with the associated air flow and this stagnate
water can slowly work its way out and onto the rear of the vehicle.
We have yet to hear of any parts that could not be cleaned up using normal maintenance and
cleaning / polishing procedures, as outlined in the owner's manual.
However, to ensure the condition does not continue we recommend opening up a clear escape
path for the water to exit by:
1. Removing the debris deflector
2. Marking the location of the swingarm's drain hole, using some grease to find the drain hole
(just forward of the center mounting screw)
3. Drilling a 0.250" hole in the plastic debris deflector (not the swing arm), directly in line with
the swingarm's drain hole
4. Clean the vehicle, if necessary
5. Reinstall the modified debris deflector
Figure 2. Debris Deflector
If this repair is made while the vehicle is within its factory warranty and the components are
"OEM", please file a warranty claim with the following information. Use the swing arm as the
failed part without a quantity and labor code 2616 for 0.2 hours of labor. Also, please use 6106
as the Customer Concern Code and 1116 as the Condition Code. Please reference this Tech
Tip number in the comment section of the claim.
2 /
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