Hitchcocks Forum

Hi All

Just got my first Bullet, been on my first run, and found my first oil leak, so here is my first post on the Technical Forum

I have had a look at the 'parts book online' and it looks as if the old seal (if there is even one in there!!) can be fished out and a new one fitted without delving in to gearbox. True? Or should I go from the inside out?

Hi Pict, the main bearing seal can be replaced from without, It does require a bit of work to get at i.e. primary case inner with clutch and rotor..

Order new seal and gaskets for the primary... There is a felt seal for the sprocket nut and if after 2002 also an o'ring that fits into a groove machined in the sprocket...

if its a 4 speed bike follow this , gets as far as the spk removal http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/pi ... bullet.pdf

Thanks Gwilly and Allan. Great fun this Bullet ownership

however you may find that someone has drained and refilled the g/box with oil , originally they were filled with RENOLIT EP00 look here http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/ac ... -silkolene (scroll down) you might find draining the box (to check if its oil) and refilling with the grease cures the problem , you will have to warm/heat the grease to make it runny and pourable

Thanks again Alan. It is a grease / oil mix that is leaking out but fairly thin. The filling with grease is worth a try before pulling things apart though. With grease do you literally 'fill' the gearbox or just to the oil level screw per instructions for topping up?

Hi Pict, If I may add (since you are new to Bullets) and I'm a assuming you have an older non efi that you may just want to check that the breather has not been modified to point at the sprocket and what your acually seeing is excess oil being blown out because of overfill (mixing with gunk from the chain) from it rather than a real leak. Not saying it is, just worth consideration before you start ripping things apart.

Cheers Paul

Breather trouble was my first (optimistic) thought but alas the oil was, there is no other word for it, pissing out from the bottom of the shaft behind the sprocket. (Wonderful things these powerful LED bicycle lamps!) I don't have the history that came with the bike at hand but from memory the bike had done ~3 miles since 2008 so I guess that it's possible that being sat so long hasn't done the seal much good. The breather is directed toward the chain but at the front of the chainguard, behind the battery box.

Bike is 54 plate 4 speed kickstart Bullet 500

All the feedback much appreciated.

It's tricky to find a level with the grease as it's so stiff when cold. Just drain off and replace with the recommended amount. You'll need to warm it up to get it to flow. Once it's in you can check the level after a long run when everything is warm.

what is the recommended amount for a drained gearbox?