Clutch slave cylinder pushrod leak

[ducatifan1]

My 99 ST2 is weeping engine oil from around the clutch push rod. Took a look at the current parts diagram and it shows two small o-rings for this push rod that slide on before the slave cylinder is installed.

Bike is still on its original slave cylinder and doesn't have these two o-rings. My slave cylinder has a seal on the engine side of the piston through which the rod passes and nothing else (except a bellows affair to exclude dirt). Are these rings there to keep engine oil from weeping around the push rod? Should I add these to my current setup? Thanks for the help.

[brian91cfr]

You have to remove the clutch push rod as they are located about 40mm down
the rod inside the gear shaft.
not the best pic but you can just see them.

brian.

[ducatifan1]

Brian91cfr: thanks for the pic!

I tried to gently pull the rod out from the slave cylinder side of the engine case but did not want to force it. I take it I just twist and pull a little harder? Are the o-rings in grooves on the push rod and do I put them and simply push the assembly back into the engine case? Do I need to drain the engine oil first or is the rod above the oil level? So much to learn...so many moving parts!

[ducatifan1]

OK, a little more research and I may have the answer...the rod must be removed by lightly tapping it from the pressure plate side until it appears out the slave cylinder side...O-rings go in two grooves on the far end...and there is one o-ring at the pressure plate side to control oil from that end I should probably replace as well.

Do I need to drain the oil? It looks like the rod is above the level of the oil filler hole so I think it should be ok. Any other things I should address while I have the rod out? Thanks.

[C-simian]

Not sure where your oil is coming from. The o-rings on the pushrod do keep oil from weeping out either side.

On the clutch side, there is also a seal in a bearing through which the pushrod passes. That seal also keeps oil from going into the clutch, and is not an o-ring, unless the ST2 system is different, which I seriously doubt.

It is very common for the push rod to get stuck in the bushing in the throw-out bearing, and tapping won't help. You have to take off the clutch cover, carefully undo the six cap screws holding in the pressure plate, and probably the pushrod is stuck in there. You don't drain the oil or anything, unless you filled the crankcase way beyond the mark. You have to work the pushrod out, and I only did so by gentle persuasion. Generally, this is the time to replace the throwout bearing as well. Blow out the clutch with air to get the junk out of it while you're in there.

Once you get the pushrod out, you will want to replace the two o-rings and the seal. LT Snyder (Ducati Parts by Desmo Times - The Home of DIY Ducati Maintenance. > clutch > row 4, #1, $9, but he has a $30 minimum) has a set of parts for the o-rings and seal. While you're there, get yourself a copy of his new 2-valve maintenance manual, so you won't have to ask these basic questions so often. We all use his manuals.
Getting the seal out is a bugger, but once it's out, there's no real problem getting the new one in. Likewise, getting the o-rings off and the new ones on is a bit of a challenge. LT has instructions with his packet.

Ron

[mehush]

Originally Posted by C-simian

Not sure where your oil is coming from. The o-rings on the pushrod do keep oil from weeping out either side.

On the clutch side, there is also a seal in a bearing through which the pushrod passes. That seal also keeps oil from going into the clutch, and is not an o-ring, unless the ST2 system is different, which I seriously doubt.

It is very common for the push rod to get stuck in the bushing in the throw-out bearing, and tapping won't help. You have to take off the clutch cover, carefully undo the six cap screws holding in the pressure plate, and probably the pushrod is stuck in there. You don't drain the oil or anything, unless you filled the crankcase way beyond the mark. You have to work the pushrod out, and I only did so by gentle persuasion. Generally, this is the time to replace the throwout bearing as well. Blow out the clutch with air to get the junk out of it while you're in there.

Once you get the pushrod out, you will want to replace the two o-rings and the seal. LT Snyder (Ducati Parts by Desmo Times - The Home of DIY Ducati Maintenance. > clutch > row 4, #1, $9, but he has a $30 minimum) has a set of parts for the o-rings and seal. While you're there, get yourself a copy of his new 2-valve maintenance manual, so you won't have to ask these basic questions so often. We all use his manuals.
Getting the seal out is a bugger, but once it's out, there's no real problem getting the new one in. Likewise, getting the o-rings off and the new ones on is a bit of a challenge. LT has instructions with his packet.

Ron

It's all right there.

But I might add that it could be hydraulic fluid coming from the slave cylinder that you are seeing. It is a very common problem.

[C-simian]

Originally Posted by mehush

It's all right there.

But I might add that it could be hydraulic fluid coming from the slave cylinder that you are seeing. It is a very common problem.

Good call.

Ron