Speedo drive leak

[Slippery Sam]

A10, SA, STD gearbox.
Guys, I have an annoying leak from the speedo drive on my fresh build.
Is there anything I need to know or be aware of - things a novice would miss or not know?
Gearbox is a fresh reconditioned unit, fibre washers are new.
Do I have too much oil in there?
Is there a trick to tightening up the fittings?  I think to me it doesn't feel right when I've tried to nip it up a bit - hard to describe, sorry.  Am I missing a sequence or falling into a known common fault or something?
Worst thing is - the bike hasn't been off the bench yet - although I have run the motor and been generally finished a good few weeks - my registration still isn't sorted so not turned a wheel yet.
Any tips or things to check appreciated.
Raymond

[Topdad]

Raymond theres a  screw in the g/box outer cover which as a elongated end that stops speedo drive unit tight and should stop it turning when you tighten up the speedo cable .They wear and can still turn a new screw may fix it .If I remember the speedo unit is torpedo shaped to slide home and mesh with the drive from the layshaft ,I think it should have a rubber "o" seal which wears and allows leaks as well .

[Billybream]

Hi Raymond.
You will find chapter and verse on this subject.
I would check your oil level in the gearbox first, if ok you could fit an o ring in the end of the cable nut or try some silicon sealant.
Also it's best to secure cable into the gearbox before connecting into your speedo.

[Slippery Sam]

Thanks TD and Billy,
I think the best candidate so far is the locating screw.  The cable is new and the gearbox hasn't been in gear yet so it's a gravity thing.
From the feeling of the outer fixing nut - not really tightening as it needs to on the fibre washer - I suspect the bushing in that case might be getting pulled out (if not properly secured).  I just went over the parts diagram with a magifier and can see how it works now (always better when you know how it works!!!).  Think I'll give that a try - should actually have a new set of g/b outer case fixings so might well replace the offending item (if that's indeed the case).
Won't be tonight though - off on a welding course :-)  If the screw doesn't fix it I'll weld it in place (only kidding!).
Cheers Raymond

[Slippery Sam]

I've had a fiddle about with o rings, sealant and various methods.  Decided to take the whole drive bush out tonight - not an easy job and descended into strong arm tactics quite quickly.
The bush that came out was the brass type with no square seal (3396) and it was clearly a really tight fit in the gearbox.
Now that it's out I might have damaged the thread a little with my enthusiastic removal.  I could clean up the thread a bit and maybe treat myself to a new nut and fibre washer - but I might just replace it.
Is the later? Style bush with the square section seal on it interchangeable? Is the sealed type likely to keep the oil in any better?  The oil definitely wasn't coming from the inner bore (well pretty sure it wasn't) and the cable wasn't full of oil.
I'm keen to get it back together so itching to get a replacement ordered - just looking for a steer on whether to go plain brass or the one with a seal.
Cheers raymond

[duTch]

 Are they actually a square section 'O' ring, or round gone square from use? I went to buy a square section 'O' ring from the bearing/seal shop and the guy looked at me funny

 I thought they existed, and am still sure they do for some things

[Billybream]

You are not dreaming Dutch, square section O rings are called Quad rings or X rings, Nu-lip is another version.
They can achieve better sealing in both static and dynamic applications.

[duTch]

 Thanks B-B good information, I'll chase it up 

[Slippery Sam]

Ironically, I'm asking if the bush with the square seal is interchangeable - I'd actually bought a couple of seals before I took the old bush out and found it was the plain brass bush.
I actually got the part reference off here.
It's a triumph part number as found on ebay.  57-0948
Not tried it yet - but looks like the correct part.

cheers Raymond.

[duTch]

 I can't give a full answer, but think I have two, and the brass one('modified') has a thread with a nut and the other (alloy/zinc-plated?) doesn't, this is the one in use.

[JulianS]

One of the most annoying leaks!

The early pattern brass with nut and fibre washer and later pattern zinc alloy 9with rubber ring) bushes do interchange. The new pattern repro for the zinc alloy version, is, I think now made from brass.

First photo the early brass, second the zinc alloy.

The leak is a common problem.

The first possible leak is between the bush and the outer gearbox cover. Cured either with new fibre seal under the external nut or by using the later bush. Oil runs down the outside of speedo cable and drips off.

The second possible leak is between the internal diameter of the bush and the speedo driven gear. This gets oil into the speedo cable and it drips out. The factory tried to deal with this by improving the fit of the bush/gear and then later added an O ring to the driven gear. See photo 3, O ring version at bottom.

The third leak is from the cable. usually seen where the alloy ferule joins the cable outer at gearbox end.  Some cables are better than others. those with a hex crimp ferule to cable seem to drip whereas those with a circular crimp usually hold the oil better. See photo 4 hex crimp at bottom. You can carefully seal betwen a hex crimp and cable outer using a bit of wiring heat shrink.

[duTch]

 

You can carefully seal betwen a hex crimp and cable outer using a bit of wiring heat shrink.

*between*

 I did that, but also think I have a combo of all (with 'O' rings), but don't have space on the Zn/Al sleeve for a lock nut  *scratches head*

 I guess they fixed the issue with the A65/50 series by running the Speedo drive from the rear wheel

[Slippery Sam]

I'm looking forward to giving this another go.  Bits and pieces ordered.
Raymond.