Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

From what I can see, the oil drain stream seem to have been emanating from the gear shift shaft seal. The seal by the looks of it seems to have been not inserted properly. The seal should sit flush with the casing, and not protrude from the casing like in your picture. If that's the case, oil would leak easily. It's clearly a botched up installation, as the oil seal is not at all properly seated. If the shift shaft were were fiddled with, they might have not noticed the ejected out oil seal.

Get it to your SVC and replace the oil seal and make sure it's properly seated.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Thanks for the explanation!

Now the problem is how to take it to the svc that's 30 km away from my place. Do you think a local mechanic could perhaps do some temp jugaad so that I can ride the bike to svc?

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Jugaad can be done, mostly by trying to squeeze in the seal back into its seat by applying even pressure around the seal so it seals by sitting flush inside the seat, for the time being. It's imperative to replace a damaged seal. Though the same seal might arrest the leak for the time being, it can throw up tantrums and give up anytime.

Do try this and keep your observations posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

This is not a matter of serious concern. You could change the seal yourself or go with using silicon sealant for a temporarily fix.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Ashwin, oil leaks by any means are serious. Especially by the amount of seepage he's had over his floor adds to the drama. He'd probably never asked if he could have changed the seal himself, don't you think. Well, for a silcone sealant to work, the seal itself had to be in, and that's not the case here, it's protruding out, so, effectively you're just gumming up the outer part of the seal itself which won't effectively seal the metal seat.

My personal opinion would be of either bring a mechanic to home, which is a temp fix, head straight to SVC get the seal fixed or take the bike to a nearest mechanic and then repeat the SVC process. I'd personally opine the first one, hasslefree, now he knows what to do, plus saves muscle.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

I'd still stick to objectiveness of opinions being the cause of concern. Because as far as my concerns go an irreparable damage en-route is what should be a cause of concern, a seal popping, some oil leaking etc especially when the motorcycle is parked are just part of the package of owning a motorcycle, which is something that can be avoided by periodical changing of said consumables.

Depends on the type of sealant you're using, say with the help of a silicon glue such as Fevibond, just a coat on the external mating surface would do, this is why we carry a tube of Fevibond while going the extra mile, helps seal an oil leak with the least possible hassle and doesn't cause permanent damage to components as in the case of other more persuasive sealants.

Changing the shifter seal is just a matter of popping out the old seal and inserting the new one, easier than an oil change if you ask me, and since as you've mentioned his seal is protruding it would be a piece of cake to pry it out without even the slightest possibility of scarring the internal mating surface. Practically it doesn't make sense to involve the hassle of hiring a mechanic or riding 30 km's with the machine in a compromised state to change a seal that costs around 20/-, just saying.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

yes, probably a local mechanic can help and maybe with a sealant or similar part/spare from the pulsar 200ns or dominor (since they share a lot of parts at the bottom end), or maybe put a socket over it and tap it in gently to see if it seats/seals properly. just make sure they don't whack/bang/adjust things incorrectly.
do not ride the bike in this condition. or maybe call the svc and request if they can send someone over.

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Everyone might not be comfortable with a diy, maybe due to lack of tools or confidence/knowledge in tinkering with their machines, plus spares for ktm aren't easily available outside showroom, so one has to know what other part might be compatible.
ideally try to avoid using fevibond or fevikwik on rubber gaskets/seals.. maybe something like a proper rtv gasket sealant from a brand like anabond which is easily available and doesn't cost much either.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Sorry to see and read about the mess mate.
Have you opted for KTM's RSA?
If not, how about talking to the service center to send a mechanic with required tools to fix it at your place itself?
If the above looks far fetched, then I think you should request a mechanic at the ASC to work on your bike after his office hours?

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

True, RTV makes a better seal and it is the right way of doing it, but the setting time is comparatively greater which can be an issue as when we ride we try to squeeze the most before sun-set and waiting for up to an hour for RTV to set isn't feasible, plus I'm still not sure RTV would hold as well when applying to seal external leaks, do correct me if wrong.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

It doesn't take too long to seal, and is also more resistant to oil and heat compared to say a fevibond or fevikwik (i've seen some mechanics use feviwik at times to seat a gasket like the valve cover) i've seen crankcases mated with just sealant and no gasket and they hold up well.
in this guys case i doubt if fevibond (which is rubber based) will even hold up for a few minutes under the heat/oil. he needs to first try to tap in using a socket as a driver, otherwise a new seal.
there are different such sealants in the silicone/rtv automotive use, and bajaj themselves supply one (made by loctite) which is transparent/greyish in appearance and is used to seal the valve cover gasket properly, but some mechanics due to laziness just smear it from the outside and it does hold up for sometime.. ideally it is supposed to be applied after removing the cover and at specific points on the gasket/sealing surface.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

What size of tube can we fit in the stock size tyre "150/60-17" ??
Also what would be the approx price?

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

But why? I'd be really keen to know the interest towards a tubed setup as opposed to the tubeless that's the stock. Any reason as to why, would be interested to know.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Update: got the shift shaft seal replaced- no more leak. The seal was just RS 15 but the total hit was 1800 (500 for sending mechanic to my home + engine oil). Still waiting for new throttle body to arrive...

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Excellent. Just as we prognosed early. Do keep your observations on the new throttle body posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Need help regarding a very peculiar problem. The bike is making weird sounds like closing a rusted door when being moved back and forth on foot, specially when the handle is turned to the side, it takes a lot of effort to move it as if the brakes are slightly pressed. Brakes and brake fluid has been checked, cleaned and replaced respectively. What all should I get checked? Wheel bearings? I already visited the svc, but they could not zero in the problem.