oil leak around neutral switch

So the XJ550 has been sitting in the garage, on the center stand, for several months while other projects demanded my time (unthinkable, I know), with the oil spot under it getting bigger and bigger... I finally got around to tracking it down and it seems to be coming from the neutral switch. The o-ring on the plastic triangular-ish cover thingy does have some damage on it. Is that o-ring really intended to keep oil from leaking out, or just to keep other crud slung off the chain from getting in? Is there another seal or something on the round monving part of the switch that is probably faulty? If so, how hard is that to replace?

If this requires a major teardown, it's probably not gonna happen in my lifetime. The answer I'm hoping for is just replace that o-ring and be good to go.

Thanks in advance!

Rickster

 

http://www.cmsnl.com/yamaha-xj550rh-198 ... ml#results

Looking at the fiche, I think it's keeping oil in. The good news is that it's just a round o-ring, not funny shaped one. You could probably get away with buying a universal viton oring kit from harbor freight and find the right one.

The other option is to click on the banner above and get the exact size.

To me it looks like two bolts, change the o-ring, reassemble, and go.

Fitz is really the person to chime in here, I'm sure he will shortly.

 

Ya think?

That triangular plastic piece IS the switch, not a "cover." That's IT.

If the o-ring isn't new, renew it. If it continues to leak right through the switch (from where the lone wire sprouts) schpritz it clean with contact cleaner and apply a dab of high-temp RTV; or replace the silly thing. They're cheap.