GT380 - where is it leaking from?

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jabcb
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GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by jabcb »

Have a 1972 GT380 project bike with a 1974 motor. Am thinking about finally working on it.

The entire two stroke oil tank leaked out while I’ve had it. The leak stopped now that the tank is empty.
It was a slow drip with the last drip shown on the crankcase bolt in front of where the SRIS tubes go though the crankcase.
Image

I can see the drop, but where is it leaking from?
Do I need to pull the motor & check something inside + reseal the crankcase?

I have replacement oil lines — I’ll check the one-way valves before installing it.
Will also take the pump apart & make sure the plungers are working. (A new oil pump gasket is on its way from the UK.)

Also noticed the missing bolt that should be in front of the center SRIS connector.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
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GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
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T350 69 & 71
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Alan H
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by Alan H »

Loose pipe from tank to pump. Don't ask why I know this.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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jabcb
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by jabcb »

Thanks for the info.

What is the path of oil from the leaky pipe to dripping off a bolt near the front of the motor?
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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Alan H
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by Alan H »

Now that will be the interesting bit. On my 550 it was across the engine under the carbs and through the sris rubbers, but also across the swing arm where it fastens to the frame, then forwards under the engine. Don't expect the obvious. Clean it all then start looking.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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jabcb
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by jabcb »

Thanks again for the insight.

I had this type of leak on a T350. But that resulted in muck all over the place and the cause was rather obvious.

I didn’t think of this easy-to-fix problem. But consistent with your explanation, there also is a drop of oil on one of the SRIS lines. (See lower left in the pic.)
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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Alan H
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Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:50 am
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by Alan H »

Don't expect it to be straightforward. If it was easy everyone would have a classic 2 stroke!
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by rngdng »

I would make very sure that the crankcase isn't full of oil. Hydro-lock would be ugly. Many bikes have drain holes to allow fuel or oil spills to drain out the bottom. Not sure about that model.



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jabcb
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by jabcb »

I was worried about that.
Before you mentioned a leaking tank-to-pump oil line, I was thinking that the center cylinder crankcase had filled up & it was leaking out because the case halves were not sealed correctly.

I kicked the bike over with the carbs & spark plugs removed. It seemed fine.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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jabcb
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Posts: 4241
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
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Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by jabcb »

I removed the SRIS lines & quite bit of oil drained out of the one for center cylinder.

Suzuki eliminated the SRIS for the 1975 & later models.
So I replaced the crankcase SRIS connectors with the bolt+washer used on the later models.

The smallest vacuum line caps the auto parts store have are too big to seal off the cylinder SRIS connector.
Any suggestions for a reversible way to seal those off those ports?
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
User avatar
jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4241
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by jabcb »

Found an easy way to seal off the cylinder SRIS connector.

The SRIS lines are 2mm ID & 5mm OD. And 5mm is a little over 3/16”.
So I used a short section of SRIS line just enough to cover the connector.
Shortened a 3/16” auto vacuum cap a bit, and installed it over the SRIS line.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
User avatar
jabcb
Moto GP
Posts: 4241
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:32 pm
Country: USA
Suzuki 2-Strokes: 69 T350 thru 75 GT750
Location: southwestern Pennsylvania

Re: GT380 - where is it leaking from?

Post by jabcb »

Leak saga resolved.

An oil line broke when I was undoing the union bolts. It snapped off at the union bolt connector nearest to the SRIS crankcase passage. Apparently the line was damaged & the leak went unnoticed because the oil went down the SRIS crankcase passage.

Had good spare oil lines & everything is back together. Only got a few drops of oil near the pump where I had made a bit of a mess.
BAS (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) - too many bikes but have room for more

Suzuki:
GT750 2x75
GT550 72 & 75
GT380 72
T500 69 project & 73 project
T350 69 & 71
Honda 85 CB650SC & 86 CB700SC
09 Triumph Bonneville SE
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