Sight glass weep?

[czimmer]

Anyone had an issue with the oil sight glass developing a weep? I am still learning my NOS 2015 (less than 1000 miles at this point) but I noticed today that there was a bit of oil on the outside and bottom of the sight glass and it had dribbled down to the shelf just under the sight glass.

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[wheatonFJR]

Wtf?

[raYzerman]

Shouldn't but it has happened (rare), but wipe it clean with isopropanol and see if it returns. Check to see it is seated evenly all around, may need to be reseated?? But, verify you indeed have a leak before doing anything. Then I would try to reseat it, clean and check again.
AFAIK, it is not glass but plastic such as polycarbonate, possibly lexan. I have replaced sight glasses in clutch and brake master cylinders (they seal with RTV, not a gasket).
A new part will come with the appropriate gasket/o-ring affair, you may not be able to remove the old one in one piece. Best have a new one on hand if you're going to do this.
Video of a WR250, but in this case it is installed from inside out. FJR is from outside in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smlyE1lV7iU
Here's a Ninja repair, more like what an FJR repair would involve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg8BqLRHBVQ

[czimmer]

Thanks, raYzerman...

I went out and checked things over a bit closer and cleaned the sight glass with some isopropyl alcohol. While I was there, I looked closely around the area and it I found the bolt going into the crankcase directly above the sight glass had a bit of oil on it and the gasket around the cover there (generator?) may be the culprit. I cleaned everything up and I will check again after my commute.

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[Pterodactyl]

The bike has evidently been idle for most of its existence. I suggest running the bike for a few hundred miles all the while regularly checking and cleaning the glass. Perhaps subjecting it to multiple heat cycles will cure the weeping. But if the weep becomes a leak then replace it right away. If it pops out it will not be good. Partzilla has the level gage for $19.68.

[raYzerman]

Hard to find oil weeps sometimes, perhaps snug up the screws that hold the cover on, but FJR's aren't known for leaking much. The sight glass is a pretty robust thing. Riding and getting everything up to operating temperature/heat cycles are a good thing. Could it be some residual oil from perhaps the last oil change?

[Bust]

Quit being mean to it!

[tominca]

The oil filler is above that sight glass. It would be so easy for a few drops of oil to be present from the last oil change and work down to where it looks like it is weeping. I bet this problem solves itself. Make sure the filler cap is tight and clean all the way down.

[ionbeam]

...Make sure the filler cap is tight and clean all the way down.

And the O-ring is in place on the filler cap.

[griff]

...Make sure the filler cap is tight and clean all the way down.

And the O-ring is in place on the filler cap.

I had the filler cap with even a new o ring start leaking on my 03. Had to stack two o rings to stop the leak.