oil in alternater??

[dgc67]

I don't have a manual, and I am only knowledgeable on first gen, but I have had my cover off and I guarantee there is no "true" way in or out for that oil.  I looked up a schematic and saw no reference to a path either.  Again, I am strictly basing it on 1st gen design.

[lragan]

So the 1st gen alternators are lubricated by leakage only?  I would think that one would be required to open it up and clean it out on a regular schedule.

I haven't had the "left crankcase cover", behind which the alternator resides, off my '96, so it is possible that the "holes" I think I see in the inside of the alternator housing are not holes at all...

You got me wondering now.  I may have to pull it just look.

NO!  NO!, Lawrence don't fix it if it ain't broke!!

[dgc67]

I find it hard to beleive there is a "need" for lubrication there and that the oil that accumulates in there is due to slight leakage around the seal.  I have pulled that cover off other, older bikes and did not have oil in there at all.  I can see why the seal would not need to be a perfect tight seal, since the cover is there to keep leakage "under control".
On the bike the part that bolts to the crank is, from my observations, equivalent to the harmonic balancer on an auto engine and is called the flywheel.  It is the only moving part in there and just spins bolted tightly to the crank.
Again, I claim no "real" knowledge on this, just my observations and understanding of engines.  I mean, does your car alternator have "oil lubrication".  On the bike it bolts straight to the crankshaft and all the bearings and actually lube are "inside" the crankcase. 

You got me wondering now.  I may have to pull it just look.

From my experience you better have a new gasket handy if you do.

[roboto65]

The oil in the side cover is there for a reason and that is to keep it cool it being the stator or alternator I called around to a few service shops and got the same answer. Also it is in the Honda Service manual to watch for oil when you take the cover off !!

[dgc67]

I am not doubting you, ok I was a little,      I have no problem believing to expect some oil to be in there, but I wonder why some have more than others and why it seems to come out so dark and stinky when the oil you changed looked good or is fresh.  I mean, if it is really circulating. 
It just seems to me they did not make that seal all that "tight" so as to allow oil to seep through and pool in there to help transfer heat from the "flywheel" out to the cover, but do not actually recirculate it.

[Jumbobret]

Ok I got a hold of Dave Dodge, he said that oil in there is perfectly normal. It is a seepage port in there, it is not a pressure point. It drain in/out so yes it will be a little dirty compared to the other oil.

[captain2207]

dg i agree but no expert here its electrical.you would think it would be dry on my kx 250 it was dry,and it doesnt leak either....valves are nice and queit now

[dgc67]

My FZR400 was dry as was my Suzuki GS450.  I can see it not hurting to have oil in there, just surprised to hear it actually drains back into the crank case.  I am still not convinced that in a 1st gen it does.  I will sure scrutinize it next time I have that cover off.

[Jumbobret]

My first gen has oil in there it's normal. Every first gen I've worked on has it in there. I worked on a buddy's first gen Saturday and fired it up with cover off, oil was slung every where when running. It's fed by non-pressurized oil, not any thing to be concerned about. I promise. It suppost to be there.

[silveradocowboy]

It's been a while but I'm quite sure it is normal and if you look behind the rotor there will be a hole for drainage.