I have a 2000 Sportsman 335 that I had found oil on the pull start rope when I had trouble starting the the starter. I pulled the cover and found a small amount of oil in it. I wiped the stator down and cleaned the area. I was not able to see where the oil was coming from so I pulled the cover. It looks like the oil seal around the shaft is leaking. Should I replace the metal bearing when I replace the seal? Is there any better way to clean the stator other then wiping it off?

Thanks

 

Bearing should be fine if crank don,t wiggle up on down....

 

Are you sure its a oil leak? My rope was wet and oily also, when I took the cover off ,oily water poured out also, turned out dirty water got by the rope handle and into the cover. The oily look was from the oil the water pick up off the Bendix drive and recoil reel,both are lubed from the factory.

It was filthy oily everywhere inside,flywheel stator you name it. I used electrical cleaning spray to clean it out,relubed the drive and rope reel parts and sealed the rope handle down in place with silicon so water would not enter again.

 

Hmmm...hadn't though about that. You could be right. Thanks for the suggestion.