When is a part not the right part? When it’s an Aprilia part of course!!!!! A few weeks ago the old Capo seemed to be producing its own chain lube …. long and the short of it was the possible failure of one of three seals. Clutch push-rod, gear selector or gearbox output shaft. Two of the seals are stock off-the-shelf items so no problem ordering spares. But the gearbox output shaft seal is down as AP0850050 and quoted as ’40x47x7.5′ …… and what a load of bollocks that turned out to be!
Punch the numbers into any online seal supplier and you’ll draw a blank or at best come up with a ’40x47x4′ …… so thinking it was a Rotax special, I caved in and ordered the brain numbingly expensive Aprilia item from Fowlers (UK). And here it is, written crystal clear on the Aprilia bag and backing up the parts manuals … except it’s all a big fat lie! The seal is in fact marked in itty-bitty script on the back as – ’30x47x7′ – and THAT seal size is most definitely available through any online seal store for a frigging fraction of the Aprilia one! Now you know …
