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[Gettinold]

BACK IN MAY JUST BEFORE MY 2 YEAR WARRANTY EXP I NOTICED I HAD A SMALL LEAK OF TRANS OIL. BEING A TECH I DETERMINED IT WAS THE SHIFT SHAFT SEAL,SO I CALL AND MADE AN APPT TO HAVE IT REPLACE BEFORE WARRANTY EXP. DONE DEAL .... 600-700 MILES LATER I FIND ANOTHER DROP. SO BACK TO THE STEALER I GO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS TIME IT WAS THE MAIN SHAFT SEAL. NOW IM CONFUSED AND WONDERING WHATS NEXT. OK.... I RIDE TO MV AND SOME 2K MILES LATER... YOU QUESSED IT DRIP DRIP DRIP. AND BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME A DIFFERENT TECH AND THE  STEALER GOT MILWAUKEE INVOLVED. THEY SAY NOTHING ELSE COULD BE LEAKING TO REASSEMBLE IT. NO KNOWN CAUSE BUT HOPEFULLY JUST A TECHS ERROR ON INSTALING THE SEAL. NO SIGN OF ANY CRACKS OR POROUS CASE. SO FAR SO GOOD, BUT ONLY 200 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR.
ANYONE ELSE HAD A REPEATATIVE PROBLEM WITH TRANS LEAK?

[grc]

BACK IN MAY JUST BEFORE MY 2 YEAR WARRANTY EXP I NOTICED I HAD A SMALL LEAK OF TRANS OIL. BEING A TECH I DETERMINED IT WAS THE SHIFT SHAFT SEAL,SO I CALL AND MADE AN APPT TO HAVE IT REPLACE BEFORE WARRANTY EXP. DONE DEAL .... 600-700 MILES LATER I FIND ANOTHER DROP. SO BACK TO THE STEALER I GO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS TIME IT WAS THE MAIN SHAFT SEAL. NOW IM CONFUSED AND WONDERING WHATS NEXT. OK.... I RIDE TO MV AND SOME 2K MILES LATER... YOU QUESSED IT DRIP DRIP DRIP. AND BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS TIME A DIFFERENT TECH AND THE  STEALER GOT MILWAUKEE INVOLVED. THEY SAY NOTHING ELSE COULD BE LEAKING TO REASSEMBLE IT. NO KNOWN CAUSE BUT HOPEFULLY JUST A TECHS ERROR ON INSTALING THE SEAL. NO SIGN OF ANY CRACKS OR POROUS CASE. SO FAR SO GOOD, BUT ONLY 200 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR.
ANYONE ELSE HAD A REPEATATIVE PROBLEM WITH TRANS LEAK?

Gettinold,

To soon to tell, but I also had a trans leak this past summer.  Turned out to be mainshaft and shift shaft seals, both replaced.  She's been dry for close to 1k miles so far since the replacement.

It seems that mainshaft seal leaks are not that uncommon.  I don't know if it relates more to installation issues (distorted seals) or just a marginal design.

Jerry

[Gettinold]

Gettinold,

To soon to tell, but I also had a trans leak this past summer.  Turned out to be mainshaft and shift shaft seals, both replaced.  She's been dry for close to 1k miles so far since the replacement.

It seems that mainshaft seal leaks are not that uncommon.  I don't know if it relates more to installation issues (distorted seals) or just a marginal design.

Jerry

THANKS JERRY. WHAT KIND OF TRANS OIL YOU RUNNING?
                  DAVE

[grc]

THANKS JERRY. WHAT KIND OF TRANS OIL YOU RUNNING?
                  DAVE

Dave,

I've been running Redline Shockproof Heavy since '02, after trying many brands over the years.  Besides being an excellent lube, that bright red color sure made finding my leaks a real piece of cake.  And, as we all know by now, RED is the fastest color. [smiley=cherry.gif]

Jerry

[Gettinold]

WELL NOT SURE ABOUT RED BEING THE FASTEST,  [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif] BUT IT IS MUCH EASIER TO LOCATE A LEAK WITH THE RED OIL. IVE BEEN USING BEL-RAY 85-140 AND I WAS WONDERING IF ITS TOO HEAVY OF AN OIL TO BE RUNNING IN THAT TRANS [smiley=nixweiss.gif]. IVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WITH ANY OF MY OTHER BIKES. I HAVE ALWAYS USED BEL RAY, SO I'M THINKING A MAKING A CHANGE TO SOMETHING LIGHTER. I DONT WANT TO KEEP HAVING TO TEAR THIS APART, ITS GOING TO COST ME SOME DAY.

[Bagger]

WELL NOT SURE ABOUT RED BEING THE FASTEST,  [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif] BUT IT IS MUCH EASIER TO LOCATE A LEAK WITH THE RED OIL. IVE BEEN USING BEL-RAY 85-140 AND I WAS WONDERING IF ITS TOO HEAVY OF AN OIL TO BE RUNNING IN THAT TRANS [smiley=nixweiss.gif]. IVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WITH ANY OF MY OTHER BIKES. I HAVE ALWAYS USED BEL RAY, SO I'M THINKING A MAKING A CHANGE TO SOMETHING LIGHTER. I DONT WANT TO KEEP HAVING TO TEAR THIS APART, ITS GOING TO COST ME SOME DAY.

I don't believe you have anything to worry about with the Bel-Ray 85W140.  I'm running it in my SEUC, and my transmission is dry as a bone outside after 6800 miles.  I ran it for 47K miles in my Ultra and for 50K plus in my softail.  Never had a problem other than one shift shaft seal leak in the Ultra at 21K.  Never leaked again after replacement.  That Bel-Ray is some great stuff.

[djkak]

Gettinold,

To soon to tell, but I also had a trans leak this past summer.  Turned out to be mainshaft and shift shaft seals, both replaced.  She's been dry for close to 1k miles so far since the replacement.

It seems that mainshaft seal leaks are not that uncommon.  I don't know if it relates more to installation issues (distorted seals) or just a marginal design.

Jerry

These transmissions are generally not known for being problematic leakers. The most common leakage issues around the drive sprocket area are the Starter Jackshaft and the Mainshaft Seal in the Inner Primary Housing.

One issue that can sometimes be challenging to pin down is a “burp” from the transmission vent. The transmission vent is a rubber hose with a “horseshoe bend” on the end, which is located on the left side of the transmission top cover.

These transmissions are more prone to burp when the fluid level is high and the ambient temp is low. If the “Gravity Police” happen to get hold of your machine and you lay it down on the left side, the transmission will almost always lose some fluid from the vent hose.

If oil is dripping from the left rear primary area, the vent is very easy to eliminate; simply turn the end of the hose up and look down into the opening. If there is ANY oil or wetness present inside the hose, you more than likely have an overfilled transmission. There may also be some evidence of oil just below the vent hose on the inner primary housing.

It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see a generously filled transmission lose some fluid from the vent hose at this time of year; although I realize that your issue began last May. Again, the end of the hose must be perfectly clean and dry.

Good luck.

djkak

[Gettinold]

These transmissions are generally not known for being problematic leakers. The most common leakage issues around the drive sprocket area are the Starter Jackshaft and the Mainshaft Seal in the Inner Primary Housing.

One issue that can sometimes be challenging to pin down is a [ch8220]burp[ch8221] from the transmission vent. The transmission vent is a rubber hose with a [ch8220]horseshoe bend[ch8221] on the end, which is located on the left side of the transmission top cover.

These transmissions are more prone to burp when the fluid level is high and the ambient temp is low. If the [ch8220]Gravity Police[ch8221] happen to get hold of your machine and you lay it down on the left side, the transmission will almost always lose some fluid from the vent hose.

If oil is dripping from the left rear primary area, the vent is very easy to eliminate; simply turn the end of the hose up and look down into the opening. If there is ANY oil or wetness present inside the hose, you more than likely have an overfilled transmission. There may also be some evidence of oil just below the vent hose on the inner primary housing.

It wouldn[ch8217]t surprise me at all to see a generously filled transmission lose some fluid from the vent hose at this time of year; although I realize that your issue began last May. Again, the end of the hose must be perfectly clean and dry.

Good luck.

djkak

DJKAK
GOOD POINT AND YES I CHECKED THOSE THINGS. IT DID BURP ON ME ONE MORNING IN MAGGIE VALLY BUT IT WAS NOT OVER FILLED. IT WAS 30 DEGREES OUT THOUGH. I CLEANED IT ALL UP AND RECHECK THE TUBE FOR WETNESS BUT ALL GOOD. IVE BEEN RUNNING IT WITH THE VENT TUBE TURNED UP TO KEEP AN I ON IT. THAT WAS A TOUGHT THAT I HAD TO AFTER SEEING IT BURP IN MV. 22-24 OZ IS WHAT I PUT IN IT AND CHECKED & RE CHECKED COLD & HOT. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]    SO FAR SO GOOD BUT HAVE NOT RAN IT VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR THE INPUT & WILL KEEP YOU POSTED [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
                    DAVE

[djkak]

DJKAK
GOOD POINT AND YES I CHECKED THOSE THINGS. IT DID BURP ON ME ONE MORNING IN MAGGIE VALLY BUT IT WAS NOT OVER FILLED. IT WAS 30 DEGREES OUT THOUGH......[smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]  DAVE

The following is a little background regarding the 5 speed transmission fluid level. When the 5 speed was first introduced in 1980, the fluid spec was 16 ounces and the level was checked with the dip stick screwed into the threads. As I remember it, the fluid level, and method of checking was changed because of premature clutch release bearing failure (throwout bearing).

The current method is to not screw the dipstick into the threads and the spec was increased from 16 oz. to 20-24 oz. I cannot remember precisely when this change was made, but it may have been around 1987, when the release mechanism and housing were changed. The increased fluid level did result in improved release bearing life; it is now uncommon to see these bearings fail.

When filling the transmission of a CVO machine equipped with a hydraulic clutch, it is worth considering that the clutch release bearing is not only much more robust, but it is no longer lubricated with transmission fluid. The HD hydraulic clutch release bearing is located on the left end of the mainshaft and is lubricated with primary chaincase fluid.

With regard to trans vent “burpage”, it is my humble opinion that a Big Twin transmission running 24 ounces, is extremely prone to burp in cold weather. I feel that 20 ounces is the practical max for a cable actuated clutch, and a hydraulic equipped machine can easily run 16 ounces; mine does and early 5 speeds did for some time. The bottom line is that when filling the 5 speed transmission, fill it like a Republican; err on the side of conservatism.

djkak

[Gettinold]

THE BURPING IS NOT MY CONCERN AS MUCH AS INSUFFICENT VENTING CAUSING THE SEAL TO BLOW OUT. [smiley=oops.gif]

[mr_magoo]

Wow 16oz in the tranny.  I've been told to run 20-22oz in the tranny.  I had a shift shaft seal replaced about a year ago and have had no trouble since.

[flyingwillie]

I, too, have just developed a small leak.  I noticed it 2 nights ago when I had to reposition my bike in the garage.  A drop about the size of a quarter.  Looked again this morning and the drop was about the size of a dime.  I will check the vent hose per advice above.  However I have not
added tranny oil lately so my guess is one of the seals is the cause.  Thanks for the good advice [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
 [smiley=cherry.gif]

[TallyClassic]

I made a post on this question in the 'general' area.  My '05 was pretty wet there and after a weekend ride, there's a visible trail back up to the shifter shaft.
Dealer here knew of shifter seals going, but nothing HD was putting a recall out for.....So,,,$300 to replace, bend over and say thank-you.

I say Not!  Was told by the experts here to put in a Cometec on both shafts while you're in there.

[flyingwillie]

Tally, re the $300 can I assume your warranty had expired ?

[TallyClassic]

I did not get an extended warranty....bought the bike in June of '05