79 FLH-80. Now that I got the electric start working, I wanted to try and kick it. The kicker felt a little sloppy so I decided to pull the cover and inspect it. I found mayo and not much else:



Where is the vent on the transmission?

Here is a side view of the kick starter gear. The pin looks bent:

 

Nick - keep the posts coming! I am tearing down a '79 FXS-80 and you are working on the same mill. You are a little ahead of me, so keep the questions coming! I have decided to just do a complete tear-down and rebuild on mine. It hadn't run for 4 years, so I figured I would end up deep in it anyhow. Good luck with yours! Feel free to check out my blog on the (slow) progress I am making!

 

Will do Carlos and when I get a chance, I'll check out your blog. I've been thinking about doing one myself.

 

So after thinking about it a little more, I have two issues with this tranny. There wasn't much fluid in the fill area and somehow water got in.

Aside from powerwashing or something like that, I'm not sure how water could breach the transmission vent, but I'll have to find the vent and inspect it.

My plan now is to clean as much of the mayo out of the case and fill with correct fluid and run the motor then drain. At the same time I will replace the missing clutch lever so I can then check the operation of the tranny.

Sound reasonable?

 

Yes, sounds reasonable. Moisture will get in and do just that if it has not been changed for several years... There's gotta be a vent there some where. If not you would have major leaks at the seals..

Sometimes it's best to take the trap door of to really get into the trans to flush it...

 

 

Doesn't apply, hez running a cowpie tranny.

As mentioned mosture can accumulate from sitting. There is a welch plug at the top of your tranny lid. It is a press fit. If that comes loose, water will easily get in the system. Your best solution is to pull the tranny, take the top off and take a real good look inside to inspect the gears. With that goo coming outr, you may have some rust issues you need to correct.

And I would definitely pull the kicker assembly apart, because from you pic the pin on the gear end does look bent. But is it possible the nut holding it on the shaft is loose and allowing it to move and giving the appearance of it being bent?

 

There are early/late 1979 transmissions ... early ratchet and late "cowpie" right ... The early trans uses the screw listed above while the "cowpie" ( Maytag ) use a hole in the ratchet cover ( welch plug) if I remember correctly ???????

 

Thanks guys. I've been reading up about the transmission. Quick question. The bike is in neutral right now. I was able to pull the clutch push rod all the way out. Is that normal?
Thanks

 

we see that quite often drain and re fill done go fixing what really aint broke

and the clutch rod will come out from the right side on that unit YES