While doing a service on my bike some months back, I pulled off the clutch cover and about a third of a quart of oil came out. I made a mental note to keep an eye on it.

I've checked the primary oil level a few times since and everything seemed okay, but after the latest engine oil and filter change, I noticed it was shifting hard like it had when it was overfilled. I pulled the cover and yep, it was overfilled. Somehow, from somewhere, oil is getting into my primary.

A little background: I use the service manual for the 5k and 10k services and fluid levels. The only deviation is that I change the engine oil at 3k miles. The bike is a 2009 FLHTCU with 30630 miles on the odometer.

I suspect a seal is failing behind the stator?

Any suggestions would be welcomed!

 

Is your engine oil level going down? Are you changing the primary oil and checking it upright? If so, how much oil are you putting in?

 

I haven't noticed the engine oil going down, but 6 ounces less in the engine is a lot less noticeable than 6 more in the primary.

Primary oil gets changed when the service calls for it, I do check it with the bike upright on a lift, and I'm adding the called-for 38 fluid ounces of oil, bringing it to the bottom portion of the clutch assembly as indicated by the manual.

 

That's weird. Sounds like you're doing everything right.

 

I'm confident it's not coming from the transmission, and I know I'm not overfilling it, so that only leaves one thing... it's gotta be coming from the engine.

The question is how.

I should also add that the primary gets ridiculously hot, and I don't remember that happening on my Softail.

I need to figure out how to explain this to the shop. I would rather have it fixed under warranty now instead of waiting around for it to completely fail after the warranty has expired.

 

I say get it to the dealership and tell them exactly what you told us. Let us know what they find.

 

Thanks for all the replies, I think NoCoLoco is right, I'll discuss this with the service department and take it from there.

I'll post the outcome.

 

Update:

I talked to the service manager today, he agrees it is probably the crankshaft seal. I have an appointment for next Friday and he says it's covered by the warranty.

 

Seems like it would be a good idea to remove the derby cover before draining the primary fluid. This way a leak might be discovered early on.

 

It's such a good idea they even put it in the manual.