2014-2024 Touring Models This Section Is For Rushmore and Gen 1 M8 Touring models from 2014 to 2024
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Leaking primary drain bolt

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 06:45 AM
  #1  
steveh326's Avatar
steveh326
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,548
Likes: 163
From: Mt. Airy, MD
Default Leaking primary drain bolt

is gonna be the death of me.

I have changed my primary fluid on this bike 4 times before, never an issue. this time, for some reason, the drain bolt will not seal. I have replaced the O ring multiple times, used Hylomar, regular thread sealer, and even teflon tape, and it still leaks.I swear it must be coming from someplace else, but I don't see any wet spots anywhere else.

Has anyone ever used an automotive drain bolt with a crush washer on this hole? I am running out of ideas...
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 06:52 AM
  #2  
Rounders's Avatar
Rounders
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,245
Likes: 3,679
From: backwoods
Default

Are you sure it is not coming down from seal above it?
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 07:06 AM
  #3  
steveh326's Avatar
steveh326
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,548
Likes: 163
From: Mt. Airy, MD
Default

Originally Posted by Rounders
Are you sure it is not coming down from seal above it?
you mean from the derby cover gasket? it doesn't seem to be, but I have a couple spares, will change that today to be sure
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 07:08 AM
  #4  
Rounders's Avatar
Rounders
Seasoned HDF Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,245
Likes: 3,679
From: backwoods
Default

No from the seal on the shaft going into to your primary that has a seal, that can drip down to that area. I reuse the derby oring for decades.
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 07:50 AM
  #5  
Rogue1's Avatar
Rogue1
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 704
From: Ramseur NC
Default

Originally Posted by Rounders
Are you sure it is not coming down from seal above it?
Or perhaps a small crack in the thread area of the drain plug.
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 01:08 PM
  #6  
VortecCPI's Avatar
VortecCPI
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 768
Likes: 430
From: CLT NC
Default

Originally Posted by Rounders
No from the seal on the shaft going into to your primary that has a seal, that can drip down to that area. I reuse the derby oring for decades.
That's exactly what mine does. Runs down the back and drips from the drain plug.
 
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2024 | 02:25 PM
  #7  
RG Pilot's Avatar
RG Pilot
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 320
From: Vancouver, WA
Default

I had that on a Deuce that I had. Really looked like it was coming from the drain plug, but it was the shaft seal.
 
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 06:48 AM
  #8  
steveh326's Avatar
steveh326
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,548
Likes: 163
From: Mt. Airy, MD
Default

thanks everyone. I think the folks talking about weeping out of the shaft seal were right. I was trying a new primary fluid that was much thinner than my normal primary oil. I think it was just too thin and weeping past the seal. Anyways, I changed back to my normal primary fluid, went for a ride, and dry as a bone. Weird I know, but thats what it seems to have been
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 26, 2024 | 10:14 AM
  #9  
Two Lane Tramp's Avatar
Two Lane Tramp
Road Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 394
From: Bass Lake
Default

I spent a fortune chasing that same leak. Shaft seal. Looked like it was drain plug. Never could resolve it. I wish now that I had just lived with it.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CBCanada
EVO
21
Jul 25, 2016 01:17 PM
Yankee Dog
EVO
5
Jun 11, 2015 01:36 PM
hfdarson1
Touring Models
11
May 10, 2010 08:04 AM
kraig205
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
2
Apr 30, 2008 04:05 PM
blackfinbob
Dyna Glide Models
37
Aug 1, 2006 10:33 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:32 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE