I got a 18 sport glide and just did 5k service. Primary didn’t leak overnight on jiffy stand but now leaking a little on way to work this morning. Not bad, put little spot after about half hour and oily on primary case Didn’t change and did try to reuse gasket because dealer sold me wrong one. Would I screw anything up majorly running the 20 miles back home. Can’t really check it at work.

 

Since there is no "dipstick" for the primary the only way to know the oil level is by servicing it with the correct amount. Do you have a proper torque wrench? Do you have a service manual? Do you tighten the screws using the proper sequence and values? I have reused gaskets if an inspection of it is OK. Reference your question can you make it home? Probably but only you know if it leaked an excessive amount.

 

I do have service manual and such but the torque spec on the sport glide is only like 40 inlb my torque wrench isn’t that sensitive. It’s possible the we’re over tightened.

 

While not the best tools, I got 3 torque wrenches from Harbor Freight. 1/4", 3/8" 1/2" which cover the ranges of torque I need. Glad you noticed that it is inch pounds not foot pounds. 40 inch pounds is more of a snugging in real life.

 

Snugging is a good way to put it. Without a tq wrench it’s basically seated, then about 1/16th - 1/8th turn with a screw driver. If oil on the stick looks good I’d suggest you’re ok to drive home. Leaks used to be much more common, and seldom were the death of any bike as long as the filler hole was used correctly.

time was if it didn’t leak you might have a problem.

 

The Harbor Freight 3/8" and 1/2" torque wrenches aren't half bad. I connected them to my aviation mechanic's digital block (calibrated per FAA requirements) and those two were remarkably good (when new).

The HF 1/4" is totally useless.

This Tekton 1/4" torque wrench is very good for the money. It's what I use on my carbon street bicycle:

 

If it were my bike I would ride it home and check it there. If your primary oil had all dumped out your back tire would show evidence of oil leakage. Things to watch for on the ride home are clutch action and noise from the primary chain and the compensator sprocket.

 

Going to work, thought I smelled something burning going over expressway, but when about a mile from the late (I drive semi locally) I smelled it again so probably not the bike. I have the wrong gasket the dealer sold me and will exchange it later, in car and will probably dump primary and trans oil anyway now. If I get the right load, the dealer isn’t far from one customer we deliver to on occasion. On way to work, when bike was cold, neutral was a little difficult to find but as warmed up, it slipped right in. Clutch seemed normal, still more free play than I’d like personally but with new clutch cable, I guess that can’t be changed.

 

Actually you can make adjustments at the new cable. Just change where you snap the clip into the yellow doohicky.

 

Stop... that is absurd.

You don`t need a dipstick to check fluid level in the primary drive....

The proper level for primary lube is just touching the outside diameter of the clutch shell when bike is upright.

OP: you will be fine riding it home, just check the level and replace the gasket.

Primary Lube Level, this level is correct for all big twins since mid `84.