Primary oil level concern
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 237
Likes: 3
From: Kissimmee, FL
Primary oil level concern
So my 2011 Wide Glide was shifting hard into first so I went to adjust the clutch and saw that there was very little oil inside the primary. I filled the primary case again with fresh oil. Should I be worried? I rode is about 1500 miles since I changed all the fluids.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
The ring gear dips way down in the primary. It would sling oil with only half the required amount. Are you sure it was really low. the owner manual sucks on what it shows. It should only be to the edge of the diaphragm spring. It's so hard to really see the proper level, I have a little piece of bent wire to check it. Next time you start it, try pulling in the clutch and push back of the seat pushing the bike back about a foot. It helps to break the dive and driven clutch plates from the oil film that sticks them. It will ease the clunk a lot. If while you do it, and tap the throttle a couple times and one the second as it drops back to idle, hit the shift and it will not clunk at all (most of the time)
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 14, 2018 at 11:09 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Detroit
So my 2011 Wide Glide was shifting hard into first so I went to adjust the clutch and saw that there was very little oil inside the primary. I filled the primary case again with fresh oil. Should I be worried? I rode is about 1500 miles since I changed all the fluids.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Orkney (North of Scotland)
When you drained the oil did you look at the drain plug ? It has a magnet in the middle. It is usual for it to collect a black dust but if it has collected metal chips or flakes that is the time to be concerned.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,789
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From: Hawkeye state
Did you check the oil on the side stand or bike straight up and down. As stated right to bottom of diaphragm spring. Any drops where bike normally sits? Check the trans fluid level and when was it last changed? That would be my concern unless the primary tensioner went bad.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,874
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From: Houston, TX
If you're losing that much oil, and it's not leaking, your crank seal is shot and the bike is sucking primary oil into the crank case. Yes, I know, it sounds like bull ****, because motor pressure should be greater than primary pressure, and if the crank seal was shot, it would be the other way around, but I had this very exact same thing happen to my bike. The PO put the crank seal in backwards. The only reason I noticed this is when I checked my oil on a fuel stop... which I do EVERYTIME I stop for gas, and the damn oil was full of red ATF and right up to the filler neck where the dip stick goes in. Of course mine is an evo and yours is a TC, but... not very different from each other when it comes to the primary. My recommendation is to pop that dip stick and check it.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: sand mountain Alabama
Check your oil level.
My manual says 26oz... on mine. 05 super glide.
If doing by sight make sure it is level not on jiffy stand. The fluid should touch the bottom of the clutch basket. Check you service manual for your bike.
My manual says 26oz... on mine. 05 super glide.
If doing by sight make sure it is level not on jiffy stand. The fluid should touch the bottom of the clutch basket. Check you service manual for your bike.