Leaks from Primary?
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 934
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From: Alberta
Leaks from Primary?
My bike leaks oil if I have it resting on the Jiffy stand, but stays dry if I have it upright in a wheel chock. It is a 2007 FXD that has forward controls. The mid controls were replaced about 1,000 miles ago and no problems until a five hour ride about 75 miles ago.
I have changed out the primary gasket and replaced the tower gasket on the inner primary along with the derby cover. I cannot see where the oil is coming from underneath or behind the primary, but thought with the clue that it only leaks when it is on the jiffy stand may help isolate the area to focus on to find and repair the leak.
Has anybody had a similar problem? Any ideas of what I should do?
I have changed out the primary gasket and replaced the tower gasket on the inner primary along with the derby cover. I cannot see where the oil is coming from underneath or behind the primary, but thought with the clue that it only leaks when it is on the jiffy stand may help isolate the area to focus on to find and repair the leak.
Has anybody had a similar problem? Any ideas of what I should do?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 57
From: N Texas
Kinda doubt the primary gasket or tower gasket would be the problem. Thinking the inner primary bearing/seal, transmission area(main drive gear seal) or maybe the crankcase gasket.
Really need to find out exactly where the leak is coming from. Might have to get underneath the bike with a flashlight and start investigating. Some guys recommend using dye to determine if it is from the primary or transmission. Once you nail down where and which fluid is leaking then you can move forward.
Really need to find out exactly where the leak is coming from. Might have to get underneath the bike with a flashlight and start investigating. Some guys recommend using dye to determine if it is from the primary or transmission. Once you nail down where and which fluid is leaking then you can move forward.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 799
Likes: 25
From: Milan,Tennessee
When I can't find a leak I get some UV dye from autozone..or local parts store. .put a little in primary ride it get it hot..then look at it with a black light..if not primary it could be the shifter shift seal..put a Lil in Trans and do same thing..
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
Using a small inspection mirror and good flashlight look at the shift shaft going into the trans. Also check the level of your trans fluid, if its too high it could be migrating past the shift shaft seal when on the jiffy stand. I try to keep my fluid about just above the add mark on the trans dipstick.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,132
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From: Garland, TX
I have the same year and model bike. I had a leak from the shift shaft seal. I had to lay on my back on the right side and slide my head under there and could only see it if I pointed a flashlight under there around where the shift shaft goes into the transmission.
I'm betting shifter shaft seal too (where the shaft goes into the transmission/gearbox, behind the primary).
Using a bright light and looking down over the primary with an inspection mirror should show any oil leak from it fairly clearly.
It split and started leaking on mine at 20,000 miles or so. Try checking the tranny oil level first, as suggested above, it could be too high which could cause a leak when leaned over. It's a tiny part, only worth a couple of bucks, but need to remove the whole primary to get at it...
Using a bright light and looking down over the primary with an inspection mirror should show any oil leak from it fairly clearly.
It split and started leaking on mine at 20,000 miles or so. Try checking the tranny oil level first, as suggested above, it could be too high which could cause a leak when leaned over. It's a tiny part, only worth a couple of bucks, but need to remove the whole primary to get at it...
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From: Honah Lee
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Road Master
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Garland, TX
I had a warped derby cover on mine that caused it to leak.