Oil leak from primary
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From: USA
Oil leak from primary
I have a 99 dyna wide glide that sat in a shed for 5 years. I am in the process of restoring it. When I first got it, i moved it some and it did not leak oil from the primary. After going through all the gears and moving the bike back and forth to free up any possible stuck clutch plates, the primary has started to leak. It appears its coming from somewhere high behind the primary cover and leaking down, forming a drip on the drain plug. I have primary oil from harley but have not changed it yet. Is there an additive i can add to possibly help with the leak? Im hopeful that once i get some heat into the bike from riding it, maybe the seal will swell some and it will leak less or stop completely. Thanks!!
Last edited by 99DWG; Feb 11, 2018 at 11:30 PM.
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Novice
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From: USA
Im pretty sure its coming up from behind the primary. If it was the primary gasket I would not have made this thread. Ive already put a good bit of money into the bike with more to be spent (needs new tires) so im really just trying to see if i can put off replacing the seal for later down the road. Im not sure this is something i want to tackle myself and would probably pay someone to do the work. Ive cleaned it really well and it becomes moist with oil again behind the primary so im thinking at this point the fix is not simple 
Last edited by 99DWG; Feb 12, 2018 at 11:22 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Good chance sitting, a little corrision on the main shaft where it comes thru may have nicked the seal. Unless you had planned on pulling the primary cover, just ignore it for now.
Throw some new Harley's Formula+ in the transmission and primary. Some 15W-50 Mobile 1 in the engine. Suck all the fuel from the tank and new midgrade or premium fuel in it and see how it does.
Then make sure if it is bad enough to mess with it and exactly where it is coming from.
What you described sounds like the back seal. So outer cover, clutch hub and compensator with primary chain and inner cover need to come off. Do not pull all that unless you really need to.
Throw some new Harley's Formula+ in the transmission and primary. Some 15W-50 Mobile 1 in the engine. Suck all the fuel from the tank and new midgrade or premium fuel in it and see how it does.
Then make sure if it is bad enough to mess with it and exactly where it is coming from.
What you described sounds like the back seal. So outer cover, clutch hub and compensator with primary chain and inner cover need to come off. Do not pull all that unless you really need to.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Feb 12, 2018 at 11:33 AM.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 18
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From: USA
Good chance sitting, a little corrision on the main shaft where it comes thru may have nicked the seal. Unless you had planned on pulling the primary cover, just ignore it for now.
Throw some new Harley's Formula+ in the transmission and primary. Some 15W-50 Mobile 1 in the engine. Suck all the fuel from the tank and new midgrade or premium fuel in it and see how it does.
Then make sure if it is bad enough to mess with it and exactly where it is coming from.
What you described sounds like the back seal. So outer cover, clutch hub and compensator with primary chain and inner cover need to come off. Do not pull all that unless you really need to.
Throw some new Harley's Formula+ in the transmission and primary. Some 15W-50 Mobile 1 in the engine. Suck all the fuel from the tank and new midgrade or premium fuel in it and see how it does.
Then make sure if it is bad enough to mess with it and exactly where it is coming from.
What you described sounds like the back seal. So outer cover, clutch hub and compensator with primary chain and inner cover need to come off. Do not pull all that unless you really need to.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: South Carolina
You are not going to cure the leak by using any type lube or additive.
Nothing catastrophic is going on, I agree with the previous posters, no problem riding this way for a while.
It really doesn`t matter where the leak is coming from, because if you decide to fix it you will be removing the inner and outer primary cover and at that point you might as well replace all seals in that area.
Nothing catastrophic is going on, I agree with the previous posters, no problem riding this way for a while.
It really doesn`t matter where the leak is coming from, because if you decide to fix it you will be removing the inner and outer primary cover and at that point you might as well replace all seals in that area.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
C
i have the bike running (ill post a log of everything ive had to fix) and im tackling this issue next. I have not changed the primary oil yet but will soon. Would putting a thicker oil in the primary that what is recommended help with this issue? If so what is advisable? Thanks!
Use what is recommended by Harley and you won't go wrong. Use nondetergent gear oil Formula +. The clutch would not like thicker.
I am sure if you were not keeping it that you could put one of those witches brew sealers that you can get for power steering or automatic transmission will soften that input seal for a while. Then replace oil with proper fluid.
What concerns me is just how soft it will make it and you may suddenly have a huge leak.
I have three different grades of Dupont silcon grease. All the tubes are green. One is a o-ring lubricant, one is a o-ring softer for static o-ring seal applications and the other is a dialectic. I was not paying attention when rebuilding a Moen kitchen faucet and I lube all the o-ring with that softener. Within a month, you could hardly turn the faucet. Pulled it apart and the o-rings where like soft rubber bands and 30% bigger.
i have the bike running (ill post a log of everything ive had to fix) and im tackling this issue next. I have not changed the primary oil yet but will soon. Would putting a thicker oil in the primary that what is recommended help with this issue? If so what is advisable? Thanks!
I am sure if you were not keeping it that you could put one of those witches brew sealers that you can get for power steering or automatic transmission will soften that input seal for a while. Then replace oil with proper fluid.
What concerns me is just how soft it will make it and you may suddenly have a huge leak.
I have three different grades of Dupont silcon grease. All the tubes are green. One is a o-ring lubricant, one is a o-ring softer for static o-ring seal applications and the other is a dialectic. I was not paying attention when rebuilding a Moen kitchen faucet and I lube all the o-ring with that softener. Within a month, you could hardly turn the faucet. Pulled it apart and the o-rings where like soft rubber bands and 30% bigger.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Feb 12, 2018 at 06:25 PM.
Stage I
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: CA
Same issue here
I have a 99 dyna wide glide that sat in a shed for 5 years. I am in the process of restoring it. When I first got it, i moved it some and it did not leak oil from the primary. After going through all the gears and moving the bike back and forth to free up any possible stuck clutch plates, the primary has started to leak. It appears its coming from somewhere high behind the primary cover and leaking down, forming a drip on the drain plug. I have primary oil from harley but have not changed it yet. Is there an additive i can add to possibly help with the leak? Im hopeful that once i get some heat into the bike from riding it, maybe the seal will swell some and it will leak less or stop completely. Thanks!!