Found something in my transmission drain plug
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: California
Ok kids!! Stopped by the local HD dealer and figured out exactly what clip it is.Its the shift drum shaft clip.I thought the end piece of clip I have looked smaller than the three clips we were looking at on the diagram,but once I had them in my hands I knew for sure it wasn't any of those.I talked to a couple of guys in the service dept and we looked at more blow-ups and figured it out.Wheww...glad to know what it is.So I got a quick question.Can I pull the top tranny cover off without draining the trans? I'll have it level on a jack when I pull it.Thx again for the help!
Last edited by Badillac; Oct 11, 2012 at 02:35 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 574
Likes: 3
From: AB Canada
Ok kids!! Stopped by the local HD dealer and figured out exactly what clip it is.Its the shift drum shaft clip.I thought the end piece of clip I have looked smaller than the three clips we were looking at on the diagram,but once I had them in my hands I knew for sure it wasn't any of those.I talked to a couple of guys in the service dept and we looked at more blow-ups and figured it out.Wheww...glad to know what it is.So I got a quick question.Can I pull the top tranny cover off without draining the trans? I'll have it level on a jack when I pull it.Thx again for the help!
Yes you can pull the top off without losing any fluid, shift drum is easy to pull as well, release the spring for the shift pawl, 4 bolts. I wonder what would have caused that clip to fall, did it break as it fell into the grinder? Is the rest of the clip still in place?
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: California
Spring for shift pawl?? I'm gonna be reading the manual for this one! 
I will post my results as soon as I tear into her to handle it.It looks like some of those bolts are going to be hard to get to any tips?Long T- handled ball ended Allen wrenches perhaps?Or can I pull it off with a ratchet and Allen socket?
I will post my results as soon as I tear into her to handle it.It looks like some of those bolts are going to be hard to get to any tips?Long T- handled ball ended Allen wrenches perhaps?Or can I pull it off with a ratchet and Allen socket?
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 574
Likes: 3
From: AB Canada
Spring for shift pawl?? I'm gonna be reading the manual for this one! I will post my results as soon as I tear into her to handle it.It looks like some of those bolts are going to be hard to get to any tips?Long T- handled ball ended Allen wrenches perhaps?Or can I pull it off with a ratchet and Allen socket?
I will post my results as soon as I tear into her to handle it.It looks like some of those bolts are going to be hard to get to any tips?Long T- handled ball ended Allen wrenches perhaps?Or can I pull it off with a ratchet and Allen socket?
. You might need a combination of all the tools you have...glad to see you have the manual, shouldn't be any surprises.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: California
Well I tried to tackle it myself Monday afternoon with no success!! Between my big *** meat hooks and not having proper tools for the job I.E. a 1/4" drive flex head ratchet to get into the tight space to remove the tranny cover I threw in the towel and took it to my local Indy (who happens to be a world renowned custom builder btw).He had his guy knock it out for me yesterday.Real swell bunch of guys down there.Completely honest and will go the extra mile EVERY TIME! He agreed,never saw that clip break before either!!??!! The rest of the ring was intact mind you,just the end had snapped off as I had suspected.Disaster averted no doubt! Would have sucked to have that steel thrust washer that was being retained by that snap ring drop into my tranny while racking through the gears somewhere down the road!
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: California
Here's a pic of the damaged clip. (Don't mind the hairy appendage) lol...if I had a Nicole for every time I said that one... Lmao
Last edited by Badillac; Oct 17, 2012 at 10:40 PM. Reason: Strictly for pun's sake ;)
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
And there have been many studies concerning oil and how well it protects and when during it's lifecycle it works best.
Studies show that oil protects best after it's been in the crankcase awhile,meaning oil with 3000 miles protects better than oil with 0 miles. Which is why many oem's are spec'ing synthetic oils and longer drain intervals,because a long drain oil,run for 10000 miles equal less wear than changing the oil at 5000 miles twice.
It seems the additive packages in the oils need the combustion by-products to work more effectively,not to mention the dry start at every oil change which obviously wears the engine more than a lubricated start.
So new oil doesn't protect as well as oil that has been broken in.
And filters become more efficient with use,so changing it at 3000 miles actually allows larger sized particles to flow around in the oil than changing it at 10000 miles.
As the filter media filters contaminants those particles fill the holes in the media,thus stopping larger particles from getting through.
So the old days and old ideas no longer apply to this brave new world.
And op,did I read right that you are changing tranny fluid at 4000 miles. That's way too soon and not good return on investment.
The tranny isn't like the engine. It doesn't get dirty or have to absorb combustion by-products so it doesn't need changed that often. In fact if you are using a gear oil like shockproof or severe gear 20000 miles is the minimum.
All the tranny does is shear the fluid,thinning it over time. Shockproof heavy has such a high viscosity index that it's nearly shear-proof,as is Amsoil's severe gear. The additives do not deplete. Similar to an automatic tranny,which really don't need to be changed unless towing alot or over-heating.
The primary should get changed as it gets turned grey. That's the disk material wearing off the clutches,and if not changed,will accelerate the clutch disks wearing out faster due to the abrasiveness of the fluid.
I use rotella t 15w-40 diesel oil in my primary. It's cheap and meets the jaso spec for wet clutches. I change it when I change the oil,sooner if it's grey colored.
The tranny isn't like the engine. It doesn't get dirty or have to absorb combustion by-products so it doesn't need changed that often. In fact if you are using a gear oil like shockproof or severe gear 20000 miles is the minimum.
All the tranny does is shear the fluid,thinning it over time. Shockproof heavy has such a high viscosity index that it's nearly shear-proof,as is Amsoil's severe gear. The additives do not deplete. Similar to an automatic tranny,which really don't need to be changed unless towing alot or over-heating.
The primary should get changed as it gets turned grey. That's the disk material wearing off the clutches,and if not changed,will accelerate the clutch disks wearing out faster due to the abrasiveness of the fluid.
I use rotella t 15w-40 diesel oil in my primary. It's cheap and meets the jaso spec for wet clutches. I change it when I change the oil,sooner if it's grey colored.