Tranny Dipstick Broken Off
We made those one piece dipsticks so that wouldn't happen. Yes they are aluminum, when did you buy this transmission? It has a 5 year/50,000 mile warranty so if something is F'd up it may still be under warranty.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 3,715
From: Hill Country, TX
I drained the transmission fluid tonight into a clear plastic container. Absolutely no aluminum pieces or particles visible to the naked eye. Fluid color was normal. Strike one.
Pulled the side cover off immediately after I drained the oil. It was clean inside. Not a trace of aluminum pieces or particles. I mean nothing. Strike two.
I'm pretty much baffled at this point. Not a trace of the stem, and I haven't heard any strange noises coming from the tranny at any time. It has performed perfectly ever since day one. Where the hell did that piece go?
The only other possibility I'm entertaining is my friend that filled and checked the level on the tranny for the last oil change. I'm reaching at straws here, and it's a long shot...but I actually hoping that he maybe dropped the dipstick, snapped the stem off...then didn't bother to tell me. I honestly can't imagine him doing that, but I'll ask him.
Looking at the close up picture of the dipstick, it looks like it sheared off, definitely not cut.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
I bought the transmission in November 2012.
I drained the transmission fluid tonight into a clear plastic container. Absolutely no aluminum pieces or particles visible to the naked eye. Fluid color was normal. Strike one.
Pulled the side cover off immediately after I drained the oil. It was clean inside. Not a trace of aluminum pieces or particles. I mean nothing. Strike two.
I'm pretty much baffled at this point. Not a trace of the stem, and I haven't heard any strange noises coming from the tranny at any time. It has performed perfectly ever since day one. Where the hell did that piece go?
The only other possibility I'm entertaining is my friend that filled and checked the level on the tranny for the last oil change. I'm reaching at straws here, and it's a long shot...but I actually hoping that he maybe dropped the dipstick, snapped the stem off...then didn't bother to tell me. I honestly can't imagine him doing that, but I'll ask him.
Looking at the close up picture of the dipstick, it looks like it sheared off, definitely not cut.
I drained the transmission fluid tonight into a clear plastic container. Absolutely no aluminum pieces or particles visible to the naked eye. Fluid color was normal. Strike one.
Pulled the side cover off immediately after I drained the oil. It was clean inside. Not a trace of aluminum pieces or particles. I mean nothing. Strike two.
I'm pretty much baffled at this point. Not a trace of the stem, and I haven't heard any strange noises coming from the tranny at any time. It has performed perfectly ever since day one. Where the hell did that piece go?
The only other possibility I'm entertaining is my friend that filled and checked the level on the tranny for the last oil change. I'm reaching at straws here, and it's a long shot...but I actually hoping that he maybe dropped the dipstick, snapped the stem off...then didn't bother to tell me. I honestly can't imagine him doing that, but I'll ask him.
Looking at the close up picture of the dipstick, it looks like it sheared off, definitely not cut.
I vote for the above.
I don't see how a dipstick could get ground up without a trace.
Not to mention that I can't think of anything that could grind it up under the side cover.
It would have to get back into the gears somehow and I just don't see how it could.
I bought the transmission in November 2012.
I drained the transmission fluid tonight into a clear plastic container. Absolutely no aluminum pieces or particles visible to the naked eye. Fluid color was normal. Strike one.
Pulled the side cover off immediately after I drained the oil. It was clean inside. Not a trace of aluminum pieces or particles. I mean nothing. Strike two.
I'm pretty much baffled at this point. Not a trace of the stem, and I haven't heard any strange noises coming from the tranny at any time. It has performed perfectly ever since day one. Where the hell did that piece go?
The only other possibility I'm entertaining is my friend that filled and checked the level on the tranny for the last oil change. I'm reaching at straws here, and it's a long shot...but I actually hoping that he maybe dropped the dipstick, snapped the stem off...then didn't bother to tell me. I honestly can't imagine him doing that, but I'll ask him.
Looking at the close up picture of the dipstick, it looks like it sheared off, definitely not cut.
I drained the transmission fluid tonight into a clear plastic container. Absolutely no aluminum pieces or particles visible to the naked eye. Fluid color was normal. Strike one.
Pulled the side cover off immediately after I drained the oil. It was clean inside. Not a trace of aluminum pieces or particles. I mean nothing. Strike two.
I'm pretty much baffled at this point. Not a trace of the stem, and I haven't heard any strange noises coming from the tranny at any time. It has performed perfectly ever since day one. Where the hell did that piece go?
The only other possibility I'm entertaining is my friend that filled and checked the level on the tranny for the last oil change. I'm reaching at straws here, and it's a long shot...but I actually hoping that he maybe dropped the dipstick, snapped the stem off...then didn't bother to tell me. I honestly can't imagine him doing that, but I'll ask him.
Looking at the close up picture of the dipstick, it looks like it sheared off, definitely not cut.
When you get a chance give me a call and I'll get you a new dipstick coming. It's still under warranty so if you want you can send it in and we'll go through it. Just give me a call and I'll get you a return number.
Last edited by corliss@bakerdrivetrain.com; Sep 16, 2016 at 03:48 PM.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
There is a hole in the bottom of the bearing door that it can get through. Now if it go chewed up by the gears then you would see traces of it in the oil. If you seen no evidence of this then it may be laying in the bottom of the case.
When you get a chance give me a call and I'll get you a new dipstick coming. It's still under warranty so if you want you can send it in and we'll go through it. Just give me a call and I'll get you a return number.
When you get a chance give me a call and I'll get you a new dipstick coming. It's still under warranty so if you want you can send it in and we'll go through it. Just give me a call and I'll get you a return number.
I would think it would take a significant amount of lateral force to break one off.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 3,715
From: Hill Country, TX
I talked to my friend this morning, and he told me he cut the dipstick. He said he got sidetracked and forgot to mention it to me. Arrrrrrghhhh!! The first thing that I wanted to do was to beat him with a blunt object, but I like the guy, and I forgive him. All it cost me was a few more gray hairs, and a couple of bucks for the side door gasket.
I mentioned before that the dipstick stem looked like it was sheared off, but if you look real close at the close up picture you can just barely see an indentation made by the dykes below the point where the stem detached. Maybe the pressure from the dykes didn't make a clean cut that high up on the stem, and the pressure created the appearance of a shear.
Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions. Thanks Mark@Baker Drivetrain for the new dipstick offer, but I'm keeping the cut one. I'll buy a new one to keep in my toolbox if I need to check the tranny level. Whew...I'm relieved!
Bingo! Mystery solved!!
I talked to my friend this morning, and he told me he cut the dipstick. He said he got sidetracked and forgot to mention it to me. Arrrrrrghhhh!! The first thing that I wanted to do was to beat him with a blunt object, but I like the guy, and I forgive him. All it cost me was a few more gray hairs, and a couple of bucks for the side door gasket.
I mentioned before that the dipstick stem looked like it was sheared off, but if you look real close at the close up picture you can just barely see an indentation made by the dykes below the point where the stem detached. Maybe the pressure from the dykes didn't make a clean cut that high up on the stem, and the pressure created the appearance of a shear.
Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions. Thanks Mark@Baker Drivetrain for the new dipstick offer, but I'm keeping the cut one. I'll buy a new one to keep in my toolbox if I need to check the tranny level. Whew...I'm relieved!
I talked to my friend this morning, and he told me he cut the dipstick. He said he got sidetracked and forgot to mention it to me. Arrrrrrghhhh!! The first thing that I wanted to do was to beat him with a blunt object, but I like the guy, and I forgive him. All it cost me was a few more gray hairs, and a couple of bucks for the side door gasket.
I mentioned before that the dipstick stem looked like it was sheared off, but if you look real close at the close up picture you can just barely see an indentation made by the dykes below the point where the stem detached. Maybe the pressure from the dykes didn't make a clean cut that high up on the stem, and the pressure created the appearance of a shear.
Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions. Thanks Mark@Baker Drivetrain for the new dipstick offer, but I'm keeping the cut one. I'll buy a new one to keep in my toolbox if I need to check the tranny level. Whew...I'm relieved!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,183
Likes: 2,131
From: W. Texas
Ya know this was coming WHY
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,062
Likes: 4,547
From: Haslet Texas
Why would he cut the dipstick???
Whatever the reason I wouldn't let him touch my bike again if his answer to something is to cut it off!!!!!!!!!!!
