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Anyone ever had their transmission Leak from the top cover? I've seen a drop every once in a while coming from my primary but after a short ride today it got much worse. Like 10-12 drops. I know the leak is from the Transmission because I use Red Line.
I feared a shaft seal leak but thought that was unusual because the owner before me installed a Baker DD6 no more than 5 years or 22,000 miles ago.
Looking at it now, I'm not sure where the leak is. As you can see in the picture, fluid is up by the cover. Could this be a gasket issue? (bolts are tight) or does fluid get flung up there from another source?
I had a trans cover leak on my dyna when I first purchased it. With the dyna, the oil reservoir and transmission share the same "housing" but are still separated by a divider. They share the same cover also. And yes, it was the gasket, and yes it was spitting out at me. But, it was engine oil being spit out from the oil return.
The top cover gasket had shrunk from the bike sitting, and the oil return hose fitting in the top cover was positioned perfectly so the return oil would hit something inside the oil reservoir and splash oil right out the gap created between the cover and the reservoir by the shrunken gasket.
I don't think that is your problem but I will say the gasket could have shrunk if it was a paper type like mine. The foam and metal ones don't shrink. I hope a top cover gasket is all it is.
Did you check to see if the fluid is coming out the vent tube? Is it over filled? I would wash that area down really well, let it dry (leaf blower or air hose) and then spray it with some spray foot deodorant, and take for a ride or two checking it often to help narrow down where it is coming from.
At this point, hard to tell if it is a shaft seal leak, I see most of the pink at the gasket area/joint, but also see wetness up high on the inner primary behind the vent tube. So clean and degrease that area and try to locate the specific spot of the leak.
It also looks like the nut for your shifter pawl adjustment is backed out (if I am seeing things correctly)? Usually there is more threads exposed beyond the nut. And, there is a seal behind that nut and that has been known to leak. Here is a thread that will give you a better idea of that seal:
Oil is sneaky stuff and can easily fool us into thinking it came from somewhere else! Is that the end of the breather pipe, to the right of the nut? It's slightly out of focus but looks like a cut reinforced tube. Looks to me as if the oil may be coming out of the end of that tube, as it has crossed from the top cover, to the other side of the primary.
Oil is sneaky stuff and can easily fool us into thinking it came from somewhere else! Is that the end of the breather pipe, to the right of the nut? It's slightly out of focus but looks like a cut reinforced tube. Looks to me as if the oil may be coming out of the end of that tube, as it has crossed from the top cover, to the other side of the primary.
I would have to agree with your assessment.
When riding, and the oil is leaking from the vent tube, it's getting blown back from the wind and making it look like the cover is leaking, when it's not.
the oil looks milky so to me it has water in it, if it does you have too much in the unit and I have seen water in a gear box boil causing blow out leaks
1/2 a quart is all we put in the evo case - maybe that has been changed have not had a evo trans in the shop for work in 4 or 5 years - antiques are keeping me very busy these days
My first thought was it looks like the oil could be coming out of the trans vent tube(hose). The trans top cover is easy enough to R&R to change the gasket.
My FLHS takes approximately 22 oz of transmission gear lube. IIRC, my FSM says 20-24 oz, so it's not an exact amount. Depends on a number of things. Does the new gearset take up more space, and thereby putting the same amount of as a 5 speed overfill it?
When doing a trans lube change, I always start at 20 oz, then add until it is correct on the dipstick.
I did check to see if I over filled the transmission and it's down to the Add line when cold. I just changed the fluid a couple days ago so that was my first suspicion.
GRBrown, yes that is the vent tube. The chrome transmission cover doesn't have any t fluid splashed on top so a ruled out blow out from the vent tube.
I'll take the advice and clean up the area then throw some power in the area to see where leak is.
One odd thing I noticed is the fluid is two colors. Redline in transmission but the leaked fluid has some black in it. Could just be mixing with gunk in the bottom of tike. Pretty nasty on the bottom.
Check the vent tube for restrictions as well, wasps think it is the perfect home.
Doubt it's wasps being in North Dakota. There not out yet but checking the vent tube is a great idea. Might check the tube then rubber band a balloon at the end to see if that's how I'm losing the fluid.
Also, since I have your DD6 would that have an impact on the fluid capacity?
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Transmission Leak Question 96: Road King
