Trans issue?
Just did a few suspension upgrades on my 93 ultra classic this weekend and when I went to take it out for a ride today I noticed a different issue. While in the garage for the suspension stuff, I did a fluid change and swapped out the non working enrichener (choke) cable.
I started up the bike this morning and let it warm up in the garage for about 15 minutes. I noticed that the idle was a little high about 15-1700 rpms, so I adjusted it slightly and brought it back down to about 1000. While adjusting that I noticed that there was about a 4” circle of trans fluid on the ground underneath the bike. Upon further inspection, thinking that maybe the drain plug was not seated all the way, I found that it appears the fluid came from the vent hose that come out of the top of the trans and bends down behind the inner primary by the starter. The hose and the inner primary were wet with fluid in a clear path.
my first question is what could cause this? Second question is what’s the fix. I know there shouldn’t be any pressure in the trans so it should be just blowing out but what could be the issue? I believe I put the correct amount of fluid in to fill it and now it is sitting at the add level on the stick while sitting on the jiffy stand. Any help would be great.
I started up the bike this morning and let it warm up in the garage for about 15 minutes. I noticed that the idle was a little high about 15-1700 rpms, so I adjusted it slightly and brought it back down to about 1000. While adjusting that I noticed that there was about a 4” circle of trans fluid on the ground underneath the bike. Upon further inspection, thinking that maybe the drain plug was not seated all the way, I found that it appears the fluid came from the vent hose that come out of the top of the trans and bends down behind the inner primary by the starter. The hose and the inner primary were wet with fluid in a clear path.
my first question is what could cause this? Second question is what’s the fix. I know there shouldn’t be any pressure in the trans so it should be just blowing out but what could be the issue? I believe I put the correct amount of fluid in to fill it and now it is sitting at the add level on the stick while sitting on the jiffy stand. Any help would be great.
If you have the correct amount of fluid in the tranny according to HD service manual it shouldn't come out of vent, make sure there is no moisture in transmission fluid which there shouldn't be if you just changed it? , more often its transmission seal leaking and splashing oil up there. In some cases the engine crank seal can leak pressurizing the primary passing threw the center hole in the transmission main shaft into the transmission thus pressurizing the transmission
Last edited by mike131; Mar 21, 2021 at 08:06 PM.
I put just under a quart in it. I believe the manual calls for 22-28 oz’s? Something like that. So it was just under a quart. Which was about what I had pulled out of it when I drained it. All the fluids seemed right when I drained them. Nothing had less or more than it should. At least not noticeable at the time.
If you have the correct amount of fluid in the tranny according to HD service manual it shouldn't come out of vent, make sure there is no moisture in transmission fluid which there shouldn't be if you just changed it? , more often its transmission seal leaking and splashing oil up there. In some cases the engine crank seal can leak pressurizing the primary passing threw the center hole in the transmission main shaft into the transmission thus pressurizing the transmission
anyway to test for any of those you mentioned? Without ripping the whole thing apart at least?






