When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
i have a 2017 SGS. On two separate occasions, I have discovered a a very small oil leak that travels in a line, approximately 10 inches. It does not happen after riding; in fact, I have noticed the oil about a week after the last ride.
I have looked under the engine, and I dont see a source for the leak. The amount of oil oil is minimal- it wipes up with a single paper towel.
Any thoughts on the cause? Thank you.
Last edited by dkleiner; Dec 14, 2018 at 10:40 PM.
The clutch cable o-ring isn't sealing. The oil will "travel" along the clutch cable housing to it's lowest point, then drip. Check to see if your clutch cable housing is oily. It may likely be underneath the engine cases.
Also, different oils have different odors. Engine oil is different than trans/primary oil. Unless you use the same oil in all 3 holes...
My guess would be residual oil caught in the oil cooler cover after servicing. When changing the oil filter oil will run down the front of the engine and gather in the cover.
The clutch cable o-ring isn't sealing. The oil will "travel" along the clutch cable housing to it's lowest point, then drip. Check to see if your clutch cable housing is oily. It may likely be underneath the engine cases.
Also, different oils have different odors. Engine oil is different than trans/primary oil. Unless you use the same oil in all 3 holes...
Norty, I have seen what you are saying many times before, but the OP'S bike is a 2017 with a hydraulic clutch.
Clean/degrease the engine (thoroughly), check all fluid levels, take bike for a ride & see if it repeats. Then, if so, look for the point-of-origin. Your pics just show the run-off, but not where it's leaking.
My guess would be residual oil caught in the oil cooler cover after servicing. When changing the oil filter oil will run down the front of the engine and gather in the cover.
The clutch cable o-ring isn't sealing. The oil will "travel" along the clutch cable housing to it's lowest point, then drip. Check to see if your clutch cable housing is oily. It may likely be underneath the engine cases.
Also, different oils have different odors. Engine oil is different than trans/primary oil. Unless you use the same oil in all 3 holes...
Clutch and cable is on the other side. AND it's a hydraulic unit.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.