Talked to the service manager at my dealers today. He is a smart and honest guy. Asked about the transmission fluid transfer issue. He admitted they had seen some issues and that Harley was having them install a new crank output seal. That part isnt news. But he said what Harley had found was that the seals had not been installed correctly at the factory and it was allowing a vacuum to be created in the primary. Make of it what you will. I am not knowledgeable enough about it to comment. Just passing it along as I had not heard that explanation before.

 

I'd love to hear more about this, anyone hear this ?

 

So, it seems that the tranny doesn't blow, the primary sucks.

 

This make a lot of sense.. Now you know why some repairs still fail.. Instead of looking that the manual the mechanic installed the seal the same way the old one came out..

 

Mine is getting a seal as we speak, BUT NO NEW SPACER. When I questioned that, the service manager told me the spacer was on BO until mid-October. He and I concurred that I should try it this way and they would tear into it again later if need be. Already layed
up for two weeks waiting for the damn seal.

 

 

Agreed. I wonder if Mr. Cole has checked into that yet? I've had mine into the shop to document the issue, as beyond checking levels they did nothing with it... My copy of the RO stated that after contacting HD the concern was unfounded and that some migration is considered normal.

Right.

 

OP, please continue to update this thread. Be interesting to know if it's actually a realistic problem/fix.

 

If the installer is careful and makes sure that the seal don't fold over and not get damaged, my bet is you're set..

 

Steve Cole said that his local dealer was told by the MOCO to replace the seal and sent a new spacer out which was chamfered on one side (presumably to not cut into the gasket). This did NOT fix the transfer issue. This was about 3 weeks ago I think. Since then we have heard from multiple sources that those new spacers are all back ordered till late Sept. or October. So things are pretty much at a standstill until they can get more spacers out to the dealers so they can guinea pig those bikes sitting in the shops. In my mind the latest MOCO fix is a bit of a stretch. I think Mr. Cole even said he felt the problem was in the transmission, not the primary. Just having a vacuum in the primary alone is not going to raise the fluid up high enough in the transmission to suck it through the clutch push rod. Something else is elevating the fluid. Perhaps someone else knows more and can enlighten us with the latest.