Inner Primary Seal Leaking again...
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2012
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Inner Primary Seal Leaking again...
I know the oil leak problem has been talked about already, I searched....
I have a 02 FXST with aprox 16000 miles. The inner primary seal started leaking so I replaced it, got it all back together and the new seal still leaks, not as bad as the original but its still leaking. I tore it back down to verify that the oil was coming from the IPS and yes it is. The seal looks brand new with no visible flaws...Can somebody point me in the next direction please?
I have a 02 FXST with aprox 16000 miles. The inner primary seal started leaking so I replaced it, got it all back together and the new seal still leaks, not as bad as the original but its still leaking. I tore it back down to verify that the oil was coming from the IPS and yes it is. The seal looks brand new with no visible flaws...Can somebody point me in the next direction please?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 421
Likes: 4
From: Alabama
Yep, as Dan said, primary bearing race. Probably nothing wrong with your original seal. Likely the race (which is pressed-fitted onto main shaft) walked outboard toward the end of the shaft, opening gap between race & seal allowing leak. You have at least 3 options: (1) replace bearing race & bearing with HD oem set; (2) replace bearing with HD oem & replace race with non-walking S&S race; (3) replace separate bearing & race with one-piece sealed bearing/race upgrade from All ***** or Baker. Exact same thing happened to me on '04 Dyna, I did (3). No regrets.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
On my '86 Tour Glide
There's other factors in that same area that might be the actual contributor to your issue. There is a seal between the input / output mainshaft from the transmission which was the culprit with my the first tear down this spring. Even a new inner primary bearing and seal was put in.
Upon reassembly the brand new inner seal went. Turned out, according to the mechanic working on it, he nicked that new seal without knowing it. The contact of the seal is over the race. The race's edge has a sharp edge where the seal slides over the race. It's a tight fit and can displace the seal's rubber, or minutely slice into the seal leading to the leak.
Some lubrication can help, and often a small amount of grease on the contact areas can allow it to slide over the race without distorting it.
Keep in mind that inner primary seal is installed reverse to all other seals you've ever put in. It faces the inner primary to hold fluid in the primary. Many have put it in backwords. I believe the front of the seal has a marking that states "oil side".
The reason I took it to a mechanic was to get it right the first time .... which didn't happen. The 4th time apart was what it took to get it right.
I had done the inner seal after a tranny job last year and it held up until the tranny's I/O shaft seal failed. Then it became one problem after another. They reused the new primary gasket a second time for the last tear down and the ONLY leak is some weeping out that seal. I'm going to get a better primary gasket than they used and change it out. I prefer my bike without any leaks, even a drop after a long ride ticks me off.
Best wishes having to dig into it again.
Upon reassembly the brand new inner seal went. Turned out, according to the mechanic working on it, he nicked that new seal without knowing it. The contact of the seal is over the race. The race's edge has a sharp edge where the seal slides over the race. It's a tight fit and can displace the seal's rubber, or minutely slice into the seal leading to the leak.
Some lubrication can help, and often a small amount of grease on the contact areas can allow it to slide over the race without distorting it.
Keep in mind that inner primary seal is installed reverse to all other seals you've ever put in. It faces the inner primary to hold fluid in the primary. Many have put it in backwords. I believe the front of the seal has a marking that states "oil side".
The reason I took it to a mechanic was to get it right the first time .... which didn't happen. The 4th time apart was what it took to get it right.
I had done the inner seal after a tranny job last year and it held up until the tranny's I/O shaft seal failed. Then it became one problem after another. They reused the new primary gasket a second time for the last tear down and the ONLY leak is some weeping out that seal. I'm going to get a better primary gasket than they used and change it out. I prefer my bike without any leaks, even a drop after a long ride ticks me off.
Best wishes having to dig into it again.
Last edited by JohnnyC; May 18, 2012 at 07:21 AM.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2012
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Ok the next chapter...
Went back in, changed everything (Bearings, races, seals, gaskets) checked for play in the main shaft (Normal), no visible damage to the inner primary or any other parts inside....
Put everything back together using the Upmost care and ran the engine for a few minutes to get it warm and let it sit over night and the leak is still there coming from the inner primary mainshaft seal....
Im getting frustrated now....
next??? anyone??? please???
Went back in, changed everything (Bearings, races, seals, gaskets) checked for play in the main shaft (Normal), no visible damage to the inner primary or any other parts inside....
Put everything back together using the Upmost care and ran the engine for a few minutes to get it warm and let it sit over night and the leak is still there coming from the inner primary mainshaft seal....
Im getting frustrated now....
next??? anyone??? please???
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2012
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Took it apart last night for the 5 time and finally found the problem....seems the small seal between the inner and outer main shaft coming out of the tranny is the culprit....when I loosened the rear drive belt there is a little play in the main shaft that the drive pully is mounted on. The main inner shaft (the one that the clutch is mounted on) has no play what so ever! From what I am reading looks like I am going to be replacing the main drive bearing and seals in the tranny....
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Seems to be the same issue I just wrote about (see earleir post above).
I had just had the tranny overhauled including the bearings and seals when mine went after several hundred miles later. It sucked because it allows the tranny to drain out much of it's fluid even when just parked.
I also asked if there was a reason this occurred that needed servicing and my mechanic said no. I'm concerned about the I/O shaft wobbling inside each other damaging the seal too!
Good news is after 500 miles in the past week it's staying sealed. Still need to put in a fresh primary gasket to stop a pesky seeping drip.
Let us know whether you do the tranny bearing repair as a preventive measure, or risk putting in just the seal (like my situation). I swear if that same seal goes again soon I will take a look at the associated tranny bearing.
I also asked if there was a reason this occurred that needed servicing and my mechanic said no. I'm concerned about the I/O shaft wobbling inside each other damaging the seal too!
Good news is after 500 miles in the past week it's staying sealed. Still need to put in a fresh primary gasket to stop a pesky seeping drip.
Let us know whether you do the tranny bearing repair as a preventive measure, or risk putting in just the seal (like my situation). I swear if that same seal goes again soon I will take a look at the associated tranny bearing.
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Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2012
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Drained the trans oil last night and it had a silverish film in the oil as it drained. I am a little leary about the tranny bearings now, my HD parts guy told me that not only do I suspect the main big bearing, the needle bearings inside the shaft are the ones that are worn which is why the outer shaft has the play on the inner shaft...the inner main shaft has no play what so ever.
As far as the fix, I found a "take off" tranny with less than 2000 miles on it for less money than I can buy the special tools needed to fix mine, even has the drive pully still on it.
Looks like I will be changing the transmission out soon... :-)
As far as the fix, I found a "take off" tranny with less than 2000 miles on it for less money than I can buy the special tools needed to fix mine, even has the drive pully still on it.
Looks like I will be changing the transmission out soon... :-)