Inner Primary and Race possible leaking
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 61
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From: San Diego
Inner Primary and Race possible leaking
Hi I have an oil leak coming from my primary cover or my primary race bearing. After i run the bike there is small amount of oil that leaks by my primary bearing area. I dont have the tool to remove the race bearing, so looking at the back of my crankcase i really dont see any oil near by the bearing area but a little further down. Do you think i can get away with just replacing the seal on the primary bearing. I checked the bearing and it moves freely per the manual so i dont think it is going bad. do you guys think the bearing is leaking? \
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 421
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From: Alabama
Bearing doesn't leak. Only the seal (or a gasket) leaks. Question is why? If it leaks only cause the seal is bad or damaged, then yea replacing the seal alone should buy you some time. If it leaked cause the primary bearing race moved/walked on the tranny output shaft, then replacing the seal alone will not stop the leak.
You should inspect that race very carefully to make sure the surface is in good shape and it has not moved outboard opening a gap between the seal & the race. That seems to be the most common cause for primary lube leakage. Not seal failure.
You should inspect that race very carefully to make sure the surface is in good shape and it has not moved outboard opening a gap between the seal & the race. That seems to be the most common cause for primary lube leakage. Not seal failure.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
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From: san antonio
First thing you need to determine is whether the leak is from the trans or from the primary chain case. If you are certain that the leak is from the primary chain case, replacing the seal may address the issue. If that is the route you choose, there are two precautions you shoud take:
1. make sure you install the seal correctly; many times that seal has been installed backwards.
2. protect the seal when installling the inner primary; use the plastic sleeve or some duct tape. The mainshaft splines are very sharp and minimal contact with the seal will nick the seal and it will leak from the jump.
As has been suggested, you need to take a close look at the IPB. The IPB usually walks in toward the trans (not out toward the primary) and damages the mainshaft/5th gear seal which will result in a leak from the trans. If the leak is from the trans and you replace the IPB seal, you will still have a leak. So, best be sure where the leak is coming from before you start the repair.
Post a good photo of the IPB race and we can probably tell if you should replace it.
1. make sure you install the seal correctly; many times that seal has been installed backwards.
2. protect the seal when installling the inner primary; use the plastic sleeve or some duct tape. The mainshaft splines are very sharp and minimal contact with the seal will nick the seal and it will leak from the jump.
As has been suggested, you need to take a close look at the IPB. The IPB usually walks in toward the trans (not out toward the primary) and damages the mainshaft/5th gear seal which will result in a leak from the trans. If the leak is from the trans and you replace the IPB seal, you will still have a leak. So, best be sure where the leak is coming from before you start the repair.
Post a good photo of the IPB race and we can probably tell if you should replace it.
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Joined: May 2012
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From: San Diego
Thanks guys the race bearing is all the way snug against the tranny. I don't even know how the race puller would get it off. Is this normal? The race is very smooth and mostly the same color. I can't upload a pic from my phone but I will when.I get home
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
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From: san antonio
1. Using a dremel tool, cut a notch along the bearing and the centeline of the mainshaft. Cut the notch deep enough and long enough to fit the bit of a chisel into the notch but the chisel bit shouldn't bottom out in the notch. Support the mainshaft with a small hydraulic jack and strike the chisel a sharp whack. If the chisel fits the notch right and does not bottom out, striking it will try to "spread" the notch and the race will split; they are very brittle.
2. Using a dremel tool, cut two notches on either side of the race so that you can get a split puller in the notches and pull the race off that way or pull it out enough so you can get the proper IPB puller behind the race and remove it that way.
As a previous poster has suggested, while you are there, replace everything from the mainshaft seal out, i.e., quad ring, spacer, mainshaft seal, mainshaft/5th gear seal, jack shaft seal and shifter shaft seal. You will need tools to R/R the race and to hold the trans pulley during the procedure.
If the bike is pre-'07, the S&S tapered race is a better replacement than the OEM race, it won't walk in.
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Third option, remove side cover from the right side. Pull top cover off the transmission, remove shift drum and slide forks so that 2 sets off gears are engaged at once. Remove the nyloc nut from the mainshaft on the right side of the transmission. Tap main shaft lightly with a brass or rubber mallet until enough of the race is exposed to get the race puller tool behind it. Now you can remove the race. Purchase a new nyloc nut for the mainshaft and torque it to 55 foot LBS. This procedure may be a little more involving but we have seen many mainshafts come in damaged from people using other methods.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2012
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From: San Diego
Ok guys, I brought my primary to the shop and they looked at the bearing and seal. They said the bearing on the primary looked good but they put some aftermarket cheap seal on the primary bearing. They said I should just be good replacing the starter and bearing seal. Here is a picture the race bearing. The only thing i saw that is odd is the bearing is all the way up against the case. What do you guys think?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,773
Likes: 2,603
From: san antonio
Ok guys, I brought my primary to the shop and they looked at the bearing and seal. They said the bearing on the primary looked good but they put some aftermarket cheap seal on the primary bearing. They said I should just be good replacing the starter and bearing seal. Here is a picture the race bearing. The only thing i saw that is odd is the bearing is all the way up against the case. What do you guys think?