Well after much ado getting this '79 Shovel back to running after years, and rebuilding the Super B carb, etc.... I want to address a leak so
I can send it home and out of my garage.
I had a thread on the work I did in the spring. It has had the primary isolated and set up as a wet clutch, and appears to have an aftermarket clutch hub.

THE ISSUE: after running the bike around testing my work, the inner primary developed a leak below the crank/stator area.
Then I drained the primary to prep for a fix, but decided to just watch it awhile with no primary oil in it, and found that the oil continues to slowly leak out of the same spot, even weeks later. It is pretty steady, a small puddle over a couple few days.

This in my estimate indicates a crank seal leaking into the primary.
I need to decide on a game plan.
Assuming I was doing the inner primary seal anyway, the crank seal seems like a smart move while I am in there. But my experience is with EVOs and stators are as far as I have ever had to go in that area.

I am looking at a manual to determine how many tools I would need to source if the seal was all it needed. But would I be getting in way too deep with the possibility of shaft and spacer issues or even crank bearing issues?
If I just fix the primary leak it would overfill the primary slowly, and this bike is destined to be a very occasional rider I'm pretty sure, so the oil level would be too high every time it is used.

I am also digging out all my special tools used for EVO RK trans and primary work to see if any of them might be helpful in this job.
Any advise, as always, is very welcome. More to come.

 

Just realized I started a thread when I discovered this issue few months ago, life has been very distracting. I will continue on this thread for now unless a moderator advises against it or can merge the threads. been a trying summer.

 

You just need a Shovelhead clutch puller; it's not a difficult job. Use self-tappers to get the seal out and be aware that it looks like it goes in the wrong way round (spring to primary).

 

Yeah, nothing to it but to do it, right?
I am debating weather to get a primary seal kit or just the crank seal and spacer along with outer primary seal
. I do not think there are any leaks around the starter drive or tranny shaft.
The kit does come with a lock plate for the safety wired bolts that may be nice to have.

Also is it still advisable to loosen the tranny if nothing has been moved, only resealing?

 

you need to get the Factory Service manual FSM as this explains how you replace the inner primary and most importantly you need to make sure you get the proper gasket seal set so you have the right sized O-ring for the shovelhead inner primary, the EVO O-ring is thicker , if you use that one you will end up cracking your inner primary right where the top tag is. Some people leave it off altogether and use silicon. or reuse the one thats on it if its OK........Pacific Mike gives you a nice visual on how to go about it

 

Good looking out, The FSM is ambiguous about some details like this. I am reading it but since its a friends bike I am being way to cautious. This and experience is why it pays to search the forum. I always listen to them that's done it. I put the bike on the lift today so it is just about go time.

I did get some short miles on my EVO to clear my head, always a good way to start a chapter

 

Yes, because it might not have been correctly aligned last time somebody fitted it.

 

Well, now that you mention it.. That was a rather stupid question. HA!
Thanks

 

That ridge on the left-side case has a tendency to crack. New seal, and you still have a leak. I milled that ridge off when I had the engine out, and used a flat gasket kit.
Worked for me.

 

Maybe a little black silicone on the o ring and a close look at the ridge and its mating surface using depth gauge and fine cloth .. got the outer cover off earlier and the crank seal is definitely filling that little "trough" in the inner primary.
I think i have enough adjuster nut to pull the clutch with this thick outer plate. I will record the measurements between the thick plate and the clutch plate for reference.