New guy with and oil leak question...
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Southeast Georgia
New guy with and oil leak question...
Bare with me for I am new to the forum and Harley's in general, and not even sure if this is the right place to post this so please be patience. Well here's my situation and I'll try not to drawn it out.
Well back in April '11 I traded in my 2001 Kawasaki ZR7S (my first bike) for a '11 Heritage Softail. My first Harley and I must say I love it. I love the ride, comfort, sound everything really. Well after going on a business trip for 3 months when I got back I noticed the rear base gasket was leaking. I look it in and it was fixed under warranty of course. Well after a week of picking it up it appeared as if it was leaking again. So I took it back in and they could see the oil but could not pin point where it was coming from. So the gentleman at the service department told me to drive for approx. 1000 mi so they could see if they could find it easier with some dye they added to it. But also the other day I noticed oil coming from underneath the bike. As in under everything. I'm very mechanically inclined with vehicles but no nothing about motorcycle motors design or anything really in general.
Now obviously all this is still covered under warranty but my concern is the bike only has 2500 mi on it. My Kawasaki had 44000 mi on it when I traded it in and didn't leak a drop of oil. Now don't get me wrong I love my Harley and wouldn't trade it for another bike. Hands down I feel like I made a wise decision and am completely happy with my purchase, however I'm not entirely satisfied with a new bike leaking oil so early with so few miles. Is this common for Harley's to leak oil or did I get a lemon? Thoughts please...
Well back in April '11 I traded in my 2001 Kawasaki ZR7S (my first bike) for a '11 Heritage Softail. My first Harley and I must say I love it. I love the ride, comfort, sound everything really. Well after going on a business trip for 3 months when I got back I noticed the rear base gasket was leaking. I look it in and it was fixed under warranty of course. Well after a week of picking it up it appeared as if it was leaking again. So I took it back in and they could see the oil but could not pin point where it was coming from. So the gentleman at the service department told me to drive for approx. 1000 mi so they could see if they could find it easier with some dye they added to it. But also the other day I noticed oil coming from underneath the bike. As in under everything. I'm very mechanically inclined with vehicles but no nothing about motorcycle motors design or anything really in general.
Now obviously all this is still covered under warranty but my concern is the bike only has 2500 mi on it. My Kawasaki had 44000 mi on it when I traded it in and didn't leak a drop of oil. Now don't get me wrong I love my Harley and wouldn't trade it for another bike. Hands down I feel like I made a wise decision and am completely happy with my purchase, however I'm not entirely satisfied with a new bike leaking oil so early with so few miles. Is this common for Harley's to leak oil or did I get a lemon? Thoughts please...
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 247
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From: Southeast Georgia
I will definately be looking into a service manual but to me its oil. But I'm not familar with the mechanic of motorcycles. For me tranny fluid it red, and this is the golden color with a lil black in it so I'm assuming engine oil.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Southeast Georgia
One appears to be from the rear base gasket. The other is on the bottom as if your looking up from the bottom I see two lines of RTV on the bottom of the motor. I have oil leaking from there as well. She doesn't leak much though I check the oil daily and haven't needed to add any.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Harleys are completely unlike any metric bike out there, and I have owned 5 metrics before buying my Fatboy. In a metric bike, the engine and transmission are an integrated unit and share the same oil. That is NOT how HD does it.
HDs have an engine with it's own oil, a primary transfer chain and clutch with it's own oil, and finally a transmission, and you guessed it, it has it's own oil. That is why it is important to determine what side of the bike the leak is coming from. If the leak is primarily on the left side, then look at the primary; right side in front of the rear tire, look at the transmission. Of course this is very generalized.
Finally, if your dealer can't find the leak, then you need to find another dealer. Or bring it to an independent shop and pay them to find the problem, then go back to the dealer.
HDs have an engine with it's own oil, a primary transfer chain and clutch with it's own oil, and finally a transmission, and you guessed it, it has it's own oil. That is why it is important to determine what side of the bike the leak is coming from. If the leak is primarily on the left side, then look at the primary; right side in front of the rear tire, look at the transmission. Of course this is very generalized.
Finally, if your dealer can't find the leak, then you need to find another dealer. Or bring it to an independent shop and pay them to find the problem, then go back to the dealer.
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Cruiser
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From: Southeast Georgia
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Florida
Would help if you could post a pic. From what you said about the RTV, it sounds like the cases weren't sealed properly at the factory. Happened to me last year.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Yes, this unfortunately can happen. I had a small leak behind my rear jug at the notch for splitting the case. Apparently the casing is thin here and sometimes does not get enough sealant at the factory. I fixed mine be flooding it with green (whicking) lok-tite which filled in the gaps. Work perfectly.
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