Discovered a leak on my bike which currently has 38,565 easy miles on it. I don't do burn outs and unless I am passing someone I never go over 70. Most of my riding is at 60 MPH or so cause that is what I like.
The leak is in the primary area. I first thought it was just the primary cover gasket. My mechanic tells me it is the starter jack shaft seal or something another! Let me say this that he has always been very helpful and has even showed me how to work on my bike. OK!
This job is over my skill level and requires tools I don't have nor that I wish to buy. So I leave the bike for him to repair it and he calls me the next day with bad news. He found part of the clutch assembly floating around in the primary. Bad news is I need a new clutch assembly, good news is that it didn't destroy anything else. Except his finger as he smashed it trying to pull the clutch assembly off. He had to fab up a special puller to get it off of the transmission spline. He also said that he nor any of the other guys in his shop had ever seen this happen before.
I love my Harley but first off I don't belive I should be dealing with oil leaks of any nature at 38,565 miles. It seems to me that Harley's Quality is slipping!!
This year alone I have had to replace a clutch cable, shifter heim joint, and now the clutch assembly. I think that is a little much for a 4 year old machine that cost as much as they do.
Now if I treated it bad it would be more understandable but I treat with kid gloves and make sure it receives any and all required maintenance. Maybe I am just having bad luck but I fully intended on keeping this bike for 150,000 miles or more but now I am not so sure????
Following will be a few pictures of the parts removed from my bike.
The Bottom picture is of the piece he found floating in the primary. The splines in the clutch basket or whatever it is called were destroyed!
My best friend was in the shop when he pulled the primary and watched the whole show! So in case you might be thinking I was getting screwed, NOPE!!!
The bike is back home after payment for parts that I don't believe should have failed. Sure hope the rest of this riding season and next give me better results or I'll probably be riding a different brand.

Take Care![8D]











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Sorry to hear about the problems. I certainly agree that you shouldn't be having those problems with that few miles...
What oil have you used in the bike. Not that it had a thing to do with it. I'm just curious if you had switched brands?

 

Harley standard primary oil, Harley transmission, and Mobil 1 in the engine. Although I don't believe that had anything to do with the problem. The mechanic can't figure out how that ring came out if it was put in correctly!

 

it can happen to you, me, on a harley or a sh*t box dodge! some times it just happens its called luck or the lack of it! fix it and keep truckin!! good luck

 

Unfortunately, all parts are made to be within tolerances...I think this is probably just a case of a part going bad. Ride the bike, don't let this set back keep you from riding your scoot. Sounds like you love it, so keep riding it.

Mac

 

You guys are right about just fixing it and riding it. Maybe it is just bad luck but now I am hearing stories of bad cam shoe tensioners. What do you make of this problem?
I know what you will say. Put in gear driven cams. That is all well and good but I already invested in the stage 2 kit off the bat and at that time I didn't know about the tensioner issues.
What will it cost for gear driven cams? $600 to $800??
I guess I'll deal with it when the time comes![8D]
It just seems to me that a bike as expensive as a Harley could be a little better built.

Everyone have a Great Day and I'll quit venting out my frustration on you all!!

 

Just curious how many miles ago was the last time you had the clutch inspection cover off and if anything looked out of place then? Was it making any type of horrible noises with that loose hardware? I know you said you don't do burn outs, and I would recommend against trying any more wheelies as well!!!

 

It was off at the 35,000 mile marker. That is when it needed the new clutch cable also! It never really acted funny or anything! At 36,000 it was off again for re-adjustment after the new cable stretched out. If it hadn't been for the leak it would have gone til' it came apart or the 40,000 service.
My next big concern is those damn cam chain tensioners! Probably should do mine and the wife's FatBoy. I haven't gotten an estimate on that or an estimate on the gear driven cams but guess I'll have to do that!

 

I'd take a look at the cam tensionsers before you start swapping them out. I have gear driven cams on mine, and I think its the prudent thing to do, but why not pull off the cam cover and look at them first?

Mac