It happens.
Sometimes a job requires a redo.
The second time is generally faster since you now have gained experience.

 

That sucks but an A for effort! Have gone over my skis a few times but that's how we learn. Was sweating adjusting the valves in my SV1000S but ended up being fairly easy. Next project is probably replacing breather valves in my 103 TC & adding rockouts. Again probably not a big deal but doing things the first time still makes you nervous.

 

The verdict is in. I did cause the problem. I must have inadvertently scored the shifter shaft when I pulled the seal out to replace it. The mechanic showed me the score mark and the picture he took beforehand showing where the leak was coming from. When I put the new seal on the shifter shaft, due to the score, it didn't seal completely. Everything else I did was perfect he said. I do recall when I pulled the old seal thinking it was a lot harder to get out than the last bike I did it to. I must have got my pick turned somehow and caused the damage. Of course, that increased the cost of repair because now the transmission has to come out to replace the shifter shaft. 😢 He did replace the transmission seal too since he was in there. All in, this will end up being about a $1500 mistake when you consider I'm paying for the parts twice and the labor to pull the whole damn thing apart.

Lesson learned.

 

FYI for those who haven`t done this job:

The gearset must be removed from the transmission case in order to replace the shifter shaft/shifter pawl assembly, because it blocks the shaft from being removed.

The transmission case does not need to be removed from the frame.

 

Absolutely correct. I've done it on bikes in the past. It's a chore.