Leaking tranny bolts
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 49
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From: WETUMPKA AL
Leaking tranny bolts
Maybe I'm just blind or dumb ....maybe both but I have a trans leak and don't understand where the bolts are that are coming loose.Any help would be appreciated.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 230
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From: Detroit
Leaky bolts
Depends on the year. My 2010 FLTRX was leaking and I couldn't figure it out. Turns out, the bottom 2 bolts on the transmission side cover were completely gone. Bought 2 new ones and blue loc-tited them. So far so good. Hope this helps.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 739
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From: St. Louis
Exactly. The 2 bottom tranny bolts that hold the exhaust bracket on are notorious for getting loose and/or falling out completely. They're kinda hard to get to...you have to loosen the heat sheild to get to them and it helps to have a ball end allen wrench, too. I just took mine out and replaced them with some hex head bolts. The hex heads can be accessed easier from the bottom (if they loosen again)
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the torque spec for the tranny end cover bolts is now 23~25 ft lbs, use locktite.
I checked mine and they were all a little loose.
I used a torque wrench on the top bolts, removing and applying locktite blue one at a time.
the bottom bolts I used a 1/4" screwdriver bit butt end first and turned with a wrench, loosened applied lock tite and tightened by hand to a "feel" gained by check the top bolts.
I keep a list of stuff to do inside my service manual, should I have the exhaust off for another reason, I'll re-torque those with a wrench
Mike
I checked mine and they were all a little loose.
I used a torque wrench on the top bolts, removing and applying locktite blue one at a time.
the bottom bolts I used a 1/4" screwdriver bit butt end first and turned with a wrench, loosened applied lock tite and tightened by hand to a "feel" gained by check the top bolts.
I keep a list of stuff to do inside my service manual, should I have the exhaust off for another reason, I'll re-torque those with a wrench
Mike
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
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From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Odds are you have seals or gaskets that are leaking, unless you know that the tranny's bolts have loosened up??
Loose bolts would cause a gasket to leak. With a leaky gasket or even a seal it may be dripping off a bolt?
Loose bolts would cause a gasket to leak. With a leaky gasket or even a seal it may be dripping off a bolt?
Last edited by JohnnyC; Nov 30, 2011 at 07:03 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 174
Likes: 4
From: central IL
Had this same issue on a road trip out of state. I ran it over to the dealer around the corner from where we were staying, and after looking at it for a few told me it was exactly the problem mentioned above with the bolts coming loose on the bottom of the trans cover. 15 minutes and he had it fixed and back out the door. Usually i do my own work but I was out of state and had a minimum of time/tools and the bike was still warrantied....
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Reading this thread made me think "I haven't checked mine lately". I have checked and tightened those two lower bolts once previously.
Anyway, I found one of the two loose, and the second one MIA. Took the loose one out and added a lockwasher, and replaced the missing one with a hex head bolt and lockwasher also. Even with one bolt loose and the other missing, I didn't have a big enough leak to cause anything beyond a slight seepage - no drops of oil anywhere - just a slight sludgy film around the area.
Next time I have the pipe off I'll clean those threads thoroughly and use some loctite. For now, I'll just try to remember to check them more often.
Anyway, I found one of the two loose, and the second one MIA. Took the loose one out and added a lockwasher, and replaced the missing one with a hex head bolt and lockwasher also. Even with one bolt loose and the other missing, I didn't have a big enough leak to cause anything beyond a slight seepage - no drops of oil anywhere - just a slight sludgy film around the area.
Next time I have the pipe off I'll clean those threads thoroughly and use some loctite. For now, I'll just try to remember to check them more often.
Last edited by 2black1s; Nov 29, 2011 at 04:18 PM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
On my 2010 Ltd, I replaced those bolts with a couple of Grade 8, black, Allen head bolts with lock washers. Torqued them to the specs in the service manual (14 ft lbs I think), and let it set for a day or two for the loctite to set-up. Guess we will see how that does.
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 49
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From: WETUMPKA AL
Leaking tranny bolts
Sorry I didn't get back with more details sooner but been out of town.It's a 2010 ultra and I finally tracked it to clutch cable going into trans.Is there an oring in there smewhere causing this leak. I do have a manual but cannot find a breakdown showing one. THANKS
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