Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Silverish slime in chaincase

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 06:52 PM
  #1  
Keys's Avatar
Keys
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Default Silverish slime in chaincase

I have this thick gray/silver looking grime on the walls of the inside of my chaincase. My clutch seems to be slipping badly when i'm riding (that's what the symptoms suggest). I have only small doubt, that this thick greasy slime is what is causing it somehow. Bike has only ~15,000 miles on it.

Has anyone else had this problem before?

Does anyone know what it is?

Does anyone know what caused it? (mixing oils?) ??

Help please.

Thanks!
08 FLHRCI
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 07:05 PM
  #2  
Dallas 13's Avatar
Dallas 13
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 300
Likes: 10
From: Black Hills
Default

Just had my primary apart, the gray coating is normal. I think it is a byproduct of the chain aerating and flinging oil.
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 07:10 PM
  #3  
RANGER73's Avatar
RANGER73
Club Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,420
Likes: 7,118
From: Beyond Fucital
Default

It's fine metal shavings. Flush and refill.
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 07:12 PM
  #4  
Mike T's Avatar
Mike T
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 6
From: Union,Ms
Default

It's condensation mixing with the primary oil.
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 07:27 PM
  #5  
hoofnhog's Avatar
hoofnhog
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 51
From: maine
Default

Originally Posted by Mike T
It's condensation mixing with the primary oil.

Mikey got it........ water and oil make gray sludge...........
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 07:54 PM
  #6  
timbo141's Avatar
timbo141
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 276
From: USA
Default

If you go on shorter rides it will be worse, long rides burns off the condensation
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 07:58 PM
  #7  
soft 02's Avatar
soft 02
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Default

And do a complete clutch adjustment.
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 08:16 PM
  #8  
springer 03's Avatar
springer 03
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 2
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
Default

normal, drain and change.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 08:57 PM
  #9  
Keys's Avatar
Keys
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Default

From the looks of it I will have to scrape it off of everything. If the clutch plates are off, will using a degreaser inside the chaincase cause harm to anything?
 
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2012 | 09:30 PM
  #10  
soft 02's Avatar
soft 02
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Default

Originally Posted by 08 FLHRCI
From the looks of it I will have to scrape it off of everything. If the clutch plates are off, will using a degreaser inside the chaincase cause harm to anything?
Depends on the degreaser. I use starting fluid to clean the inside of my primary. If I were you put in some new oil and change it in a week or two and keep doing this till the fluid is clean.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:55 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE