Magic transmission fluid
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
Magic transmission fluid
Have read many threads on transmission fluid with members indicating their transmission oil "looked as good as when I put it in 5,000 miles ago". Mine doesn't. Mine magically changes color. What might be causing my Formula+ to turn dark, almost black, in color. I'm guessing a leak somewhere, but no oil on the floor or anywhere on the bike. Crankcase oil and transmission oil levels remain right where I filled them to at last change. First noticed it shortly after having SE compensator installed, but could have been that way before the comp. swap. I know I'll have to open the primary, but which bearings/seals would most likely cause a leak into the transmission?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 537
Likes: 12
From: Chesapeake, VA.
Most all problems are common, most are not easy to fix.
Base gaskets on the evo., inner cam bearing on same.
Cheap bearing on the 08/09, weaak compsator on same!
Now I have a bearing that is grawling in the lower case?
Always SOMETHING............Tenn.
Base gaskets on the evo., inner cam bearing on same.
Cheap bearing on the 08/09, weaak compsator on same!
Now I have a bearing that is grawling in the lower case?
Always SOMETHING............Tenn.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
It's the same with non HD bikes too....it's the parts they put in the bike from questionable sources.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,537
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From: Honah Lee
The primary vents to the transmission thru the clutch push rod. The oil sump on the bottom of your transmission also vents to the transmission. The three actually all share that rubber hose vent. On a Softail, that is what that third hose coming off the oil tank is going. If your oil is turning truly black, it could be your stator is getting hot from some shorted area. You should be able to smell that. Unhook the three wires coming from the stator at the regulator and use you ohm meter to frame ground and see if any are going to ground.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 5, 2013 at 02:15 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 759
Likes: 34
From: Virginia
The primary vents to the transmission thru the clutch push rod. The oil sump on the bottom of your transmission also vents to the transmission. The three actually all share that rubber hose vent. On a Softail, that is what that third hose coming off the oil tank is going. If your oil is turning truly black, it could be your stator is getting hot from some shorted area. You should be able to smell that. Unhook the three wires coming from the stator at the regulator and use you ohm meter to frame ground and see if any are going to ground.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Primary fluid normally darkens with usage. Just a common occurance due to the oil bath clutch.
The transmission fluid should drain out in nearly the same condition as it went in - nothing much to dirty it up if everything is 'right'.
I use ATF in the primary and Mobil GL5 Syn 75/90 in the trans. The ATF is of course red in color and the Mobil 75/90 is nearly clear. The primary gets drained every 10K mi. and the trans every 20K mi. and they always drain out looking pretty good, particularly the trans fluid.
The transmission fluid should drain out in nearly the same condition as it went in - nothing much to dirty it up if everything is 'right'.
I use ATF in the primary and Mobil GL5 Syn 75/90 in the trans. The ATF is of course red in color and the Mobil 75/90 is nearly clear. The primary gets drained every 10K mi. and the trans every 20K mi. and they always drain out looking pretty good, particularly the trans fluid.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
I miss read your post. I thought you were saying oil was dark in primary. Now I realize you are saying oil is dark in transmission. I would think if your transmission is getting primary or engine oil, it would show up on the stick level. From what I understand there is no seal on the clutch pushrod and that the only thing that keeps fluid from migrating is the rotation direction. I have see post on here that if the primary is way over filled, it can get in there. It's real easy for engine oil to get into primary if the crank seal goes behind the stator. Do you see much fur on the transmission magnet? Why are you opening the primary? If the levels are OK, I would think that would be a waste of time. There are no transmission seals inside it. I have seen were if you run Formul+ in transmission for a long time and switch to SYN motor oil, the oil will be dark for the first few changes since I think it's designed for a filtered system and to keep stuff in suspension more then a strictly gear oil. So it cleans the dirty walls. I personally do not change oil but once a year (sometime longer since I do not do a lot of miles) but I just change all three when I do since ever time I have been in primary it is full of chips and the way the shift dogs bang on a 5 speed, the transmission is too.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 14, 2018 at 11:05 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Lapeer , Mich
sorry but I'm confused , you are saying that your formula plus is getting dark and talking about your trans and say that your motor and trans levels are good , if you are meaning your primary it will get dark from your clutches normal wear or they may be slipping , why do you think there is a leak ?