Harley Davidson Community
| Forgot your username or password? | Help!

V-Twin Heat Deflectors & Bike Shades

Hello Guest,
Welcome to the HDTalking, registration is completely FREE and takes only a few seconds. By registering you'll gain: Full Posting Privileges, Access to Private Messaging, Optional Email Notification, Upload Photos, Upload Videos, Respond to Polls, Ability to Fully Participate.

To register now click here!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please submit ticket to our helpdesk team.


Where did my fluid go?

Transmission

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old May 31st, 2009, 11:04 AM     #1
Start The Engine
Ride: 07 Ultra Classic
 
tonyb2760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 4th, 2008
Location: Dallas,Georgia
Posts: 23
My Mood: My Mood
tonyb2760 is an unknown quantity at this point
Where did my fluid go?

I am running Spectro in my tranny with favorable results for the whinning 5th, and have logged about 600 miles since the change. I have an 07 Ultra and yesterday on my way back home I began having trouble finding neutral. Long story short when I got home and checked the fluid I discoverd it was very low. There are no visible signs of leaking anywhere, checked the vent tube and all over the bike and nothing. I have noticed a strange oder while in decel mode but it doesen't smell like engine oil and all other fluid levels are correct. My question is, where could the transmission fluid be going?
Any and all responses welcome.
__________________
TRB
tonyb2760 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 31st, 2009, 05:10 PM     #2
Moderators
Ride: 2008 Road King Classic.
 
Bud White's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 8th, 2008
Location: Wayne , MI
Posts: 2,990
My Mood: My Mood
Bud White is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

check and see if primary is over full and turning red seal between trans and primary might be leaking
__________________
"Tell me where I'm going, let my bones fall in the Dust, can't you hear that Ghost thats Calling as my Colt begins to Rust, in the Dust"
Bud White is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 31st, 2009, 05:37 PM     #3
Moderators
Ride: 2004 Sportster XL1200RS
 
NEWHD74FAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 24th, 2008
Location: Camarillo, CA
Posts: 4,926
My Mood: My Mood
NEWHD74FAN is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

Did you use different colored lubricants in the different holes? Make sure the different holes lubricants look reasonably like the colors they were originally and of course for leakage is not "pooling" somewhere...
__________________

Please stop by the "Self Help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more.
>>Self Help Information and Tips<<
NEWHD74FAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 31st, 2009, 06:32 PM     #4
Start The Engine
Ride: 07 Ultra Classic
 
tonyb2760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 4th, 2008
Location: Dallas,Georgia
Posts: 23
My Mood: My Mood
tonyb2760 is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

I did check all holes and no overflow anywhere. I use Spectro in the transmission, Mobil Vtwin in the engine, and Belray in the primary, and nothing appears to be mixed or over full. The strange smell during decel makes me wonder, it smells like hot gear lube. If the seal between the transmission and primary were leaking shouldn't I get mixing both ways?, and there was no evidence of gear lube in the primary. This really has me baffled.
__________________
TRB
tonyb2760 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 31st, 2009, 07:03 PM     #5
Warming The Wheels
Ride: 89 FLSTC
 
Join Date: Jul 20th, 2008
Location: Ct
Posts: 89
Dan89FLSTC is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

There is no seal between the transmission and the primary...If a transmission seal is leaking you will have gear lube on the ground under the bike.

Check to see if there is gear lube blowing out the vent tube.

Don`t mean to sound like a smart alek, but is there a chance the missing lube is still in the container on the shelf?....
Dan89FLSTC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 31st, 2009, 07:39 PM     #6
Start The Engine
Ride: 07 Ultra Classic
 
tonyb2760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 4th, 2008
Location: Dallas,Georgia
Posts: 23
My Mood: My Mood
tonyb2760 is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

As I said in the first post there is no visible signs of leaking. The bike is parked in the garage, and I did check the vent tube first. I also looked all under and around the bike for possible blowing of fluid, and I'm telling you this is strange, but no evidence of leaking. I only talked about a seal leaking because someone else suggested it, and I can assure you when the fluid was changed to Spectro it was put in because I purchased two quarts and one was missing. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed. but by no means am I the dullest.
__________________
TRB
tonyb2760 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 31st, 2009, 08:05 PM     #7
Warming The Wheels
Ride: 89 FLSTC
 
Join Date: Jul 20th, 2008
Location: Ct
Posts: 89
Dan89FLSTC is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

Several places it could be leaking from:

The main drive gear seal or quad seal, which would cause lube to leak out behind the front belt drive pulley (between the pulley and the trans case).

The mainshaft/main drive gear seal, which would cause lube to leak out near the pulley and run down the inner side of the primary case.

Shifter shaft seal.

Trap door gasket, right side of tranny.

Clutch mechanism cover on the trap door.

It would seem that if it were a leak in one of these areas, you would see evidence of a leak.

Possibly it blew out the vent for some reason. I suggest you service it back to the correct level and keep an eye on it.

Please keep us posted, we may learn something new...
Dan89FLSTC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 31st, 2009, 09:09 PM     #8
Start The Engine
Ride: 07 Ultra Classic
 
tonyb2760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 4th, 2008
Location: Dallas,Georgia
Posts: 23
My Mood: My Mood
tonyb2760 is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

I did service it back to correct level by draining what fluid was left, and put in my last quart. I of course paid alot of attention to the magnet on the drain plug and found no metal on it. The inspection of the vent tube provided no evidence, it was open and completly dry. I'm telling you I can find no fluid on the exterior of the bike. This sounds very strange and has got me a little nervous. After installing the fluid I took it for a spin, and the transmission was as quite as an 07 6 speed would be expected to be with no shift problems and I can find neutral with ease.
__________________
TRB
tonyb2760 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Jun 1st, 2009, 08:05 AM     #9
Play The Throttle
 
Join Date: Aug 21st, 2008
Posts: 169
My Mood: My Mood
Retrop is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

Hummmm. This could be one of those rare occassions where "gremlins" are hard at work. Sometimes we never figure it out. If you do get it solved, be sure and let everyone know what happened. I guess it would be too much for any actual MOCO Engineers to get involved here, right? I know for a fact they lurk out here.
Retrop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Aug 28th, 2009, 04:47 PM     #10
Start The Engine
Ride: 07 Ultra Classic
 
tonyb2760's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 4th, 2008
Location: Dallas,Georgia
Posts: 23
My Mood: My Mood
tonyb2760 is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Where did my fluid go?

Well after about 2,000 miles,a trip to N.C. and all around Ga. the fluid is maintaining its correct level. I check it before and during every trip. This will be an unsolved mystery. The day it was low I was on a trip and away from the bike for about an hour. I hope someone would not tamper with my bike, but these days you can trust no one.
__________________
TRB
tonyb2760 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




Click here to report problem banner advertisements on HDTalking site.

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:01 PM.
Copyright © 2009 www.HDTalking.com.All Right Reserved.
HDTalking is not an official and is not associated with Harley Davidson,Inc.
All information contained within this site is copyright HDTalking and may not be reproduced without written permission.
Harley Davidson Forum