Primary chain tensioner

Energy One
Robusto Bob

Robusto Bob

New Member
Hello all, I had a problem this weekend while riding. I have a 08 pitbull with 800 miles, I bought it with 106 miles. While riding I heard a loud clunk in the primary area, then a lot of rattling, sounded like marbles were in the primary. any way I rode home (about 1 mile) and removed the inspection cover in my primary cover. The top bolt that holds the chain tensioner was missing. I removed the whole cover and found the bolt in 2 pieces. I cleaned it, replaced bolt (from harley) and replaced cover and filled it with 1 quart of Redline primary oil. Now I have trouble finding neutral, any ideas?
Thanks Bob
 
lee

lee

Well-Known Member
well if no further damage was done then the only difference must be the primary chain tension
 
Staffy

Staffy

Active Member
In certain cases it has been difficult fininding neutral - here's a tip that has been discussed - REV the engine slightly when trying to shift into neutral - There you have it...Doesn't work...

Look up "how to adjust your clutch" this is a simple procedure - Between the two you should be golden. Good luck
 
lee

lee

Well-Known Member
its also easier to shift into neutral whilst the bike is still moving
 
D

danosrs

Member
Did the clutch lever seem a little loose? I mean if you adjust the clutch to get the 1/16th gap at the lever to the housing and it shifts into neutural as it did prior then maybe the clutch adjustment bolt slipped in the lock washer? It happened to me once, just all of a sudden was hard to shift, then I noticed the lever was not as it was just seconds ago, I did a roadside adjustement of the clutch lever and it was good to get home. day later pulled the primary off and found the center bolt of clutch pack had spun in the lock washer (bent over bolt flat to keep bolt from spinning loose)

My thought for this is no matter how bad the primary chain is out of adjustment it should not affect clutch fuction.
 
D

danosrs

Member
Opps I'm a little crazy, I mean the lock nut coming loose on clutch push rod adjustment, confused myself with jackshaft lock washer:loony:

But again primary chain adjustment should not make a difference with finding neutural.
 
Fibersnake

Fibersnake

Banjo Playing PsychoBilly
Make sure that you properly adjsuted the tensioner and used the tight spot as a guide. If you get it too tight when it is cold, it can getting create extra tension on the clutch packs which I have found will possibly making shifting a little harder.

I know that when I adjust mine after it gets out, it seems to be a little harder finding neutral at first. Also recommend that you use a torque wrench when tighting down the adjuster nut to prevent excess elongation for the bolt is not a real high strength one, possibly only Grade 5.

Found it it easy to adjust when doing a primary oil change and by draining and removing out primary case, doing hte adjustment, cleaning up the interior of the primary case, installing new o-rings and oil.

Good luck
 
kfoss8

kfoss8

Active Member
Calendar Participant
Had same problem

Had same problem with my 07 K-9 happened at 250 miles on the bike heard loud noise in primary limped it home took off cover and the top bolt fell out also and the chain skipped to the outside. Fixed myself called big dog told them about it they told me i shouldn't have fixed it i should have taken it to dealer. but all in all still works fine.
 
stlmikie

stlmikie

I wish I had more money.
Did it sound like the bottom end was coming loose?

kfoss8 said:
Had same problem with my 07 K-9 happened at 250 miles on the bike heard loud noise in primary limped it home took off cover and the top bolt fell out also and the chain skipped to the outside. Fixed myself called big dog told them about it they told me i shouldn't have fixed it i should have taken it to dealer. but all in all still works fine.
Click to expand...
 
kfoss8

kfoss8

Active Member
Calendar Participant
didn't sound quit that bad lol you could definetlly tell it was coming from the primary what we found out that who ever was putting in those bolts didn't use any locktite on them and they vibrated loose
 
wbruiser2

wbruiser2

Member
Primary Fluid? I read on a thread here somewhere that too much or too little could cause this and I have to agree now. I started to change my fluid but my drain plug was stripped and I didn't have another one at the time. So I checked it and according to the owner's manual, it was low. I couldn't see any. The owners manual says 32oz. So I added a little and now I have a hell of time finding neutral. My service manual says 48oz... I got a drain plug, changed the fluid. I think about 32oz came out through the drain plug and another 5 or 6 when I took the primary cover off. So, 32 or 48? I added 40oz and am now waiting for the weather to cooperate to see what the result is.
 
stlmikie

stlmikie

I wish I had more money.
1 quart.

wbruiser2 said:
Primary Fluid? I read on a thread here somewhere that too much or too little could cause this and I have to agree now. I started to change my fluid but my drain plug was stripped and I didn't have another one at the time. So I checked it and according to the owner's manual, it was low. I couldn't see any. The owners manual says 32oz. So I added a little and now I have a hell of time finding neutral. My service manual says 48oz... I got a drain plug, changed the fluid. I think about 32oz came out through the drain plug and another 5 or 6 when I took the primary cover off. So, 32 or 48? I added 40oz and am now waiting for the weather to cooperate to see what the result is.
Click to expand...
 
PureDestruction

PureDestruction

Member
wbruiser2 said:
Primary Fluid? I read on a thread here somewhere that too much or too little could cause this and I have to agree now. I started to change my fluid but my drain plug was stripped and I didn't have another one at the time. So I checked it and according to the owner's manual, it was low. I couldn't see any. The owners manual says 32oz. So I added a little and now I have a hell of time finding neutral. My service manual says 48oz... I got a drain plug, changed the fluid. I think about 32oz came out through the drain plug and another 5 or 6 when I took the primary cover off. So, 32 or 48? I added 40oz and am now waiting for the weather to cooperate to see what the result is.
Click to expand...
only takes 1 quart
 
Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
Robusto Bob said:
Hello all, I had a problem this weekend while riding. I have a 08 pitbull with 800 miles, I bought it with 106 miles. While riding I heard a loud clunk in the primary area, then a lot of rattling, sounded like marbles were in the primary. any way I rode home (about 1 mile) and removed the inspection cover in my primary cover. The top bolt that holds the chain tensioner was missing. I removed the whole cover and found the bolt in 2 pieces. I cleaned it, replaced bolt (from harley) and replaced cover and filled it with 1 quart of Redline primary oil. Now I have trouble finding neutral, any ideas?
Thanks Bob
Click to expand...
Just curious, you used the non-synthetic Redline primary lube correct? Redline makes both, I think the synthetic stuff gives these wet clutches a hard time.
 
RCAdd1ct

RCAdd1ct

JAFO
I appreciate people trying to help out, but the original thread was from 2009. I hope he got it fixed by now.

:flag:
 
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