Oil leak around starter

[PA Chopper]

Got a 2009 K-9 which I love but got a problem. I been reading on here about primary oil leaking around the starter because of the bad o-ring seal. Thinking I may have this issue right now but not sure. I noticed that I have an oily, grimy film on the bottom of the left side frame rails. I see oil on the backside of the primary where the starter bolts up. Got to looking around and also noticed oil on the frame underneath the transmission as I look from the top down. Have any of you seen where the oil leaked enough through the primary/starter o-ring to work it's way clear down to the tranny plate? Funny thing is that with all the goo and oil and crud, I never see oil drips on my garage floor. I haven't checked into the leak throughly yet and the weather here in PA has taken a nose-dive so I'm not riding right now but I definitely got to get this figured out. Also, how come the service manual doesn't show anything about removing the starter? Starter has been working flawlessly but I don't want to take the risk that it gets filled with oil and ruin it.

 

[ChoppaNoob]

Have you recently filled or overfilled the tranny ?

 

[PA Chopper]

Have you recently filled or overfilled the tranny ?

No, haven't serviced the primary or tranny since this past spring.

 

[bruce]

yes choppanoob is right if you overfill trans. it will leak until it finds it level. take a close look at back cyl. head just below rocker box if you have TP heads like I do. a common oil leak not to hard to fix, gaskets about 25-30 dollars.

 

[PA Chopper]

No fluid added since I did the services in the spring. I have the S&S rocker boxes and I definitely know it's not leaking from there. Thanks though.
From what I've read on the forum, when the starter leaks, the primary oil is dripping out of the holes in the starter and is quite noticeable. I'm not having any drippage I can see on the ground yet I have the oil dirty film on the left side under the frame and on the tranny mount. Odd to me that the oil would leak and make it from the starter to the tranny mount so maybe the tranny is leaking from somewhere??

 

[BadBrad]

You may also want to check your primary drain plug on the back underside of the primary. You never did say how high up you've noticed the oil. Your best bet might be to clean it up, fire it up and let it warm up, then shut it off and let it sit to see if you can figure out the source of the leak.

 

[PA Chopper]

You may also want to check your primary drain plug on the back underside of the primary. You never did say how high up you've noticed the oil. Your best bet might be to clean it up, fire it up and let it warm up, then shut it off and let it sit to see if you can figure out the source of the leak.

Are you referring to the vent plug on the back side of the primary? I'll check it out to see if it's plugged up with crud but there is no oil around it. If the vent does become obstructed, does the primary oil get forced out of the starter o-ring? That seems to be were there is some oil. I also have a bit of oil seeping from the inspection plate cover too. Still can't reason why there is oil underneath the tranny. I'm stumped.

 

[BadBrad]

Not the vent plug, the drain plug. It's an allen head plug on the rear, bottom side of your primary. It should be screwed in just about flush with the primary. Get a mirror if you have to. It's there!

 

[PA Chopper]

Not the vent plug, the drain plug. It's an allen head plug on the rear, bottom side of your primary. It should be screwed in just about flush with the primary. Get a mirror if you have to. It's there!

Gotcha. Definitely aware of the drain plug and it's not the problem. I do my own services so I know it's not the drain plug. Thanks though.

 

[BadBrad]

Something I've had happen a couple of time on my dog, the 2 large primary motor bolts located at the front/top and front/bottom of the primary have come loose on my dog and allowed fluid to drain and splatter down the underside and all the way to the rear of the bike. Just a point to ponder on.

 

[PA Chopper]

I'll check them out. Thanks. May be my problem too.

 

[Throttle]

Here is another thought, if the seal fails on the main shaft of your transmission, the transmission fuild is sucked into the primary and then blown out the vent over time. I would check the transmission level. My transmission completely emptied and I was focused on a leak at the starter and then the primary - oil lines. Since I used spectro, the drip on the garage appeared to be gear lube and/or oil. At 18,500 milles, my main shaft broke on my transmission.

 

[Fibersnake]

I had the leak on my orginal starter way back when. It wouold leak oil from the primary into the starter and started into the winding and eventually was driping out of the starter case. The was no doubt about it. Also When I first notice the wiring had some oil on it and is started to smoke.

Had the starter replaced back in 2005 and has not occured since then. I did however by a kit from my dealer to replace the seals etc and still have it in case needed.

Go way back in the search and you may find some more information on it.

Best advise is like some of the other said, get it real cleaned up in the area, warm it up and then do micro inspection to see if you can id where the leak is coming from. Good chance it is just the vent and maybe plugges up.

 

[Watsahiya]

Hey Bruce....do you get a lot of rattly engine noises due to the TP rocker boxes?

 

[mml03102]

I had a leak from the primary inspection plate , it didn't look like it was the cause of the puddle of fluid on the ground but it was leaking while riding down t he cover and under the bike , I thought it was the starter to but I replace that gasket in the inspection cover along with rtv and its fine now.