Small Primary Oil Leak

[haze324]

So a few weeks back I noticed a small drip of oil on the floor from under my primary. It was nothing big....no bigger than a size of a quarter. I thought perhaps the plug was leaking. Took it out, cleaned it and wrapped some teflon tape around it. A few days later I touched the bottom of the primary after riding and it had some oil underneath...again not a whole lot, but there was oil. This weekend I replaced the gasket and put black silicone on both sides (may have put a little too much) not sure how long I was supposed to let it dry but I added RevTech primary oil shortly after putting the outter primary on. Took it for a spin...No oil!!! So I head down for a long ride about 2 hrs or so and when I stop and touched the bottom of the primary there was some oil again.

Not sure where this is coming from as I don't see anything else with oil dripping and I can't trace it back anywhere.

Any thoughts on what to do/check next?

 

[Raywood]

Sounds like the starter to me. Check the cable wire on top and see if you can see oil in it. Then watch it when starting it and see if you see smoke. My 03 did the same. But I would say your starter is going.
Also, you 03 is wired for compression releases I would get them if I was you. Remember you need a different starter relay if you do it.

Good luck,
Ray

 

[haze324]

Sounds like the starter to me. Check the cable wire on top and see if you can see oil in it. Then watch it when starting it and see if you see smoke. My 03 did the same. But I would say your starter is going.
Also, you 03 is wired for compression releases I would get them if I was you. Remember you need a different starter relay if you do it.

Good luck,
Ray

Thanks Ray.....I was reading around here, and was hoping that wasn't it. Also, i had read about the compression releases but not sure what electric ones are. I'm familiar with the manual push ones on the motor but since i got my bike used, not sure if it was already done. (the guy had made some mods). What are they, what am I looking for.

 

[Gas Man]

Yep.. my bet is the starter too.

 

[Raywood]

Thanks Ray.....I was reading around here, and was hoping that wasn't it. Also, i had read about the compression releases but not sure what electric ones are. I'm familiar with the manual push ones on the motor but since i got my bike used, not sure if it was already done. (the guy had made some mods). What are they, what am I looking for.

Here is a pic of mine in my 03. In the top of your rockers you have an opening and if it has the "Electronic Compression Releases" you will see this plastic bulb. If not there will just be a bolt plug in there. You're wiring harness is already wired for them and they became standard in 04.

Later,
Ray

 

[haze324]

Ok, took the dog out for about 15 minutes to see if I could trace the oil leak.

First looked at the starter to see if there was oil or residue or "gunk" anywhere that would lead to the leak. Nothing. It was dirty and a bit grimmy. There was some gunk under the my oil tank/ under the battery box toward the left side near the primary...kind a like oils been splashing up as I ride.

Checked the wires on the starter and no oil. Cranked the bike and no smoke. Took it for a spin. Bike cranks on the first try just about every time, I had issues when i first got the bike - changed the battery and haven't had any issues with the starter. I came back and no oil was leaking - perhaps didn't ride enough or get hot enough.

My last two bike were open primary so I'm not sure how "greasy" the inner part of the primary should be where the belt exits. Its very greasy and full of gunk there. Not sure if perhaps there is a leak at the gasket to the starter causing all the gunk and eventually a small leak after i ride for a while?

Any thoughts.



oh and no compression reliefs on the dog

 

[haze324]

they make a uv oil leak dye kit. good for oil or gas.

Thanks Sul.....I'll look it up.

 

[Gas Man]

I would clean it all up a bit... then try tracing it...

Also, baby powder works well to help trace oil leaks... usually the wife will have some. Also, works well when polishing... cheap too!

 

[05chop]

Using the dye will pin point it for sure with UV lite. Id dye the primary first easy to do. First go out and clean it real good (low press washer) then i use air pressure with long nozzle. Then dye it like sul said to do.

 

[delly2]

check under cam/ignition cover might be blowing back,also check in between the front and rear cylinders direclty in the middle of both cylinders

 

[Rottie]

My 06 Chopper did the same thing. The dealer put three new starters on it! Finally resolved it.. Check to see if there is oil on the left shock. My buddies 07 K-9 is doing the same thing, leaving a half dollar size puddle after every ride..:bang:

 

[BBChopper]

Shit that all sounds like a lot of work to me. Just slap an HD emblem on each side of the tank and call it a done deal!!

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[haze324]

Shit that all sounds like a lot of work to me. Just slap an HD emblem on each side of the tank and call it a done deal!!

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

hahhahahahahah!!!!!!! :roll: :up:

Thats a good one. Shit, I've been riding like this for about two months now. Might as well. I figure it can't be rocket science to find this oil leak and my starter hasn't had any issues (knocks on wood) so I don't want to replace 3 starters and tear everything apart....if I could just find where the oil is coming from. This weekend I will scrub away and then start looking.

 

[05chop]

I figure it can't be rocket science to find this oil leak. you said-----This is why you asked right. Nobody said you had to disassemble your bike to find the oil leak. If you want a leaker you got one.If you want find the leak listen to all of us here. Could be your over filling the bike with oil! Cracked primary case, list goes on.

 

[haze324]

Will Do 05Chop!!! :flag:



Thanks again for the advice. What I meant was, with you guys' help I think I can figure this thing out without having to take it to a shop.

 

[BDMCHOPPERFREAK]

primary leak = bad starter on 03?

Could someone please explain in more detail about the primary leak = bad starter on an 03 model? I guess a bad starter jackshaft bearing and/or seal would cause a primary leak. Does the primary fluid find its way into the starter as well? This fluid in the starter causing the starter to go bad? Would a new jackshaft seal at first sign of a leak save the starter? Any words of wisdom appreciated. Thanks, BDMChopperfreak

 

[Throttle Jockey]

My 05 Ridgeback did the exact same thing. Mine was the factory installed the wrong gasket on the starter. You couldn;t tell the starter was getting oil in it but it was. It was the fluid from the primary. When they finally figured it out they changed the whole starter on all the bikes that were in for it.

Throttle Jockey

 

[dogvet]

Could someone please explain in more detail about the primary leak = bad starter on an 03 model? I guess a bad starter jackshaft bearing and/or seal would cause a primary leak. Does the primary fluid find its way into the starter as well? This fluid in the starter causing the starter to go bad? Would a new jackshaft seal at first sign of a leak save the starter? Any words of wisdom appreciated. Thanks, BDMChopperfreak

Oil leaks on starters didn't start happening untill the 05 model year.

Part of the "balanced drive" set up was a different starter without a jackshaft. Since there is no support bushing for the starter gear, it deflects when the starter engages the clutch ring gear. At the same time, the ring gear on the clutch is throwing primary oil directly at the starter drive allowing oil past the starter seal and into the gear reduction housing of the starter and ultimately from there to the brushes of the starter motor.

An early sign of oil in the starter is the presence of oil on the solenoid plunger spring

An oil leak on an 03 model would either be the jackshaft seal, inner primary seal or main drive gear seal leaking. If the oil smells like transmission lube, then the main drive gear seal is toast.

 

[lee]

you know your shit dogvet and I like your posts - I don't understand them, but I like them

 

[dogvet]

you know your shit dogvet and I like your posts - I don't understand them, but I like them

What don't you understand? I certainly don't want to confuse anybody!