| Author |
Message |
    
Bremobiker
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - 11:51 am: | 
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Why does my trans breather have major oil discharge? Shop manual doesn't recognize this hose or any function of a breather other than crankcase which routes to oil tank.
This hose comes off the rear of trans and routes under battery, then up and over in a loop, venting near the rear brake light pressure switch.
I wondered why my tight right turns seemed skittish, then got home and saw oil all over the rear right side. Belt, tire, etc. Traced it to the vent hose. |
5liter
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - 12:55 pm: |
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Probably a bad crank seal. Engine pressure getting in the primary and pushing primary oil out the hose. |
Harleyelf
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - 01:11 pm: |
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Been riding in the rain lately? That tube can suck water into the transmission if you get hit by a car or truck's splash just wrong.
Was the oil milky-yellow? That would be water foam.
Your crankcase main seal may be the old style. The new one is much better. Easy to install but be careful not to set it too deep or the crank bearings will shred it. A special tool exists to aid the procedure.
If you ignore this, you will develop a pressure in your primary case strong enough to pump oil out of your clutch cable. |
Bremobiker
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - 02:08 pm: |
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Thanks gents. I always assume the worst. That being the crank seal. Oil was not foamy. I can't really ignore it unless I don't want to ride, as it lets go of a lot of oil. Dangerous to say the least, given where it discharges. It happened all of a sudden. I would think it to be a developing issue.
I will now be able to add crank seal replacement to my resume of bike repairs. |
Harleyelf
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - 09:02 pm: |
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Does it smell like engine oil? That's a crankcase seal for sure. |
Bremobiker
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - 03:29 am: |
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It's engine oil. Dark and combustion smell. That diagnoses makes sense, but at 25K miles for a motor design that has been around for a while, you'd think HD would have worked this out. How bad is the job? I can't figure out which side one gets to the seal. My workshop manual doesn't have crank seal replacement info. |
Harleyelf
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - 06:55 am: |
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It's on the primary side under the chain's drive sprocket. The design was upgraded because the single-lip type lasted 20K miles.
Getting the old one out will be two thirds of the work. |
Bremobiker
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - 11:32 am: |
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Thanks, Let's see... how long had Harley been building the XL motor before 99'? And it took them how long to figure out the seal design was faulty? Keeps the techs in business anyhow. |
Bremobiker
| | Posted on Thursday, October 03, 2013 - 12:25 pm: |
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Turned out not to be crank seal. Oil tank can hold up to 10-12 psi at times, Any hairline crack or bad hose connection will cause the problem I have. Transmission level was fine, engine oil level depleting. All tests for proper venting came back with no issue. It's hard to determine where the leak would come from with the oil everywhere. And the tank won't leak until the oil is good and hot after a high rev ride. Anyhow, that's the story now. No new tanks available and American Sport Bike's is $600. Have a used one coming and I'll figure out if I can repair my original at some point. |
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99' T-Bolt Transmission breather hose oil discharge