| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
Last time I changed the tranny oil there was a bunch of creamy "paste" on the inside...reminds me of when coolant gets in the oil; but there's no coolant! Is this a symptom of clutch plates wearing fast? I have 40K miles on the original clutch; I'll put in new plates if that's the problem. Clutch still works fine. I've used Formula+ in the tranny since new. I've also noticed a slight "whining" sound when I put the bike in first gear with the clutch disengaged. Related?  | ||
| Firstbatch |
looks like water is mixing with tranny fluid | ||
| Dentguy |
It's not from the clutch plates and not sure about the whining. The creamy paste is from moisture. Maybe from water crossing, heavy rain, cold weather etc. Mine did the same thing. It seems to be where it collects. I changed mine every 5,000 miles instead of the recommended 10,000 for that reason. Also, I noticed mine after a long trip with a lot of riding in heavy rain and cold temps, but no water crossings. (Message edited by dentguy on December 26, 2007) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Check the clutch adjustment cover on the cable. It is notorious for allowing water splashing from the front tire to enter the primary through the clutch sleeve. | ||
| Dentguy |
Thanks Ft_bstrd for pointing that out. I forgot all about that. I packed a little grease in mine where the cable housing and adjuster come together under the boot to try and prevent that from happening. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
A little ziptie on the clutch adjuster boot can also be an added measure of waterproofedness. | ||
| Metalstorm |
That's how mine looked after a week or two of riding in heavy rain. Yucky stuff. I think I'm going to start changing the primary oil every 2500 miles just because of that. | ||
| Dr_greg |
Thanks, guys. I knew it had to be water, but just couldn't bring myself to believe it. I'll take the measures you advise, and charge on towards 50K miles and beyond! P.S. You'd think there wouldn't be that much water here in dry New Mexico, but I do ride the Uly as it was designed (e.g. all roads and all weather ). | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Where is the tranny vent routed on a ULY? | ||
| Jlnance |
Where is the tranny vent routed on a ULY? Under the seat, near the mount for the rear shock. | ||
| Jlnance |
I do ride the Uly as it was designed I've seen that in my transmissions as well (Blast and Uly.) Given, as you point out, that the bike was designed for all weahter, one would assume that the paste was harmless. It still creeps me out and I change the oil when I see it. I wonder if running the bike down the highway for an hour would dry it out. | ||
| Karlsbad |
Jlnance Come on be honest you bought the Blast for your girl. Your profile shows you on the Blast. If you own the Uly you should change the photo. Owning a blast is like saying you own a badass Harley and showing up on a sportster I am jealous of your location though, we have had snow and freezing temps up here for the last month, No riding here for a little while. | ||
| Bearly |
I have had the white goo on my cover as well. I think the first time I saw it I had taken my bike to a local car wash to get some heavy dirt off it. I thought maybe I had sprayed some into the breather line just behind the real brake fluid res. Then I thought maybe because I was riding in the winter and I had a few rides in a row that maybe I didn't let it get warm enough to evaporate the condensation out of the motor. Then in the spring I thought maybe I had let water get in the vent tube with the garden hose. As it turns out, I think it was a combination of all these things. I wash my bike more carefully now and I change the primary fluid at every old change since I'm always curious if there is moisture in the primary. I figure if I'm gong to need a new gasket, it's easy just to drain and fill it at the same time. It's been well over a year since I've see any moisture in the primary. | ||
| Jlnance |
Come on be honest you bought the Blast for your girl. Nope, it was my first bike. Then a cyclone was added, and later the cyclone was traded for the Uly. As to the weather, it will only take you a few days to ride here.  I see you're in Peterbuilt sales. Got any cool truck calendars? | ||
| Treadmarks |
Like fatty said, it makes it's way through the clutch cable adjuster. Disconnect your clutch cable on the top end by the lever. Force lube of your choice through the cable till all water is clear. Some will try to seep through at the swivel, but it will still make it to the bottom end. Clean as much out as possible by draining and wiping inside inspection covers. Install 1-quart Mobil 1 syn ATF. Ride gently till trany is as hot as possible. Drain atf, refill with same and repeat process until white/yellow foam disappears. Once foam is gone, perform hot drain and install fluid of your choice. Adjust primary chain tension, and clutch, first at clutch then at cable. Apply marine grade grease on cable swivel after adjustment. Place rubber boot over cable adjuster, covering as much as possible. Use two cable ties on the top to secure boot. Do not secure the bottom, or water will not be able to drain. Check fluid frequently and change fluid and lube cable to keep water from forming. Long rides help cook off the water through evaporation, just be sure your vent is not clogged. I live in south florida and ride daily. I have been through some gully washers and tropical storms, and have not had a contamination issue since performing this flush and seal. | ||
| Teeps |
I would drain and refill the primary case right away, replace the contaminated fluid with ATF. Ride, drain, repeat 2 times. Third time refill with Formula + or your favorite fluid. Remember "rust never sleeps." | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Great thread. I'll have to check mine. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I do the primary fluid swap every time I do the oil (2,500 miles). Tranny fluid is cheap. | ||
| Bugnut |
Here's my cover. I wasn't too surprised. I ride rain or shine. The rest of the inside of the case looked clean and paste free. Swapped my oil though, now at 18K I'm really leary of the dealer doing it right. Mike  | ||
| Xbimmer |
I tend to avoid short hops so I've never seen that nasty stuff in my gearcase. I would follow Tread's and Teeps's advice and purge that crap asap. In addition to zip-tying my clutch adjuster boot I've been closing up my clutch cable at the bottom for a long time. I didn't like the attraction of dirt down there due to oil seepage. I put a couple of turns of pvc electrical tape tightly around the cable at the point where it joins the metal fitting. Then a couple turns of rubber waterproof electrical tape over that in the opposite direction. Absolutely clean in that area thousands of miles later. I don't know whether that's an entry point for water but it is down low and since mine doesn't seep oil now I know water isn't getting in either. | ||
| Swampy |
Watch where the transmission vent tube is routed. Too much washing in that area will allow water to run down the end of the tube and into the transmission. | ||
| Rekrab |
My 08 is in for service, and I asked them to look for water intrusion, I change fluid in trans every 2nd oil change. If water is a problem would this be Buell warranty fix? 11,100 mi. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Rekrab, how is the 08 running? | ||
| Rekrab |
I love the bike! I rode many miles on 02 Fat Boy , 50k. on 05 Roadking, and the Uly is way cool and fun! Little over 2 mo. and 10k+. engine service light just as I was ready to take into service. Don't know what triggered that yet, but will post. Rain, and it can run a little rough. Rear tire at 7500, front at 11000. | ||
| Jlnance |
If water is a problem would this be Buell warranty fix? Did something break? The water in the transmission oil (and the engine oil for that matter) is fairly normal, particularly in the winter. The "fix" for that is to change the oil periodically. | ||
| Jlnance |
BTW - the first time I encountered the "pasty goo" issue my friend sportymark was here walking me through the oil change procedure. He took a can of brake cleaner and squirted it down the transmission vent tube until cleaner ran out the drain hole in the bottom of the transmission. This makes sure the tube isn't clogged with anything. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
That's the special sauce on the Big Mac. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Sorry guys but having that type of water in the primary case is not normal at all. There is nothing in the primary that will manufacture water inside the case. There is no by product of combustion to create water either. You have water getting in either by the clutch cable or the primary vent tube. There is no other place for water to enter. Find it and get it fixed. That type of water will cause damage without a doubt. You will have premature bearing failure if you don't get it addressed. | ||
| Dr_greg |
Where exactly is the primary vent tube? It's a little congested back by the shock and I sure couldn't pick it out at first glance. Anyone got a pic? Or detailed description? I generally agree that there shouldn't be that much water getting in, but air does contains water vapor, and in cold weather it condenses...if you have a short commute in cold weather (like I do) it never burns off. | ||
| Barker |
mmmmmmmmmm, peanut butter. |
