Gear oil leak.

patmahoney · 07-20-2009, 10:31 AM

Was 150 miles into my weekend ride when I stopped for gas and noticed oil dripping from the boot at the front of the drive shaft, it turned out to be gear oil, but I don't know how it could be leaking from the front of the shaft, I thought all the gear oil was in the gear box at the rear wheel. Any thoughts?

cactusjack · 07-20-2009, 10:32 AM

Talk to Cajunrider. He can tell you what is most likely the problem.

dougster · 07-20-2009, 10:39 AM

Are you sure it was gear oil, and not clutch fluid?

dogdoc · 07-20-2009, 11:02 AM

What I hear is if you over fill the rear gear box with too many oz. oil, it floods the seals and starts them leaking around that boot?

cactusjack · 07-20-2009, 11:08 AM

I think Mitch's problem required replacement of the pinion gear seal, but I don't know if the seal just failed or if it was due to overfilling.

redjay · 07-20-2009, 11:12 AM

When the final drive is overfilled (or the pinion seal fails) oil will wick up the driveshaft to the rubber boot and leak there. I took the final drive off and took it to the dealer for them to replace the seal. You will save yourself some labor costs if you do that. I can almost guarantee they will not have the parts in stock so order them first and take the final drive in when they get the parts. I was charged an hours labor. Or you can do the whole thing yourself. Go to www.ronayers.com and look at the online microfiche for part numbers and views. Ringadingh on here did his recently.

patmahoney · 07-20-2009, 11:47 AM

Thanks guys,

I am sure it was the gear oil, I had to add some when I got to Maine then again when I got home. I don't think I over filled it, did as the manual said leveled the bike and filled to the bottom of the fill hole.

macmac · 07-20-2009, 01:20 PM

You over filled it if you did what the manual says. This is why I stress placing a 2x4 flat side down under the side stand, to fill. Tear down the rear end...

The oil 'slings' up the shaft, which seems surprising, but that is what it does exactly.

The seal(s) there is a seal and 2 O rings there on the shaft side have drown, hard telling if it is one or all 3.. I would replace all 3 though to be safe since you will be there.

The other way os to clean each and every one in kerscene, or safety clean and get it dry, and the areas they seat as dry, IF you can get them out un-harmed.

Once a seal has drowned it will never stop leaking unless one of the above is done. The real seal , not a O ring should be packed in a moly grease in the groove on the spring side of the seal as well, when installing.

cactusjack · 07-20-2009, 02:20 PM

Mac,

I'm not trying to start a debate here, but it just hit me that if you put a 2x4 under the sidestand, you are standing the bike up closer to vertical, which would intuitively suggest that you would be able to put more oil in the rear end than if no 2x4 was used.

When I filled my rear end, I did it on the 2x4 and have had no problems.

Now if you said use a 2x4 under the sidestand instead of standing the bike up vertically or using a jack, then I can see how filling to the bottom of the hole would mean less oil is used.

Am I missing something?

redjay · 07-20-2009, 03:42 PM

I fill mine on the sidestand. I would like to find out how much oil difference (in ounces) there is between having the bike upright, and on the sidestand. I bet it is not much at all. I might do that next oil change.

cactusjack · 07-20-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redjay

I fill mine on the sidestand. I would like to find out how much oil difference (in ounces) there is between having the bike upright, and on the sidestand. I bet it is not much at all. I might do that next oil change.

Well, whatever you do, don't put more than 6.2 oz (don't have a manual in front of me) or whatever the book says to use.

dogdoc · 07-20-2009, 03:50 PM

I have been filling mine just on the side stand and Im guaranteed I wont over fill it.

cactusjack · 07-20-2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc (Lonewolf)

I have been filling mine just on the side stand and Im guaranteed I wont over fill it.

How's that? Do you use a syringe or graduated measuring cup?

dogdoc · 07-20-2009, 03:58 PM

just squirt it right out of the bottle, it will only fill to the hole and run out. Once its done dribbling out, cap it. If you do the same thing on vertical, you fill fill more oz. of oil in and drown the seals. I dont measure, although I guess one could. :-)

**ringadingh** · 07-20-2009, 05:34 PM

Do a search on replacing the pinion seal in the final drive here on this board, Ive done the job a couple times now and its not impossible to do yourself. Its all explained in the posts

07-20-2009, 10:31 AM	#1
patmahoney Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hingham, MA Posts: 450	Gear oil leak. Was 150 miles into my weekend ride when I stopped for gas and noticed oil dripping from the boot at the front of the drive shaft, it turned out to be gear oil, but I don't know how it could be leaking from the front of the shaft, I thought all the gear oil was in the gear box at the rear wheel. Any thoughts? __________________ 2002 Nomad 1500 - Black and Red 2011 Nomad 1700 - Black and Silver MAPGR Ride Captain Enjoy the ride.... Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-20-2009, 10:32 AM	#2
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Gear oil leak. Talk to Cajunrider. He can tell you what is most likely the problem. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

07-20-2009, 10:39 AM	#3
dougster Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Crete, Nebraska Posts: 679	Gear oil leak. Are you sure it was gear oil, and not clutch fluid? __________________ Doug Witzke - "Dougster" 2003 Nomad 1500 VBA# 740
	0

07-20-2009, 11:02 AM	#4
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Gear oil leak. What I hear is if you over fill the rear gear box with too many oz. oil, it floods the seals and starts them leaking around that boot?
	0

07-20-2009, 11:08 AM	#5
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Gear oil leak. I think Mitch's problem required replacement of the pinion gear seal, but I don't know if the seal just failed or if it was due to overfilling. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-20-2009, 11:12 AM	#6
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,927	Gear oil leak. When the final drive is overfilled (or the pinion seal fails) oil will wick up the driveshaft to the rubber boot and leak there. I took the final drive off and took it to the dealer for them to replace the seal. You will save yourself some labor costs if you do that. I can almost guarantee they will not have the parts in stock so order them first and take the final drive in when they get the parts. I was charged an hours labor. Or you can do the whole thing yourself. Go to www.ronayers.com and look at the online microfiche for part numbers and views. Ringadingh on here did his recently.
	0

07-20-2009, 11:47 AM	#7
patmahoney Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hingham, MA Posts: 450	Gear oil leak. Thanks guys, I am sure it was the gear oil, I had to add some when I got to Maine then again when I got home. I don't think I over filled it, did as the manual said leveled the bike and filled to the bottom of the fill hole. __________________ 2002 Nomad 1500 - Black and Red 2011 Nomad 1700 - Black and Silver MAPGR Ride Captain Enjoy the ride....
	0

07-20-2009, 01:20 PM	#8
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Gear oil leak. You over filled it if you did what the manual says. This is why I stress placing a 2x4 flat side down under the side stand, to fill. Tear down the rear end... The oil 'slings' up the shaft, which seems surprising, but that is what it does exactly. The seal(s) there is a seal and 2 O rings there on the shaft side have drown, hard telling if it is one or all 3.. I would replace all 3 though to be safe since you will be there. The other way os to clean each and every one in kerscene, or safety clean and get it dry, and the areas they seat as dry, IF you can get them out un-harmed. Once a seal has drowned it will never stop leaking unless one of the above is done. The real seal , not a O ring should be packed in a moly grease in the groove on the spring side of the seal as well, when installing. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-20-2009, 02:20 PM	#9
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Gear oil leak. Mac, I'm not trying to start a debate here, but it just hit me that if you put a 2x4 under the sidestand, you are standing the bike up closer to vertical, which would intuitively suggest that you would be able to put more oil in the rear end than if no 2x4 was used. When I filled my rear end, I did it on the 2x4 and have had no problems. Now if you said use a 2x4 under the sidestand instead of standing the bike up vertically or using a jack, then I can see how filling to the bottom of the hole would mean less oil is used. Am I missing something? __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
	0

07-20-2009, 03:42 PM	#10
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,927	Gear oil leak. I fill mine on the sidestand. I would like to find out how much oil difference (in ounces) there is between having the bike upright, and on the sidestand. I bet it is not much at all. I might do that next oil change.
	0

07-20-2009, 03:50 PM	#12
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Gear oil leak. I have been filling mine just on the side stand and Im guaranteed I wont over fill it.
	0

07-20-2009, 03:58 PM	#14
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Gear oil leak. just squirt it right out of the bottle, it will only fill to the hole and run out. Once its done dribbling out, cap it. If you do the same thing on vertical, you fill fill more oz. of oil in and drown the seals. I dont measure, although I guess one could. :-)
	0

07-20-2009, 05:34 PM	#15
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Gear oil leak. Do a search on replacing the pinion seal in the final drive here on this board, Ive done the job a couple times now and its not impossible to do yourself. Its all explained in the posts __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

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