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Scoobytwo
Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 08:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I changed the primary drive fluid this weekend and found several pieces of metal on the drain plug. They were about half the size of a grain a rice. Any thoughts to where this could be coming from. Should I be worried or is this normal. Mileage is about 7K miles. Thanks.
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Jasonxb12s
Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 09:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

How many miles on the bike?
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Dana P.
Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 09:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

7K
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Odinbueller
Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 10:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If your drain plug looked like it had an afro, then you are within spec. Any big chunks would be worth worrying about. But there are normal amounts of wear that would cause metal flakes to show up on your drain plug.

Be sure your primary chain cold free play is at 1/2", and you will be good.
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Scoobytwo
Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Primary chain free play is set to spec. First time owning a Harley product. I'm not sure if this is normal? Where could it be coming from?
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Odinbueller
Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You should see a drain plug at the 1000 mile service on '04+later Sportsters or XB models! Looks like Duane Wayne from What's Happening (no racist implications intended, just a fond memory of TV)! It's the chain & sprockets wearing together, not to mention clutch steel plates, causing some acceptable amounts of metal to shave off. Do you have pictures of the drain plug? Would help with the question considerably.

Put it this way, if you're not having problems, then you're probably OK. I worked on an Elizabeth NJ Police FLHTPI with "hot running shifting problems". I pulled the tranny top cover, and the shift cam had been forced way to the left, causing the measured spacer to get mushroomed, and the retaining snap ring had its ends snapped off. When I drained the tranny fluid, I found one of these ends on the drain plug. I mean the end the snap ring pliers insert into, big chunk comparatively. And with those parts bouncing around, the only thing that needed replacement were the shift forks & shaft (and that is normal service wear for police models with over 25,000 miles of service in NJ), cam spacer & retaining ring, along with fluids & gaskets.

So, unless there are noticeable problems, I think you're OK. But that is why it is always best to drain your fluid via the drain plug, and examine the magnetic end.
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Cmm213
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 09:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I just changed both fluids before winter and I bought my bike with 3800 on it and I can bet it has not been changed since the 1000 mile service. I guy never rode it, the crap was nasty and had plenty of metal in it. Some of the primary fluid looked clumpy and it stunk. I was pretty pissed that it wasnt taken care of. I had to re torque the steering head tighten the primary and a lot of other stuff. I went over the whole bike before I really started to ride it.
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Jessicasdad
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 10:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just did mine this past weekend. Not too many flakes but have been noticing a lot of water in the fluid, comes out of the case like milky coffee... is there any thing that I should check ?? Was running Mobil 1 gear oil, picked up a quart of Red Line this time and seemed to be better though it could just be the fluid swap and removal of water. Had not even been that long since the last one, maybe a 1000 miles has been really wet up here in the Seattle area. Figured better safe then sorry
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Cmm213
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 08:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If you ride in the rain you could be getting water in through the clutch cable. Your getting water from some where. Abandon ship were taking on water
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Diablobrian
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 09:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

the clutch cable is the usual culprit in the case of primary drive water.
whether you ride in the rain, or get a little overzealous with the pressure washer.

the rubber boot "seal" is located right behind your front wheel.
some silicone will fix it, or just pack it with grease and zip tie the ends.
should fix the problem.
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Al_lighton
Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 03:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The top of the rubber boot on your cable should be flush with the top of the metal ferrule in the cable. Many have the top of the boot above the metal, which causes it to funnel water into the cable. Put it flush and no more water intrusion.

Al
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Jessicasdad
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 01:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

thanks for the information .. will check it out ... the sun is out right now and I think the temp is in the 50's .. so might take a ride at lunch time if I can escape a few meetings ...
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