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Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Drivetrain » Transmission: Breather, Gears, Dogs, Forks, Bearings » Trans/Gear Fluid leak « Previous Next »

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Zcyclone
Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 01:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I own a stock 2001 Buell M2. I rode two poker runs last month. Both times while traveling to Savannah via I-16, I had trans/gear fluid leak from the vent tube (under the seat) on to my fender and tire. Last weekend rode I-16 and again leaked. I went to Johns V-Twin (he owns 3 Buells). We changed the fluid and filled to spec. During the 110 mile poker run no problem. Coming home on I-16, leaked all over the tire and fender. Talking to the Harley/Buell Dealers no help. Make an appointment and we'll try to fix it. Im looking for a reason before I take it to get fixed. Never did it before.
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Jackbequick
Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 08:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had that vent line blow some oil one time (after a period of longer, higher speed running) when I had accidentally pinched the crankcase breather vent shut.

If the breather is not open, the pressure builds in the primary/transmission area and that vent tube under the fender is the next path out.

The normal vent path for the breathers is into the stock "breadbox" air cleaner. That puts a constant supply of lightly oiled air into the fresh air inlet tract and winds up oiling up that area, the filter, the inside of the breadbox, etc.

And when the bike sets the oil will run to a low point and drip out. And if you get any moisture into the area you wind up with the the deadly "spooge" (white/yellow creamy looking oil/water mix) dripping off of stuff.

So tell us what you have a a crankcase breather setup now and we can take it from there.

This section of the KV has more info on breathers than you'd believe:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/6804.html?1177372946

There are many different ways to solve the breather issue. I put a breather setup on my 2000 M2 that was a cheap do it yourself design and never had another problem (until I pinched it off by accident). You can see what I did here:

http://users.adelphia.net/~jackerbes/Buell/breathe r.html

To check it for now, I'd open the breadbox and make sure the hoses from the two crankcase breathers are open (blow through them gently, or suck on them if you are brave).

For a temporary test (if I remember right, my M2 and manual are gone now) you can get a 24" or so piece of 3/8" hose and pick up the existing stock vent system at the "T" fitting and get it out of the air box. Put a pug in or tape over the hole where the hose used to enter the air box.

With the engine running, you'll feel a gentle suck and blow effect at the end of that hose if the breather tract is open and working normal. If any oil is collecting somewhere and getting blown out later you may get larger amounts of discharge intermittently.

If you like to do your own work, fixing this yourself this time will pay for the cost of a service manual. Then you can do all you own routine work. And you'll wind up being a very happy Buell tuber owner just like the rest of us did.

Jack
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Blake
Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 01:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If the pinion shaft seal between the primary and the crankcase goes bad, engine oil and pressurized gasses will leak into the primary/transmission reservoir. This can cause the tranny fluid to vent.

Moisture in the primary/transmission can also cause spewage from the transmission vent. When the moisture reaches boiling temperature it kinda explodes into steam that in turn can force a significant amount of tranny lube out of the vent.

Be sure you aren't allowing water into the clutch cable via the adjustment fitting in front of the front cylinder.

Happened to me once. The protective boot had slipped down and instead of acting like a seal to prevent the ingress of dirt and moisture, it was more acting like a funnel.
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Cyclonemick
Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 08:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

After a spirited 100 mile ride yesterday I parked the bike out front and went inside. This morning before work I noticed a pool of oil under my bike. I first thought that my trans drain plug loosened because of where all the oil was but I put a wrench on it and it was good. Then i moved to the other side and noticed just up, (laying on my back) and behind the shock was a vent line and I'm almost sure that is where my oil is coming from. What's that vent line for???
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Jackbequick
Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If that is the breather line that goes up and ends up under the seat along the tube frame, that is the vent from the transmission area.

If I remember right, that is a 5/16" or 3/8" tube and it connects to a fitting on the back of the primary side of the crankcase. It goes to a fitting slightly to the rear of where the starter enters primary.

I had my crankcase breather vents (up on the rocker covers behind the carb) removed from the air cleaner and was venting those to the air via a small filter/oil trap. I accidentally pinched that breather vent tube shut once and it vented quite a bit of oil out of the vent line from the transmission are (the one mentioned above). And that was after a faster two hour ride. As soon as I removed the pinch from the breather vent, the problem stopped.

I think if you overfill the primary the problem you are seeing can occur too.

And if the main seals on the crankshaft are leaking, it lets excessive pressure built up in the primary and that can cause the oil venting issue too.

I'd check the breather vents and oil level in the primary first. You can a piece of rebar through the rear axle and rest the ends on two jack stands to hold the M2 level to check the primary level.

You want the oil to be just touching the edge of the black clutch diaphragm spring where is rests on the gray or aluminum pressure plate. With the bike up on the stands it might be just a little lower than that because the rear is a little higher.

Jack
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Cyclonemick
Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 12:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The line I'm reffering to is not the one that runs up under the tail section. When laying underneath the bike I can just see the ending of it (buy and inch or so) and it has the diameter approx the size of the non-writting part of a ball point pen.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 12:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thats probably the fuel tank overflow. Had you just filled the fuel tank, then parked it on a hot day?
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Cyclonemick
Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 02:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

No, I probably put around 120 miles on a full tank when I parked it. I guess the oil is comming from somewhere else. I guess a trip to the hardware store for a bottle of degreaser might help the search.
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