New fix for oil transfer

[Jack Klarich]

Since the tech bulletin on this goes back to 2014 and includes twin cam engines, are the twin cam side doors of the same design and have the same part number as the one on the M8? I checked the gear oil on my 2015 FW and it is at the top of the line. I don't seem to have an issue with 4k miles on trike.

If your Freewheeler has a cable clutch they for the most part are not having problems

The Bearing doors on hydraulic models are different

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

There is supposed to be a new part number for the clutch acuator

This could be big news if it is confirmed

I am waiting for Baker Tech support to get back to me on their new trapdoor

If they don't have a true fix it may never happen

It still bothers me that some transfer and others do not

I just checked mine, my level has NOT changed since my last fluid change, it has not transferred any fluid in over 17k miles Fingers crossed that it never does

Changing the trap door is not a simple process from what im seeing,unless you can remove the trap door without removing the gear set.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Changing the trap door is not a simple process from what im seeing,unless you can remove the trap door without removing the gear set.

Yup, it can be done with special door puller set

 

[Trampas]

If I was harley I would get rid of the hydraulic clutch and go back to the old way, my 2016 triglide had the hydraulic and I didn't think it was any easier pulling in than my 2002 road king or my 1997 softail, seems like the ones having trouble are the hydraulic one's and not all of them are doing it, that is why no recall, basically I think they need a recall on this, harley is playing dumb on this and don't want to admit they screwed up their design, this is my take on it, not to sure how many harley's they are selling because of this, dealers seem to have quite a few in inventory and the 2019's are coming out. The word gets out about this and most people will think twice about a harley.

All for now Trampas

 

[radismukes]

If I was harley I would get rid of the hydraulic clutch and go back to the old way, my 2016 triglide had the hydraulic and I didn't think it was any easier pulling in than my 2002 road king or my 1997 softail, seems like the ones having trouble are the hydraulic one's and not all of them are doing it, that is why no recall, basically I think they need a recall on this, harley is playing dumb on this and don't want to admit they screwed up their design, this is my take on it, not to sure how many harley's they are selling because of this, dealers seem to have quite a few in inventory and the 2019's are coming out. The word gets out about this and most people will think twice about a harley.

All for now Trampas

In this day and age Harley needs to think about a Class Action issue. In the long run it could cost them a lot more.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Yup, it can be done with special door puller set

Does Jims make this set.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Does Jims make this set.

Yes. look here also

https://www.georges-garage.com/product/trap-door-puller-2/

 

[Freewheeling Ron]

If your Freewheeler has a cable clutch they for the most part are not having problems

The Bearing doors on hydraulic models are different

Mine is hydraulic.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Mine is hydraulic.

All hydraulic clutch bikes may have this problem, however most of the reports are on the M8 powered bikes

 

[Freewheeling Ron]

Thanks Jack.

 

[MDO]

If your Freewheeler has a cable clutch they for the most part are not having problems

The Bearing doors on hydraulic models are different

Jack, I thought all Freewheelers had the hydraulic clutch?

 

[Jack Klarich]

Jack, I thought all Freewheelers had the hydraulic clutch?

They do but they shouldn't

 

[MDO]

They do but they shouldn't

I must be the only 1 in the free world that likes the HD "slip/assist" clutch.

I like the fact that if I downshift a bit to soon, it helps me out a little.

On a personal note, your letter will go out Monday.:clapping:

 

[Jack Klarich]

I must be the only 1 in the free world that likes the HD "slip/assist" clutch.

I like the fact that if I downshift a bit to soon, it helps me out a little.

On a personal note, your letter will go out Monday.:clapping:

Cool Thanks,

I like the slipper clutch, I just wish it was adjustable

I have figured a way to make it adjustable tho it would surely end a warranty

 

[MDO]

I got this off the HD tech talk forum, Jack please evaluate.

They say Baker has a fix for the oil migration problem. Jack & others, can you please read & respond, as I'm not a tranny tech.

1. Baker firmly believes that their Hydraulic Side Cover design solves the M8 fluid transfer problem

2. The M8 Hydraulic Side Cover is in Production, but not available to order yet. The covers are in final machining and still need to be chromed. Expect them to be available to order in about a month.

3. The specs on the Baker website for the 06-17 Hydraulic Cover are for the Twin Cam Cover -- not the M8.

4. The Piston size in the Stock H-D M8 and new M8 Baker Hydraulic Cover are the same size and slightly smaller than on the Twin Cam (don't know why H-D reduced the piston size for the M8).

5. The big difference between the H-D cover and the Baker cover is that the H-D cover has a piston stop as part of the casting. The stop limits the piston travel so it can't be pushed out of the bore, however this stop extends beyond the piston and literally surrounds the nut on the tranny door -- this creates a pocket that limits the movement of tranny fluid which gets pressurized and pushed past the clutch rod every time the clutch is actuated. The Baker design doesn't have a piston stop -- the piston could theoretically be pushed out of the bore, but in reality is limited by the clutch rod travel, and finally it would hit the tranny nut before leaving the bore. In other words the Baker design leaves the Tranny nut completely unshrouded.

I also found this:

Looking at the 2019 parts book, they have changed the secondary actuator (37200131B) , and added the oil deflector (36300026), to all models with hydraulic clutches - so I guess that is their "fix".

 

[MDO]

I also found this on the same forum & if true, this explains why some have the problem & some don't .

Apparently, HD was using multiple vendors for the same part & no one caught the differences.

I think I see whats going on with the oil transfer issue. A friend and I took off the tranny cover on a 2018 with this issue. What we saw was a huge size hole in the output shaft for the pushrod to go through. Don't see how tranny oil couldn't transfer. On others that I have taken apart the output shaft hole was a few thousands [ 10K's or less, guessing ] bigger then the pushrod. On this output shaft the hole was about 1/4 bigger then the pushrod. With some bikes doing it and some don't, I would think HD has more then one suppler for this part and this issue was not caught in the QC Dept.. The fix for this issue from HD is a sleeve type button that just pushes into the end of the output shaft to take up space, simple fix.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I think the Baker cover is going to fix this problem

I said it before, the HD tranny cover traps the fluid, It has 1 way to go and that is down the pushrod thru the hollow shaft

The Baker cover uses a different actuator piston less the machined stop that HD uses

This should clear the fluid to pass back down below the gears like it should

As far as the HD fix with the plastic button in the end of the push rod= another Epic failure on about all the bikes reported using it

OOOPS, Michael, HD should have known better with such a large hole ( the main shaft has always housed the push rod with out transfer) and using an inferior IMO size pushrod

HD blaming vendors ? Would not be surprised however the HD R and D department knew their set up would fail IMO Why does the MOCO outsmart itself all the time

The 6 speed is a very good tranny, leave it alone JMO

 

[MDO]

If they were using different vendors & the output shaft holes in the pushrods are different, that would explain why some do it & some don't.

I agree with you on the 6 speed tranny, it's very nice.

 

[Jack Klarich]

If they were using different vendors & the output shaft holes in the pushrods are different, that would explain why some do it & some don't.

I agree with you on the 6 speed tranny, it's very nice.

I think you are onto something here

It would not surprise me with the vendors, once again you would think with the bikes HD has fixed @ dealerships they would check the mainshafts for sizing differences

I guess we are over thinking this one and should be glad ours are not doing the transfer YET Yes the 6 speed is a good unit, before it we were happy with a 5 speed

 

[MDO]

I think you are onto something here

It would not surprise me with the vendors, once again you would think with the bikes HD has fixed @ dealerships they would check the mainshafts for sizing differences

I guess we are over thinking this one and should be glad ours are not doing the transfer YET Yes the 6 speed is a good unit, before it we were happy with a 5 speed

I can cruise in 5th. all day, but that 6th./overdrive is nice!