Need Advice on Leaks

[Ken w/08 Fatboy]

Help!

My 2008 Fatboy, with 9K miles, recently developed a leak - oil is collecting at the bottom of the primary chaincase cover, right below the derby cover. Neither the engine lower end nor the transmission has been apart, although I had the 103" kit installed 1000 miles. No problems until recently.

Any idea where to start looking? These things can be hard to find, harder to fix - I'm afraid if I bring it into the dealer they'll automatically replace a gasket, but then I'll have the same problem in a month or so ...

Any thoughts are appreciated -

[huckinfog]

Did you eliminate the derby cover as the source? if the derby cover has been removed, and the gasket was not replaced, they leak 8 out of 10 times.

[Ken w/08 Fatboy]

Originally Posted by huckinfog

Did you eliminate the derby cover as the source? if the derby cover has been removed, and the gasket was not replaced, they leak 8 out of 10 times.

Hmmm ...

The derby cover was replaced some time ago by the dealer's service dept - can't recall if the gasket was replaced along with it - but I think it has been several thousand miles, as I recall. But, the leak is small enough so that perhaps I did not notice it.

But I would think that, if the cover were the culprit, then there would be a slight but still visible streak of oil from the base of the derby cover to the base of the chaincase cover, right?

[Traakon]

oil can be a bit hard to track. Take out a bit of baby powder in your palm and blow it at the base of the derby. If there is an invisible oil trail, it will show.

[Ken w/08 Fatboy]

Originally Posted by Traakon

oil can be a bit hard to track. Take out a bit of baby powder in your palm and blow it at the base of the derby. If there is an invisible oil trail, it will show.

Sounds like a useful tip - I'll try it and see if huckinfog's hunch is correct - if not, I'll be back, as an early Fat Boy rider once said -

Thanks, all!

[1949shoebox]

wash it real good, take it for a 15 minute ride put it on a jack get under it to see where its coming from - it is probably on of two hings .... your shifter seal or your mainshaft seal that is leaking. do you have oil in your left side saddlebag or on your chain guard, these are signs tat one or both of these may be leaking.

[03GLIDE_]

Shift shaft seal leaking is very common. it would show up right where you are finding oil.

[Ken w/08 Fatboy]

Originally Posted by 03GLIDE_

Shift shaft seal leaking is very common. it would show up right where you are finding oil.

Yes - that's a prime suspect, too - had that happen on my '97 Dyna years ago.