Transmission took a Dump Today

[K75RT Keith]

Well, my newly professionally rebuilt and professionally installed transmission made it less than 500 miles before the drain pug decided it wanted a new home and took a dump during today's little 300 miler.  So,here's the story I just finished a 300 mile jaunt and found gear oil under my K when we rolled in to my buddies home I then rode it another 25 miles back to my home where there was still some gear lube leaking out.  What was left was way less than a ounce

I'd like some input as to whether I should just get a new drain plug, fill it up say F--- this and ride it from Cleveland OH to St Paul MN for the national rally and hope it holds together?  Buy another transmission and give the old one back to the wrench as a  special thank you?  Rebuilding it again is out of the question even though it has under 50,000 miles and had all new bearings and bushings.  I don't want to spend that much in parts again.

Right now I can't decide if I should sell the whole bike and all my gear, or part it out. 

[pfls]

The fact that you still had some oil in the tranny suggests that the drain plug didn't drop out till late in the ride, so little or no damage may have been done. That being said, it was professionally rebuilt and installed. Doesn't that mean that the professional you paid to do the work left the plug loose and is therefore responsible? If it was me, I would tell the shop that did the work about what happened, refill it and see if any problems arise. Drain it after the rally and see what is on the magnet. If it is clean, don't worry about it, but check it again after a few thousand miles. If you get a lot of metal on the magnet, they should rebuild it or replace it on their dime.

[K75RT Keith]

pfls  Thanks for confirming my plan.   I already called and left a message for the mechanic.  Going to order a drain plug & crush washer Monday from a local shop. and fill the trans and run it like it's stolen.  I had run Guard dog prior to the rebuild so some of the parts may still have had some moly on them. Still have a little left and its going in right before a good hard run.

[drut]

Sounds hopeful as you have not appeared to notice any roughness or noises.Glad the oil did not lube your back tire & dump you down the road.If the work was done by a regular shop I would think they should take responsibility.

[Motorhobo]

Maybe you should fill it up, ride it some, then drain it again and check for any metal bits on the plug and in the fluid. If you don't see anything, bitch to whoever did the work, chalk it up to ch1t happens and forget about it. If there was damage, there'd be evidence. 300 miles isn't that much and it sounds like you may have dodged the bullet.

A decade ago my bike came back from the dealer with the oil drain plug loose and near falling out. Their response wAs to ask if I had any enemies who might have access to the bike...turns out I did. Now I always check and torque plugs myself -- and if I forget or leave something loose I just bitch at myself.

[Elipten]

That is terrible.  I lost a car engine as Teck did not torque drain bolt on an engine change and you know girlfriends.  The Kbike tranny is built like a brick house.  Fill it, ride it, and check it.  And see shop, register the issue as if fails the should make it good.  Don't give up on the bike for this reason, not the bike's fault.

[K75RT Keith]

Thanks to all for the encouraging words. 

The hard part to swallow is that after the rebuild, she shifted smooth as silk.  Now it shifts like it did before when the bushings between the gears were worn and there was slop.  The true irony of the situation is,  that I was putting the miles on to change the lube after the rebuild. 

[Elipten]

Talk to shop and if needed a lawyer.  Hate to use the L word but how much did you pay them?  Maybe small claims court.

[Motorhobo]

That really does bite the big one...but here's hoping some guard dog and new gear oil will cure it. Hate to see you dump your brick because of this.

Keep us posted please on how this ugly incident plays out.

Van

[K75RT Keith]

The one other ironic twist to the story is, that I asked the wrench to use moly paste for reassembly on the mating surfaces of the gears/bushings & bearings.  IF he did what I asked, the damage may be less than I expect.

Law suit is a possibility, if he blows me off.  Good thing I know how to draft the complaint, research the case law and file in the proper jurisdiction.

[wmax351]

The one other ironic twist to the story is, that I asked the wrench to use moly paste for reassembly on the mating surfaces of the gears/bushings & bearings.  IF he did what I asked, the damage may be less than I expect.

Law suit is a possibility, if he blows me off.  Good thing I know how to draft the complaint, research the case law and file in the proper jurisdiction.

Small claims is the place for this. Easy to do in essentially all states. No lawyers required (or allowed).

[Scott_]

That is terrible.  I lost a car engine as Teck did not torque drain bolt on an engine change and you know girlfriends.  The Kbike tranny is built like a brick house.  Fill it, ride it, and check it.  And see shop, register the issue as if fails the should make it good.  Don't give up on the bike for this reason, not the bike's fault.

I have an ex that toasted 2 engines because she can't check oil level.

[K75RT Keith]

 :yow

[K75RT Keith]

What is missing from these ppictures?

[johnny]

i slide a tampon in my weephole... that way i wont know if its leaking... good place to stash a usb drive too...

j o

[K75RT Keith]

Leakage from the weephole?   Chitt! The drain plug is on the right.  WTF was I thinking?  No wonder I couldn't see any threads.   So, that leakage must mean that the new rear main seal, o-ring and/or transmission input shaft seal failed.  That explains the low engine oil and loss of trans oil.

[pfls]

Isn't that a picture of the clutch housing drain hole?

[K75RT Keith]

My week just got a lot better.  Just heard from the wrench that did the work.  told him it is from weep hole not missing drain plug.  He's going to order the seals and o-ring and repair at his expense. 

[drut]

My week just got a lot better.  Just heard from the wrench that did the work.  told him it is from weep hole not missing drain plug.  He's going to order the seals and o-ring and repair at his expense.

Good result!

[TimTyler]

That leaking doesn't look like brand new gear oil, it looks like engine oil.

Did you originally commission the rear main seal and O-ring refurb work or just the transmission rebuild? They are separate things.

How much engine oil can you see in the sight glass? Have you checked your gearbox oil level with the dipstick tool?

[K75RT Keith]

Tim,
Yeah, I came to that conclusion after I went and checked her out last night.  Was so pissed off when I got home, it went to its spot in the garage on Saturday and I didn't even walk near it until last night. Johnny's comment got me thinking and then it hit me that the drain plug is on the right side of the trans.
   
Rear main back was done. including replacing the clutch and input shaft seal.  Oil level is down towards the low full mark on the sight glass, Trans, I'm going to check after work today.  In any case the wrench said he'll replace the seals and o-ring at no cost to me.

After all my carping about check the simple things first, I jumped to the worst possible problem.

[Elipten]

What about the clutch, with all that oil?

[K75RT Keith]

We'll see if it is contaminated or if it is useable  when the cases get split.  I'll deal with that matter if it arises

[K75RT Keith]

Got her back on Saturday.  turns out the o-ring has a nick in it and that caused the leak.  Luckily, the inside of the bell housing was clean except for by the weep hole.  Put 150 miles on it coming home and no leaking. 

[Motorhobo]

Dude ... Nicked o ring ... Barely perceptible...happened to me too...6k miles later gooey innards and slipping clutch...buy two...if there's any doubt at all chuck the questionable one.