Leaking Pumpkin

[Forge]

I picked up a 99 Interstate with 10,700 miles on it. I put new tires on her, replacing the 2001 manufactured tires. I did not do the rear drive service, since I was unaware of it being new to the Valk. I did change out the pumpkin oil going back with Mobil 1 75-90w. I went out and put 240 miles on her a couple of weeks ago and noticed signs of some oil slinging out on the rear wheel. There is a small drop forming at the bottom of my pumpkin, not from the drain hole, but from the seam.

 I am pretty sure that I overfilled it, topping it off on the sidestand. Can this be overfilled slinging it out, or do you think I may have a blown seal? I want to pull it and do the rear service too. Which exact o-rings do I need to order for the rear service?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yes, you overfilled it. Needs to be filled upright, or a measured amount.

[Forge]

Yes, you overfilled it. Needs to be filled upright, or a measured amount.

I have since read that and have been learning as I go. Would overfilling it cause it to sling out?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yes, you overfilled it. Needs to be filled upright, or a measured amount.

I have since read that and have been learning as I go. Would overfilling it cause it to sling out?

I would expect it to come out the top vent and then get slung. If you are seeing slung grease from the center of the pumpkin out. It is likely a broken o-ring letting it release. Or overdoing too much grease to begin with.

[da prez]

Pinion cup drain hole could be stopped up. Best to pull and do a rear end service before the weather overcomes the mind.

                                                 da prez

[Chrisj CMA]

Yes, you overfilled it. Needs to be filled upright, or a measured amount.

I have since read that and have been learning as I go. Would overfilling it cause it to sling out?

I would expect it to come out the top vent and then get slung. If you are seeing slung grease from the center of the pumpkin out. It is likely a broken o-ring letting it release. Or overdoing too much grease to begin with.

There is no o-ring that can fail and leak. But the main seal that circles the splines can fail. It would leak where you describe. If that is it you most likely damaged it putting the wheel back on. Order a seal just in case they are cheap and even if not needed nice to have.

[Tfrank59]

Well IMO you should check the easy stuff first.  if you overfilled the pumpkin, you could drain it down to the correct level (and in fact verify that it's overfilled) simply by taking out the fill cap and standing the bike upright.  If gear oil comes out the fill hole, you had it too full, so just let it drain out to where it's level with the bottom of the fill hole, with the bike standing exactly vertical, not leaning either left or right. 

On the other hand, if you find the pumpkin wasn't overfull, then you almost certainly have to pull the wheel/pumpkin back apart and inspect, as others have said, perhaps an o-ring or perhaps the large oil seal around drive spline, which if you're not careful can get pushed inside and leak gear oil.  (I hate to say it, but the description of your leak gives the impression it might be the oil seal or o-ring, either of which requires disassembly.) 

In any event, if you verify that your pumpkin was not overfilled, DO NOT ride the bike at all until you diagnose and fix the problem--you could fry your pumpkin running it dry/low on gear oil

[Forge]

I know I overfilled. It was on the sidestand and was filled until it ran out.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Yes, you overfilled it. Needs to be filled upright, or a measured amount.

I have since read that and have been learning as I go. Would overfilling it cause it to sling out?

I would expect it to come out the top vent and then get slung. If you are seeing slung grease from the center of the pumpkin out. It is likely a broken o-ring letting it release. Or overdoing too much grease to begin with.

There is no o-ring that can fail and leak. But the main seal that circles the splines can fail. It would leak where you describe. If that is it you most likely damaged it putting the wheel back on. Order a seal just in case they are cheap and even if not needed nice to have.

I was referring to the 3 o-rings that we replace when doing the rear end service. To someone new to these bikes, the resulting seepage might appear to be gear oil.

[Forge]

Yes, you overfilled it. Needs to be filled upright, or a measured amount.

I have since read that and have been learning as I go. Would overfilling it cause it to sling out?

I would expect it to come out the top vent and then get slung. If you are seeing slung grease from the center of the pumpkin out. It is likely a broken o-ring letting it release. Or overdoing too much grease to begin with.

There is no o-ring that can fail and leak. But the main seal that circles the splines can fail. It would leak where you describe. If that is it you most likely damaged it putting the wheel back on. Order a seal just in case they are cheap and even if not needed nice to have.

I was referring to the 3 o-rings that we replace when doing the rear end service. To someone new to these bikes, the resulting seepage might appear to be gear oil.

Definitely gear oil.

[Tfrank59]

I know I overfilled. It was on the sidestand and was filled until it ran out.

 OK well then dry the outside of the pumpkin completely and keep an eye on it, it should not get excessively hot  after a ride (even in San Antonio) and you shouldn't have any more leaking.  You noted what oil you put in but is it hypoid gear oil? That's what Valkrie pumpkins require.

[The emperor has no clothes]

It still may be overfilled. I’d at least check. Gear oil is cheap, wouldn’t hurt to just drain and start over.

[Jess from VA]

Overfilling an ounce or two would probably be fine, but I think doing it on the kickstand until run-out would be more than that and too much.  You could get an overpressure issue, though the gears in there are pretty tough.  The stuff upchucked through the vent may have you down some, but I'd do what others recommended and center the bike up and pull the fill (not drain) plug, and let any extra run out, until level.

Don't pull the chrome vent off the top, it's staked in there and not made to be pulled.

Get a manual and use it.

You can get an online free one on the Valkyrie Norway site.

[Forge]

 Thanks guys. I am fairly mechanically inclined, just new to the Valks. I've worked on all of my previous bikes and cars. My last bike was and Intruder 1400 and the pumpkin was on the left side of the bike so you couldn't overfill it on the kickstand. I'll level "Lagertha," drain the excess oil, and see if she drips after my next ride.

 The drip I saw under the pumpkin was over a week ago. I wiped it then and she doesn't have another drip showing, nor do I see any wet spot on the rim from a fresh drip. There wasn't even a wet spot when I saw the first drip. The spots I see around the rim are not fresh looking at all, but weren't there before I went on my ride. I checked tire pressures and would have seen them.

 I still want to do the rear service, because I am pretty sure it has never been done. She's a 99 that only had 10,700 miles on her as of February when I bought her. I am sure whatever grease was on her is dry. I would like to know exactly which o-rings I need for the service. I read that there are 3. I will be placing a parts order in the next day or two and would like to get them on the same order.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I get my o-rings from Carolina Bike & Trike. Many get them from Redeye. Up in Shoptalk there are many sections. One being the rear service and explaining the o-rings and such. 

[97BLKVALK]

http://www.carolinabikeandtrike.com/ORings.htm


Here's a 5pk

Michael

[falconbrother]

I had an Intruder 1400 before I went Harley crazy..  Great motorcycle.  Had a Heritage Softail and an Electraglide after that.  They made me miss the bloody Suzuki.  Then (long story) got the Valkyrie.  Glad you're here. 

[MarcusS]

Make darn sure the spacer tube was put back in. It seals the hole where the bolt goes thru from the outside. If it started at a tire change the tube could have been left out.




COLLAR B, RR. DISTANCE

42625-MW5-000

[Chrisj CMA]

Make darn sure the spacer tube was put back in. It seals the hole where the bolt goes thru from the outside. If it started at a tire change the tube could have been left out.




COLLAR B, RR. DISTANCE

42625-MW5-000

The spacer in the final drive is very important as said.  However, it has nothing to do with leaking fluid even if left out.  Hopefully it stopped leaking and all good now.

[mrgeoff]

When I did my rear end maintenance ( was the first time I did it ), after all was put back together and I went for a ride, I too had leakage...but as I was told, I wiped it off and after a couple times of riding (approx.50 miles), there was no more leakage...It scared me at first, but when I did do the maintenance, I was pretty liberal with the grease because when I broke her down, it was bone dry and looked like it had rust...fortune was with me because the gears and spline gears had no damage or wear...!!!

[Jess from VA]

The same thing happens to me (leaking goop/grease).  I use a spatula to load mine up on the theory that more grease is better than less.  The bike expells what it doesn't need and makes a mess for cleanup for a few rides.  It's better than the rusted out desert-dust looking rear ends you see pictures of on here from time to time. 

But leaking grease is not the same as rear end dope being upchucked from the pumpkin vent from being overfilled. 

The expelled grease never lubricated my rear tire tread, but the rear end dope could cause a slippery (and exciting) tire condition.

[..]

I picked up a 99 Interstate with 10,700 miles on it. I put new tires on her, replacing the 2001 manufactured tires. I did not do the rear drive service, since I was unaware of it being new to the Valk. I did change out the pumpkin oil going back with Mobil 1 75-90w. I went out and put 240 miles on her a couple of weeks ago and noticed signs of some oil slinging out on the rear wheel. There is a small drop forming at the bottom of my pumpkin, not from the drain hole, but from the seam.

 I am pretty sure that I overfilled it, topping it off on the sidestand. Can this be overfilled slinging it out, or do you think I may have a blown seal? I want to pull it and do the rear service too. Which exact o-rings do I need to order for the rear service?

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