I have a 14 Roadking and the shift shaft seal has leaked ever since new. It started leaking at about 800 miles, fixed at first service. Started leaking again around 9,000 miles fixed again under warranty. Started leaking again close to 20,000 miles fixed again under warranty. Now it's leaking again at 49,000 miles. Dealer got with Harley and they are going to replace transmission housing on their dime so no complaints here from me, but I'm just curious if others have had the same problem.

 

No leaks from the shifter shaft on my 2016 FLHTCU at 33k miles. BUT, out of concern for developing a leak there, I recently replaced my shift shaft bushings (the two bushings located in the inner primary up front). The shaft had been getting really sloppy from wear and tear, and I feared the out-of-spec wallowing of the linkage would eventually eat up the transmission seal. I replaced bushings and shaft, and the whole linkage is now very snug just like new. BTW the shift shaft that runs in the two bushings also wears out and needs replacing. I was surprised by how much of the shaft was worn away from running in the two end bushings.

So, I reckon this will be an every 20k job, so I bought a Jims tool for driving out the old bushings and pressing in the new. $92 for the tool, which is probably half what the dealer shop would charge me for a single job. Bushings are cheap, and the shaft itself costs about $35.

I know this doesn't address your issue with the leaking seal, and most likely you've got a bad transmission case, which is too bad, but HD will make it right, I'm sure. But do keep an eye on the linkage, it wears out.

 

1000 miles on my 2015 RGS and the shifter shaft was wet, not leaking bad but weeping I guess.


Dealer replaced under warranty, had the bike in for another issues and they found the shifter shaft at the same time.


The issue I was in for is a slight transmission leak around a bolt in between the primary and transmission, if you look down in the space between the two you'll see this bolt. When I was cleaning the bike I noticed a film on it. Dealer said there is no seal on it and thinking maybe it wasn't properly torqued.


Anyone else have this issue?

 

1100 miles on 2017 Streetglide took bike in for 1000 mile service, told them that shifter pawl shaft wobbled excessively, they called back and said that they found the shifter pawl retainer clip missing from factory and will fix. Got the bike back supposedly fixed, less than 100 miles later, its now leaking fluid from shifter pawl seal. Called dealer, going back in next week.

 

mine 100 2014 SG at 10k

 

Mine was beginning to leak at 36,000 miles. Found while in there to repair Transmission output shaft seal leak.

 

Just replaced mine at 52’xxx, did a compensator and it was damp und the shifter shaft seal so I replaced it.

 

Just some follow up info on my transmission shifter seal leak, Got the bike back from the dealer service dept. They said they had to tear down the transmission and replace the shifter pawl assembly, they found some scratches on the shaft. They also went ahead and replaced the sleeve / bushing in the case because it was out of tolerance. Got about 100 miles on it now so far no leak.

 

Latest update on shifter shaft seal leak. Well about 500 miles later shifter seal leaking again. The dealer is picking up the bike today.

 

I had that seal replaced 3 times in 25000 miles on my Road King. Could have had it replaced more often but always drove it leaking for awhile.
Always fixed under warranty.
I asked dealer why it keeps going thru seals and they said there are some bikes that they can't seem to stop it for long.
They were happy to just keep replacing seals.
Annoyed the hell out of me.
Hoping my 2016 does better. So far so good at 10000 miles.