I probably wont be around in 50 years......... Checked my fluids on saturday, all is well. Guess im one of the lucky ones. Love my bike..... love it.

 

So you actually got to talk in person with guys having this issue? Wow, I talked to everyone I could this summer and they all loved the M8, I don't think any of them was aware of the problem and I didn't want to bring it up because they was so happy.
From what you said sounds like people are starting to catch on now. Sad.

 

I'm aware that it is a diagnostic data point. However, I believe it is an important one. In my mind, it almost has to be a vacuum being present, as there is nothing creating a significant pressurization of the transmission compared to the primary. Both are heating and expanding under operation, even heavy operation, and venting between the two should be adequate to equalize pressures.

If, OTOH, a vent to atmosphere from the primary solves the migration, then I'd be looking at a) how MUCH vacuum is being pulled (could be measured at the primary vent), and how can this vacuum be reduced (as a solution to the problem).

If it DOESN'T solve the problem, that means either 1) there IS pressure being created in the transmission in excess of what is expected or 2) the fluid is transferring by mechanical means (i.e. oil slung and/or migrating due to the motion of the transmission and/or primary).

Just thinking out loud here...

 

After the first round of the "Drain, fill, ride for 1000 mile" suggestion, I went back to the dealer after only 260 miles with no trans oil registering on the dipstick. This is after they already did the TA00022 bulletin at 1,900 miles. They said they are going to call the Motor Company again to see what's next.

The GM of the dealership happens to walk in and sees me there. He is aware of the issue and asks if I've already ridden the suggested 1000 miles. I told him I only got to 260 miles. He said that's ridiculous and that he was going to make some phone calls.

He called me the following day say that he told the motor company that his dealership nor his customer (me) was going to be their experiment case. There is something seriously wrong when the gearbox is practically dry after only 260 miles. He suggested that they send a new motor and they can experiment on my old one. He is waiting for a response.

Stay tuned...

Now, I have a theory. I believe the problem is with the clutch release rod. It's the only piece that goes from the gearbox to the primary by way of the bored out shaft. While it could be a design flaw or a faulty part, why is it that not everyone is experiencing this problem? It seems to be hit an miss. I think it may have to do with how the bike is being ridden. My bike is my daily commuter bike. I'm not in stop-and-go traffic, but I do a lot of shifting. Which means a lot of clutch action or holding in the clutch at a traffic light.

My theory is all M8 motors will do some transfer with a pull of the clutch. It's the riders who do doing more clutch action are the ones experiencing a greater transfer because of the faulty clutch release rod. With each pull of the clutch it's transferring a very small amount of fluid. Think of it this way; I have a bulb pump. Squeezing the pump once every 10 miles transfers a little bit of fluid. But squeezing the pump once every mile, I will have 10 times more fluid transfer after the same 10 mile run. Riders who only squeeze the pump once every 10 miles won't notice the transfer as they are changing their fluid before they reach the same amount of pumps as those squeezing every mile. Just my theory.

 

Yes people know about, are dealing with it like us and the other problems M8's have that HD can't seem to fix.

Whats even worse than us that ride and deal with the issues are the poor sot's that buy a new M8 and haven't ridden them enough to keep the battery up. The joke in one group I came across was they hadn't ridden there brand new 2017 M8's enough since purchase to keep the battery charged up. Many in one group had let there battery's go flat in there M8's. And this being Oklahoma many in there group jump started there bikes to get them going for the weekends ride. There comments were along the lines of " I thought these new M8's had a better charging system." A group of riders like that will be the gents that do run the transmission out of oil and grind it up or ride it into the ground sumping or yeah don't all Harleys rattle like they have no oil in them as the oil pump fails. How many of those folks do you think really did a preride check on there new M8 Touring class bikes. I bet 50% of the bikes I saw had low tires. In the hands of owners like that many will get a very ugly surprise one day when they think they have a world class touring bike and all hell breaks loose.

 

Well, mine has been flawless. I can’t speak for anyone else......... I’m good

 

We get it dude........ we get it........ Do you join in on Prostrate Cancer Victim threads and constantly tell them, "I'm good! My *** is flawless! I'm one of the lucky ones! I love my ***....... love it!", twice a day?

Just curious........

 

 

I do appreciate what you’re saying here and I understand your fatigue with his theme, but hey, at LEAST he has an M8! There’s few that post on this and the other transfer threads that don’t have a dog in the fight that really irk me!

 

Guy's this problem has been going on since 2014 it clearly states in the TA . Most people
drain the fluids and never check. My problem is I run a tranny specific fluid that is bad for clutch plates. So did I cause clutch damage long term do to migration issue? I want to thank you guys for posting what you do . I'm pissed HD had a fix for 2014 and never issued a TA before the M8 problems.