got an '81 FXS and I've been learning everything I can about it. Got the manual and opened the inspection covers and I found out it's a belt Pri. O K, the book lists a wet and a dry clutch. How to tell the differance and what to do about oil in the primary?

 

Hello Pat.
I have a 1981 FXE. On mine the primary (chain)is oiled by the engine oil and then drains back to tank. The tranny is seporate. I use Formula Plus in the trans and 20W-50 in the engine.

 

Be still my heart, that is a gorgeous machine. Thanks for the good word. Ride safe.

 

my shovel has a belt drive in the primary too. 83 FXSB. There is no oil anywhere in the primary, or at least there shouldn't be. Clutch and belt all run dry. Just check the belt from time to time to make sure it's in good shape, and you should be good to go.

 

THANKS! I would love to see a picture of yours. I love seeing the old bikes. You almost never see them out on the road.

 

If you have Oil in a dry primary ( Belt drive and dry clutch )
then you have to find where it is coming from.

Two things come to mind.
One when it was converted to dry and the belt was installed they didn't disconnect and/or block the oil lines to and from the primary
That run between the engine/oiler and the primary case

The second
Most likely its the Oil seal on the engine main shaft

It's a pain to get at.
But easy to change once you get to it

Having to remove the primary case is the worst of it

 

I have an 82 FXWG with a primo/rivera dry clutch and belt drive........Any oil in the primary is bad, the enemy of belts is heat and oil. like stated above, the engine main seal behind the stators rotor is the most likely cause, as trans oil cant really get into the primary unless the little seals on the clutch hub nut are bad, but then very little oil can get through the mainshaft anyway.

if you replace the engine main seal..........remember the side of the seal with the spring visible ALWAYS goes to the oil side!!!( in this case, the engine, not the primary)