Triumphrat

htown16

I changed the gear box lube on my 78 t140 this weekend and it appeared to be somewhat emulsified indicating some water had somehow contaminated it. Any ideas on how it got in? I only wash my bike about twice a year and never with high pressure. Does the gear box have a vent I should be covering? I also wanted to change the oil in the primary but couldn't figure out how to get the plug out. Any suggestions?
Thanks to all!

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Htown16, Houston, Texas
1978 T140E Bonneville, 2004 XL 1200R Sportster, 1972 Commando,
1974 Commando
Everything will be alright in the end.
If its not alright, its not the end.

jimballard

My guess is that water got down through the clutch cable housing on the gearbox. It should have a rubber boot over it and it can't be cracked. That's the vent as well, as far as I know. The primary drain bolt needs a small, sometimes, offset wrench to remove it, and I usually flush it with a bit of gasoline to thin the oil out. There's bound to be some clutch "dust" mixed in with it. The best way is to remove the adjusting "nut" which will allow the "crud" to flow out easier, but that can be a pain.

Hope this helps: Jim

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Jim Ballard

The older I get, the faster I was....until lately!! (Speed IS the fountain of youth)!

panda

Jim gives good advice...

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A wise man learns from his mistakes..
A genius learns from other peoples mistakes.

okiecityflash

I change the primary oil quite frequently (every 500 miles or so) when I change the engine oil. I don't have a oil filter yet and oils cheap. On mine there is an allen screw with an o- ring on the bottom of primary case, directly below the shifter. Interesting on the tranny air breather. Luck

OzBloke

Jim's very likely to be right, but another (minor) possibility is the seal on the gearbox mainshaft behind the drive sprocket. Does your bike drop occasional cogbox oil when you have it on sidestand? Is there a lot of gunk on the baseplate under the sprocket? If this seal is on it's way out, it will allow cold (moist) air into the gearbox as it cools - air condenses and water results. Also check the O-ring on the filler hole plug above the kickstarter shaft.

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Per Ardua Ad Astra
(Through difficulties to the stars)

KADUTZ

As our wise and good friend from the GREAT state of Oklahoma says the primary on T140E(also V&D) is drained from an allen screw on the primary cover and is correct!
You didnt state when the last gearbox fluid change occured.
It has been my experience that the outer gearbox cover "sweats " when the bike is parked in the off season .
The way I was taught for every drop of sweat outside there is a drop inside. Thats why I change my Grearbox fluid twice a year and use a FULL quart each time.
Never claimed to be an Ex-pert just an Ex-gravedigger and an Ex-smoker.

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TRIUMPH
"THE WORLDS PRE-EMINENT MOTORCYCLE"

Lutz

Hey KADUTZ,
The cover can have condensation form on or in it but cannot sweat.
Do you really expect me to believe you use a full quart of oil in the gearbox every time ????
Lutz

okiecityflash

Absolutely right again Kadutz The state of OKLAHOMA is the greatest. Families on minimum wage jobs can still qualify for their own homes. And it seems like everybody and his brother has a new Harley, not sportsters either. Having been born , raised, and worked half of my life in Calif, visited OK and never went back. Lived in NYC for a while,no thank you. Naturalized redneck, in a red state and proud of it. Do me a favor, don't tell anyone about it. Don't want any Yankee's finding out. fft: :asb:

KADUTZ

HEY LUTZ
YUP
FIRST PINT IS A FLUSH 2ND IS THE FILL.

[ This message was edited by: KADUTZ on 2006-04-10 22:07 ]

__________________
TRIUMPH
"THE WORLDS PRE-EMINENT MOTORCYCLE"

DAGAD

The vent is a small hole (1/16") drilled in the top front, inside of the outer cover. Next time you take an outer off, look for it above the gear lever spindle in the outer cover.
Roy.