is a leaky clutch normal for the first few miles? (assuming its the clutch)

i just got a new '10 w 0mi n noticed a lil pool of hydraulic fluid in the bed of my truck after making the long trip back. (i drove something like 600mi to get it n returned the same day) it kept dripping a tad after unloading and even after my lil break-in ride from houston to austin. (150mi) its a light drip from the center of the engine and the clutch fluid is only about 1/3 from the bottom of the indicator window. I don't know if this is normal or what. do the o-rings have to get seated or something? it leaked a lot at first but its just barely dripping a tiny bit now, like two or three drops after a ride. it seems pretty wrong but i'd hate to go through what i must to leave it at the mechanic, if its normal for these. anyone seen this before, or should i get it in as fast as i can?

 

That doesn't sound normal at all. I never noticed mine dripping fluid at all.

 

yeh ok i'll get it checked out, thanks!

 

NO! No hydraulic fluid should never leak!!! You know that DOT 4 stuff eats paint! right? Take it back to the dealer and complain.

 

yeh i know, the more i think about it getting all over my new truckbed the more pissed i get. hope that factory bedliner holds up. anyway the dlr is way too far to go, i'll have to drop it on my local honda guy n make a warranty claim. this isnt starting well.

 

I would be more concerned aboot possible damage to paint and other items the fluid has come in contact with.

 

that's only normal on Harleys

 

No drips here at all, tick over 14,000 miles

 

Leak on anything (your dick, sink, clutch, gas tank even a random Dam) not normal.
Leak by definition is a failure. Investigate and fix.

 

where is it leaking from ????? you said center of engine...only place that clutch fluid could be leaking on engine end is at the slave cylinder and thats on the left side near the gearshift linkage

 

+1 the clutch can only leak at the top master or at the bottom slave on the left side. It would be obvious as the slave is exposed right in front of you and you can check the line fitting and the bleed screw as well as the whole slave for leaking. My gut is that you said from the center of the engine, so it may be wicking that way but since it leans to the left it would probably leak straight down. If it is brake fluid then also check the abs system on the right under the fairing. Many brake fluid junctions there and that can leak and run down the inside and seem like it is coming from the center of the engine since that is on the right and the bike leans on the left.

As far as the clutch fluid measurement, are you turning the bars all the way to the right to make the master top level and then checking the window for fluid level? If not than it can seems low since on the side stand it is leaning left and away from the window. Let us know how it works out.

 

Could it be fork oil ??

Being strapped down over bumps with the forks compressed for lots of miles in the back of a truck might have forced some oil out.

wasn't there a problem with some 1200s related to leakage from a seal in the rear wheel shaft drive unit ??

 

Are you sure it is hydraulic fluid and not motor oil?
Seems more likely that an oil drain plug or filter might be leaking.

 

Don't worry... it'll eventually stop

 

Lol i can defiantly tell the difference between hydraulic fluid n motor oil

I may never know just what the hell happened cause I just let it ride since the I paid for the factory extended warranty. The levels are holding solid and the leak ramped off to nothing after a week or so. I ride damn near every day and even after telling the honda mechanic at the 1Kmi checkup, he found nothing and its not shifting any worse than apparently all of these do. (Occasional miss when getting aggressive/ragging) so, its still a mystery but form yalls posts I figured out a few things:

1) its not normal
2) i should have gotten it looked at by a mechanic
3) harly's are poorly made
4) its never too late to necrobump
4) i need a urologist

Thanks again for everyones help! Sorry i dont have a better closing to this but hey, at least the paint's all still there!