Hello all, I'm currently researching oil coolers and while looking at the bike I noticed on the oil housing there are two bolts screwed into it. My buddy said he used this with his oil cooler, i.e. screwed in some nipple fittings, attached some lines and was done. It looks likes what he did would work, just wanted to see if anyone actually new what these were? I can't believe how expensive the oil adapter is and if this will work I'd be pretty happy. My old 88 didn't have these and I'm curious why on the 96 Harley decided to add these?

Thanks...

 

Humm, didn't see these.
I used the thermostatic adapter that has the fittings already.
Having this adapter helps to warm the engine initially on cooler mornings.
Do yourself a favor and use the flared fittings and a braided lines.
They cost a bit more but you won't have the lines coming off.

 

Here's actually what I'm talking about. I'm thinking about just doing what my buddy did to his bike and not buying the adapter. After he added the oil cooler it dropped his temps substantiality. I'm still curious why these are here?

 

I have asked about these before too. they are casting plugs, used by the factory when machining the cases. They serve no other purpose and are not designed to be oil passages, so I would not recommend using them for an oil cooler.

 

I've heard this before, but I'm not so sure I believe it. Reason being is on my 88 in motor it did not have them, so why on the 96 did harley decide to do this?

 

this has been discussed before... there casting plugs... wont work for an oil cooler... anyway, not enough clearance between the plugs and frame for fittings or hoses..

 

Interesting to see if they did actually work for your buddy.

 

He's been using it for years and no problems. When I started talking about getting an oil cooler he informed me of the plugs. I had never even noticed and like I said earlier I'm curious why HD add the plugs? If you take the filter off you'll notice the top bolt/hole runs online with where the oil pumps inside the filter, the threaded part. The lower bolt/hole does just the opposite, it runs inline with the return.

 

Gonna go by HD and see what they say. I'll post tomorrow...

 

As I suspected they zero clue what the bolts/holes are for.