hey everyone,
just bought a 79 stripped flh, 80 ci.Bike has been changed over to a sealed primary. how do I know how much primary oil to put in?

 

Get a service manual. It will tell you all you need to know.

 

Agree that a service manual is most important tool to have, but in this case, you will not find out how much lube to put in the primary from the service manual, because a sealed primary is not how the bike was originally configured.

The primary was originally lubricated by oil from the engine, and was connected by hoses to the engine lube system.

oldngrey2:

With the bike up vertical, add lube until the level just touches the outside of the clutch shell.

 

Even though I don`t have a bike that old, I have before. I should have remembered. Thanks for re-educating me. `Guess senility has set in.... Sigh!

 

Dan's gotcha covered. You just want enough to splash around and lube the chain, but not so much that you soak the clutch disks. Sounds like you have an isolated primary by either you or a previous owner. Some guys run 30-wt oil, others run ATF. I've ran both with no issues, but just make sure it doesn't get low or you'll be replacing a chain and/or the tensioner.

Love to see people wrenchin and ridin the old iron...

 

You got my post before I edited it, sometimes I look at what I just posted and realize it comes across as rude, so I make a mad dash to fix it...I gotta start reading my posts better before I hit the submit button...

 

I have owned two 79's and a 80 and 81 FLH bikes. They run a dry clutch so you have to be careful and not add too much primary oil. Use a good primary gasket when you take it off or she will leak.On a few trips to Daytona I had to pull the primary and clutch pak on the side of I 10 to rub the disc on the concrete so they would grab. If you have the stock 3 bolt clutch, change it over to the 5 bolt for better hook up and ease of use. I always used regular primary oil in my bikes. With the bike on a jack or held straight up in the riding position; add just enough oil so that you can see it touch the bottom of the basket.

 

The outer edge of the clutch drum..Yours probably has row coil springs but you should have a plate that is similar.

 

Thanks everyone,
I've had a few shovels but I've never had a sealed primary. Many thanks...
dan87flstc... don't worry about it... I happy for the help....John

 

My '78 FXEF had a tube sticking out over the primary chain that would send engine oil straight out and hit the inside of the outer primary cover. Upon the suggestion of my indy, I sealed up the end orifice with epoxy, and dremel cut two small holes in the underside of the tube so the oil would squirt down directly on the chain.

I had the Barnett 5 stud race clutch which would lock up very quickly.