Was changing oil on the '05 883c, and noticed this drain hose or something. The bottom is open, and terminates near the oil drain hose. It is attached to the vertical frame tube and then has a short 4 inch piece of hose hooked to the top of it, and is split lengthwise and not connected to anything. What is this, and why is it disconnected

 

...also, the crankcase or transmission vent tube seems very susceptible to getting water in it. They all look like that?

 

I was wondering if it was the crankcase breather, but as you've mentioned it in another mail, I'll forget it.

TD

 

Well, I am NOT impressed with the oil change procedure so far. The part where you let a little bit of oil out of the drain tube after filling, I don't really understand, because nothing came out anyway. Also I put 3.5 quarts in an after doing everything just like the manual suggested, and after starting the engine, it died then puked about an eighth of a quart down the side of the oil tank. Awesome. Then taking it for a ride and warming it up it checks Way too full I'm thinking more like three quarts is appropriate. What am I doing wrong?

 

Could that be the fuel vent hose? Also I think the manual has a typo it should be 2.8 quarts engine 1 quart primary.

 

The "Owners Manual" for 04-07? is wrong (misleading). A factory new, dry motor takes 3.6 quarts. An oil change, because there's oil in the motor that doesn't get emptied when you drain the oil tank, only requires ~2.75 quarts to refill.

 

I've heard it somewhere before. But isn't that where you suck start a Harley

 

That's maybe part of the vent hose from your gas tank (I think) with the vapor valve in the picture. On CA bikes it goes to the charcoal can, but yours must just vent to atmosphere if not a CA bike. Very common to disconnect this part, mines in a box.

Two and a half quarts is perfect for me, including filter. Above low mark, but not much. No oil spew, and temps around 190. Start on the low side, oil flow is important, oil level not so much.

John

 

Ya guys, I googled the capacity problem, and saw where there was a mistake in the 2005 owners manual. That would have been nice to know before I wasted a $10 quart of oil and made a huge mess all over my garage floor, and down the side of the bike. I also sucked a bunch of oil into the air cleaner as a result. I will be editing my owners manual to show 2.75 quarts instead of 3.6 quarts. I sure wish I knew for sure why that hose was there. Neither end is connected to anything but both rubber hoses connect at the point where it is anchored to the frame by what looks like a plastic check valve. Maybe this was hose for California models, and not hooked up on my bike? It's very strange, I cannot see where it could have been intended to connect anywhere.

 

Figured it out. It was the gas tank vent line. THe small section of hose had completely split lengthwise, and came undone from the upper hose, and it slid down the vertical frame tube. Gonna pick up some hose tomorrow and get it hooked back up.