I have a question regarding sportster trans oiling. Is the lubrication of the trans shared with the engine oil? From the service manual it appears when you change the engine oil that you are also draining the transmission too. If this is so than the primary housing is containing only oil to lubricate the chain and clutch assemblies. Please let me know if I am correct.
Diverherb

 

No the engine oil is in the oil tank. Its a dry sump system. The primary and transmission share the same oil.

 

2 holes. Engine oil. Primary/trans oil.

Pull the cover and take a look. It's obvious they share a sump.

 

I don't know what scooter you have, but on my '07 883 the lubricant for the engine and the transmission are different. Both in actual 'oil' and location to refill. But if the service manual for your scooter is different...

 

Although some of the earlier "ironhead" Sportsters had something I think they called a transfer valve (or port) that allowed some interchange of oil from crankcase to primary, all newer Sportsters have isolated crankcase lubrication from the primary/transmission lubrication.

You change the crankcase oil by draining the oil tank. You change the primary oil by removing a drain plug on bottom of case, primary side.

John

 

The early sportsters had a dry clutch. They could have been like the panheads , they had a dry clutch as well. I don't think the big twins went to a wet clutch till 1984. and had a port that lubed the primary chain. It was a total loss system and had a drain in the bottom of the primary cover. That's where the tale that they all leaked got started,

Maybe not, Up to '69 they were damp clutches. Called dry but rarely so. Ran in an oil bath but had a dome on the basket covering the clutch mechanism as well as a seal in the hub nut.

 

I think the Sportsters always had a wet primary due to integral transmission oiling and primary chain, although the clutch was dry on the early models, enclosed in a "Frisbee" kind of cover. I can only imagine what a service nightmare that must have been. I'm not sure what the purpose of the "transfer" port was but I've read about it over on xlf. Seems it was common to block it off at some point in time.

Since the BT has a(physically) separate transmission, I guess they could run a dry primary (belt?) or wet (chain?) like they do today.

John

 

newbe here.... are they both the same oil, Im purchasing 4 qts amsoil 20/50 for the motor, if so how many qts for the primary and trans,or total for all, sorry for the ignorance 2002 xl1200 sporty is my first Harley and I pick it up 9/28 thanks tileman AKA Frank

 

I find one quart is perfect for the primary/trans level check hole in my 1991. I'm running 2.6 quarts in the motor/oil tank based on what's left in the 3rd bottle. It could probably take a wee bit more, but check the manual for your year, my bike is older, but very similar. Measure your engine oil when engine is fully warm so any that drained back into the engine is accounted for on the dipstick.

I believe 20/50 Amsoil would work fine in your primary, it's highly regarded oil. I use M1 75W90 gear oil in my primary. GTX 20/50 in the engine, at the moment. Harley black oil filter for me, although I think WIX (NAPA?) has some merit from what I've read.

John

 

My '02 Sporty manual calls for one qt.(32 oz.) in the primary/tranny cavity.


Three qt engine oil. I usually do 2 1/2 qts. to see where the dipstick is at.
Too much oil will give you A/C oil blowback and it gets messy.
I can always add more if needed.


I use Sporty trann/primary oil.
It's designed for the trans/primary.
Dump in a qt. and you're done.
Unless you find a pool of oil under the bike, you don't have to check.
It doesn't have a dipstick like the engine for checking.