I stopped by a dealer on Saturday to get stuff to do my upcoming fluid changes on my 2012 48. Instead of selling me an o-ring for my clutch inspection cover, the parts guy absolutely insisted on selling me a gasket (PN 25416-99C). Tells me that it is recommended over the o-ring on all HDs, including the Sportster. I went home and checked my service manual and it says nothing about a gasket.

Was he correct? I do not know what to believe anymore.

 

Are you talking about the quad ring on the derby cover? That doesn't need to be replaced during primary fluid service. Do you have 10,000 miles on the bike? Unless things have changed, primary fluid doesn't need to be changed until 10,000 miles.

 

Thanks for the correction! I fixed my original post information to say "clutch inspection cover", but I cannot change the original title.

It is the transmission fluid at 1,000.

 

This thing:

 

Well, that's not a "new" style gasket, and I believe it's used on some earlier model Bit Twins, like pre (2005?). The -99 piece of the part number indicates that part was first used in 1999.

The derby cover gasket is called a Quad-Ring.

 

If I pop it open for any reason, it gets a new gasket. If there are screws with o-rings on 'em and I take 'em out, they get new ones when they go back in. I also install a new quad ring each time. I don't get in there and monkey around for the hell of it, so it isn't that expensive for me to know that I don't have a near-failing or even "weakened" part. Racing habits have served me and every machine I've ever had very well.


The exception to my rule is the drain plug, where I don't use the o-ring at all because I use permatex gear oil-proof, high temp sealant.

 

I would agree with you most of the time, but not on the quad-ring. I finally changed out my original quad-ring at 50,000 miles just for the hell of it. Oh, and I saved the perfectly good old one just in case.

 

I think I am going to return this paper thing and get the quad ring.

 

The p/n for the quad-ring is 25463-94A.
Yep, hasn't changed since 1994.

 

At 1,000 miles, you don't need to replace the quad ring gasket. You don't even need to remove the derby cover. To change the primary fluid, just drain it, open the chain inspection cover (which you should check at 1,000 miles). Then fill the primary through the chain inspection cover.

Messing with that quad ring can be a very frustrating experience.

I would suggest the dealer for 1,000 mile service, but some folks seem hell bent on doing all of that themselves.