primary capacity
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
Gotta ask this question to all the folks filling to this line, that line, under the chain, over the chain, wherever...why aren't you just following what the manual recommends? Do you all have some inside info, some secret source? Not looking to stir the pot, just wondering. My manual says 38 oz., I'm sure the MoCo engineers put some research into this and determined that was the correct amount, why do so many say damn the manual and their way is the best way?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 375
Likes: 8
From: Arizona
Gotta ask this question to all the folks filling to this line, that line, under the chain, over the chain, wherever...why aren't you just following what the manual recommends? Do you all have some inside info, some secret source? Not looking to stir the pot, just wondering. My manual says 38 oz., I'm sure the MoCo engineers put some research into this and determined that was the correct amount, why do so many say damn the manual and their way is the best way?
AGREE 100%. I don't understand either.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 58
From: Graysville, AL
Doing my 1000 mile service I realized the primary had been overfilled at the factory by a few oz. I measured out 38oz of fresh fluid in a measuring container and added. I was also worried about the level difference but I try and go my the KISS method. Just drain it and add 38oz.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Gotta ask this question to all the folks filling to this line, that line, under the chain, over the chain, wherever...why aren't you just following what the manual recommends? Do you all have some inside info, some secret source? Not looking to stir the pot, just wondering. My manual says 38 oz., I'm sure the MoCo engineers put some research into this and determined that was the correct amount, why do so many say damn the manual and their way is the best way?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 1,488
From: SW Washington State
Gotta ask this question to all the folks filling to this line, that line, under the chain, over the chain, wherever...why aren't you just following what the manual recommends? Do you all have some inside info, some secret source? Not looking to stir the pot, just wondering. My manual says 38 oz., I'm sure the MoCo engineers put some research into this and determined that was the correct amount, why do so many say damn the manual and their way is the best way?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,173
Likes: 12,740
From: South Carolina
Gotta ask this question to all the folks filling to this line, that line, under the chain, over the chain, wherever...why aren't you just following what the manual recommends? Do you all have some inside info, some secret source? Not looking to stir the pot, just wondering. My manual says 38 oz., I'm sure the MoCo engineers put some research into this and determined that was the correct amount, why do so many say damn the manual and their way is the best way?
Mechanics were converting Harley dry clutch setups to wet clutch setups before the factory came out with the wet clutch. So there is some knowledge out there besides the factory.
The early shop manuals were completely wrong on primary lube level.
Suppose you are on the road and need to check the primary for some reason, if you only know what the capacity is supposed to be, how does that help you? Do you drain it and refill it because you are fixated on how many oz the primary holds?
38 oz. 39.oz. Who cares. Fill it to the proper level (and if you really need to know how much it takes, measure it as you pour it in, simple).
To those of you asking why some of us do not religiously follow the capacity shown in the service manual, just go ahead and service a Softail oil tank to the capacity in the service manual and see what happens...
My Softail factory manual says 3 quarts...if you pour that much in you will be pouring it all over the side of the tank and onto the floor...
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Mar 21, 2015 at 12:18 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
The OP asked how much to put in when he started the thread...