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@Ralpf Muchachio. Is your stick similar to most Harley nowadays with dual markings for stand and upright.
Obviously, the way these bikes are modified, if lowered one would use the upright.
I wonder if that's not an upgrade for 24+ M8's. Mine is a 23 Fat Bob 114 and the dipstick matches what's shown below from the manual: A well defined hot full mark and an instructions-sourced halfway point full cold mark.
Last edited by Ralpf Muchachio; May 29, 2026 at 01:47 PM.
Let the bike idle for about 30 seconds or so, but have the bike vertical, not on the Jiffy stand.
Shut off and wait a few minutes, check oil with bike on Jiffy stand.
I'm gonna try this before adding anything and report back once my 5th quart arrives (which I obviously should have bought in the first place). Thanks all!
Last edited by Ralpf Muchachio; May 29, 2026 at 02:01 PM.
Your 23 did not come with the new dual position dipstick, it's a jiffy stand only dipstick. You can apparently change it to the new one, if you wish, but I see no advantage in that.
I've had similar mysteries with my 23 and its wandering oil level. Similar my old TC88 for that matter. It's to the point that I just ignore the "check hot" proceedures, and just use the cold, not running, quick check before I ride. That is the most consistent. Though depending on the angle of the ground upon which the jiffystand is resting, that can be off. Not an issue when at home, but it can be while out traveling.
going by the “initial fill quantity“ of 4.0 quarts, I added just under 4 quarts, watched the dipstick for the ‘’full cold” mark and then took a ride. I should have verified everything with a hot check done according to the manual.
yesterday, I added about a third of a quart and took another ride, after which the hot check showed that the oil was just into the fill area a millimeter or two above the “Add Quart” line. I went ahead and added another quarter of a quart and the dipstick went up again.
To summarize, 4 quarts left Me in the “add a quart“ area, which was not enough to trigger any oil lights or other behavior. I have a little over 4 1/2 quarts in it now and it looks to me like I could probably put another half of a quart in. I had let the oil drain for quite some time when I was changing it, but the 4 quarts suggestion does seem like a “starter“ as someone noted earlier. an earlier poster had suggested that 4.5 quarts might be the sweet spot, and I’m inclined to now agree. Overall, I think that the dipstick is fairly reliable if the manual instructions are a bit confusing
Last edited by Ralpf Muchachio; Yesterday at 10:29 PM.
Reason: Updated in the OP
Originally Posted by Jackie Paper;[url=tel:22288024
22288024[/url]]What is your opinion of why that is?
An upright bike gives a more accurate and consistent dipstick reading. However, since Harleys dont have a center stand, it can be difficult to measure this way by oneself.
Regardless, theres a pretty wide range of adequate oil.
An upright bike gives a more accurate and consistent dipstick reading. However, since Harleys dont have a center stand, it can be difficult to measure this way by oneself.
Regardless, theres a pretty wide range of adequate oil.
The owners manual states that the bike should be on the Jiffy stand for cold or hot checks.
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