General oil change question on 24 SG
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 197
From: usa
General oil change question on 24 SG
Good morning. I just finished an oil change (not primary/trans yet) for my 5k on a 24 SG. I want to do my own service, and parts add on from now on so (que laughing from the veterans) this is my first oil change I have ever done solo!
I followed the instructions to the letter. I got myself some syn Amsoil. Got a filter wrench and did it with the only issue is the original oil filter was cramped on hard.
When I put the new oil filter on, I added my new oil on the filter ring seal and hand tightened it to about 3/4 past first contact. No way it was hand tight at the factory! Geez...
Two question time! Taking out the filter I could not get the HD oil filter funnel (sold out) and made my own from a plastic milk jug. Sure enough it slipped, and oil went down the front .....
QUESTION ONE: I cleaned it up but two days later I still get a drip or two of old oil. The oil is tacky now and not the nice clean stuff. How much oil can hide down there? Best way to get it all out? Run the bike on a nice run this weekend then clean?
QUESTION TWO: How important is the oil drain plug torque?
(I cant get my foot pounds torque wrench down there....not enough room)
Thanks!
I followed the instructions to the letter. I got myself some syn Amsoil. Got a filter wrench and did it with the only issue is the original oil filter was cramped on hard.
When I put the new oil filter on, I added my new oil on the filter ring seal and hand tightened it to about 3/4 past first contact. No way it was hand tight at the factory! Geez...
Two question time! Taking out the filter I could not get the HD oil filter funnel (sold out) and made my own from a plastic milk jug. Sure enough it slipped, and oil went down the front .....
QUESTION ONE: I cleaned it up but two days later I still get a drip or two of old oil. The oil is tacky now and not the nice clean stuff. How much oil can hide down there? Best way to get it all out? Run the bike on a nice run this weekend then clean?
QUESTION TWO: How important is the oil drain plug torque?
(I cant get my foot pounds torque wrench down there....not enough room)
Thanks!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,621
Likes: 11,354
From: State of Confusion
Good morning. I just finished an oil change (not primary/trans yet) for my 5k on a 24 SG. I want to do my own service, and parts add on from now on so (que laughing from the veterans) this is my first oil change I have ever done solo!
I followed the instructions to the letter. I got myself some syn Amsoil. Got a filter wrench and did it with the only issue is the original oil filter was cramped on hard.
When I put the new oil filter on, I added my new oil on the filter ring seal and hand tightened it to about 3/4 past first contact. No way it was hand tight at the factory! Geez...
Two question time! Taking out the filter I could not get the HD oil filter funnel (sold out) and made my own from a plastic milk jug. Sure enough it slipped, and oil went down the front .....
QUESTION ONE: I cleaned it up but two days later I still get a drip or two of old oil. The oil is tacky now and not the nice clean stuff. How much oil can hide down there? Best way to get it all out? Run the bike on a nice run this weekend then clean?
QUESTION TWO: How important is the oil drain plug torque?
(I cant get my foot pounds torque wrench down there....not enough room)
Thanks!
I followed the instructions to the letter. I got myself some syn Amsoil. Got a filter wrench and did it with the only issue is the original oil filter was cramped on hard.
When I put the new oil filter on, I added my new oil on the filter ring seal and hand tightened it to about 3/4 past first contact. No way it was hand tight at the factory! Geez...
Two question time! Taking out the filter I could not get the HD oil filter funnel (sold out) and made my own from a plastic milk jug. Sure enough it slipped, and oil went down the front .....
QUESTION ONE: I cleaned it up but two days later I still get a drip or two of old oil. The oil is tacky now and not the nice clean stuff. How much oil can hide down there? Best way to get it all out? Run the bike on a nice run this weekend then clean?
QUESTION TWO: How important is the oil drain plug torque?
(I cant get my foot pounds torque wrench down there....not enough room)
Thanks!
I always use my filter wrench to tighten after initial contact...the cutout is a great reference point for 1/2 - 3/4 turn and I usually split that diff on that ... unless you marked the filter to know when to stop turning by hand
I never use a torque wrench on drain plugs, too risky imo...just use a new o-ring and finger tighten the plug then maybe 1/4 turn or so is all that's ever needed..it's also better to tighten after the case cools some as it'd be much easier to over tighten when hot
when you get the filter funnel place a thin rag under it and rotate the funnel until it snaps into place properly ... I never have any oil spills to clean up so can't arise on your mess incident
and lastly;
Chapter 13 - No Need to Mention AMSOIL Was Used
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,470
Likes: 30,728
From: Pennsylvania
Good morning. I just finished an oil change (not primary/trans yet) for my 5k on a 24 SG. I want to do my own service, and parts add on from now on so (que laughing from the veterans) this is my first oil change I have ever done solo!
I followed the instructions to the letter. I got myself some syn Amsoil. Got a filter wrench and did it with the only issue is the original oil filter was cramped on hard.
When I put the new oil filter on, I added my new oil on the filter ring seal and hand tightened it to about 3/4 past first contact. No way it was hand tight at the factory! Geez...
Two question time! Taking out the filter I could not get the HD oil filter funnel (sold out) and made my own from a plastic milk jug. Sure enough it slipped, and oil went down the front .....
QUESTION ONE: I cleaned it up but two days later I still get a drip or two of old oil. The oil is tacky now and not the nice clean stuff. How much oil can hide down there? Best way to get it all out? Run the bike on a nice run this weekend then clean?
QUESTION TWO: How important is the oil drain plug torque?
(I cant get my foot pounds torque wrench down there....not enough room)
Thanks!
I followed the instructions to the letter. I got myself some syn Amsoil. Got a filter wrench and did it with the only issue is the original oil filter was cramped on hard.
When I put the new oil filter on, I added my new oil on the filter ring seal and hand tightened it to about 3/4 past first contact. No way it was hand tight at the factory! Geez...
Two question time! Taking out the filter I could not get the HD oil filter funnel (sold out) and made my own from a plastic milk jug. Sure enough it slipped, and oil went down the front .....
QUESTION ONE: I cleaned it up but two days later I still get a drip or two of old oil. The oil is tacky now and not the nice clean stuff. How much oil can hide down there? Best way to get it all out? Run the bike on a nice run this weekend then clean?
QUESTION TWO: How important is the oil drain plug torque?
(I cant get my foot pounds torque wrench down there....not enough room)
Thanks!
2. If you have a good touch, oil plug torque is not that critical; however, if you over torque it you can crack the threaded area around the plug, more so when you do the primary fluid change.
To get a torque on the plug get a set of wobble extensions and hook them up so they come out the front of the bike and have enough room for your torque wench.
Amazon has them, Harbor Freight also. You could also use just regular extensions with a flex adapter.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 921
Likes: 303
From: Kincardine, Ontario, Canada
- brake cleaner to remove oil deposits
- alway use a torque wrench. for the drain plug I use an inch pound 3/8" drive and always set it to the lowest recommended torque. If you're doing your own work a good quality wrench will pay for itself. I've never seen a bolt or threaded hole stripped when hardware is torque properly
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 197
From: usa
Let me clarify. I did the 1k at the dealer which I mistakenly wrote in "Factory".... please forgive me....I am saying that the dealer did not do what is written in the manual for putting the filter back on.
With all my bikes...this really was my first oil change. Try not to examine each and every word looking for some critical error on my part....
My estimates are that I "saved" about 300 bucks. I have had oil changes from the "factory" aka "dealer" that leaked oil just as bad before....Sometimes they take no pride in the work....at least I have extra money to buy some rags!
Good ideas about the cleaner....thanks.
Great idea about the torque.....thanks.
PS...I will mention any damn product I feel like!
With all my bikes...this really was my first oil change. Try not to examine each and every word looking for some critical error on my part....
My estimates are that I "saved" about 300 bucks. I have had oil changes from the "factory" aka "dealer" that leaked oil just as bad before....Sometimes they take no pride in the work....at least I have extra money to buy some rags!
Good ideas about the cleaner....thanks.
Great idea about the torque.....thanks.
PS...I will mention any damn product I feel like!
Last edited by GeneseeGap; May 1, 2025 at 09:32 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 808
Likes: 359
From: NW Indiana
The answer to your question about how much oil can be left under the engine is "one more drop"!! 
, but seriously it will stop soon!
, but seriously it will stop soon!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,621
Likes: 11,354
From: State of Confusion
Let me clarify. I did the 1k at the dealer which I mistakenly wrote in "Factory".... please forgive me....I am saying that the dealer did not do what is written in the manual for putting the filter back on.
With all my bikes...this really was my first oil change. Try not to examine each and every word looking for some critical error on my part....
My estimates are that I "saved" about 300 bucks. I have had oil changes from the "factory" aka "dealer" that leaked oil just as bad before....Sometimes they take no pride in the work....at least I have extra money to buy some rags!
Good ideas about the cleaner....thanks.
Great idea about the torque.....thanks.
PS...I will mention any damn product I feel like!
With all my bikes...this really was my first oil change. Try not to examine each and every word looking for some critical error on my part....
My estimates are that I "saved" about 300 bucks. I have had oil changes from the "factory" aka "dealer" that leaked oil just as bad before....Sometimes they take no pride in the work....at least I have extra money to buy some rags!
Good ideas about the cleaner....thanks.
Great idea about the torque.....thanks.
PS...I will mention any damn product I feel like!
this being your first ever experience at motorcycle oil changes and all .. I did my first as a teenager nearly 50 years ago and have been doing them ever since .. can't handle a little sarcasm and humor about mentioning AMSOIL, good grief..'tipping fatigue' may be a recent term..but people proudly mentioning they use AMSOIL (as if it's some sort of magic elixir, which it's not) after falling sink, line and hooker for their marketing jargon has caused 'AMSOIL fatigue' long ago..it's just another oil that works and irrelevant to these types conversations I was jokingly trying to point out.. but as you requested and being a newbie, I forgive you
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 5,477
From: Woodlands, MB, Canada
The oil filter is not my favorite part of the oil change. I even bought one of these and it never helped -> https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...nel/p/63794-10
I use carb cleaner, but it never seems to get all the oil. The wiring and hoses underneath always have an oil coating..
Plus now with the new bikes, the horn gets in the way when you're removing and replacing the filter.....
I use carb cleaner, but it never seems to get all the oil. The wiring and hoses underneath always have an oil coating..
Plus now with the new bikes, the horn gets in the way when you're removing and replacing the filter.....
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 333
Likes: 147
From: Michigan
Thankfully I have a motorcycle shop 5 minutes away that just does my oil and filter and fluid changed for 100 bucks and I do the super special 700 dollar Harley services every 10k miles. Always worked for me.
