A couple of weeks ago I installed the H-D frame side mounted oil cooler on my 16 Dyna S. I test rode it and checked for leaks. None were noted.

Today I headed out for a two state ride. Usually I would go by interstate but I went on two lane roads.,

When I got close to crossing from Illinois to Iowa there was a traffic light and I caught it. As I was sitting there I smelled hot oil and looked down. My shoes and pant legs, the engine both side and exhaust system was covered in oil.

When the light changed there was a spot to pull over off the road. I could not find the source of the leak. Oil lines were intact, the hose clamps were tight and I could not see oil coming out of the adapter.

Checked the oil and it was one mark above the fill line of 1 quart down. There was a Shell station about 6 miles back and I though that since I was at 25 miles I could make it there. When I got there it was at the add one quart mark. I bought a quart of Rotella T and put it in. The was another Shell station between there an home so I went for it.

Stopped at that station and the oil was down 1 mark so I headed home. When I got home it was down the full quart again.

Got my tools out and took off the filter then the adapter. The o-ring on the adapter was fine. I looked at it with a magnifying glass. The same with the oil filter seal. Checked the hoses and clamps again. All okay.

I installed everything back and used a new filter. Went on a 6 mile loop and stopped each mile. No leaks.

When I got back I suspected that it may have been the filter. I got a visor with several levels of magnification on it and there it was. A very small pin hole which was made by the filter removing tool.

The tool is the kind H-D sells that has two curved pieces that go out about 2 inches and are about an inch wide. When rotated it closes onto the filter or releases depending on the direction of rotation.

The filter was on from the 1K service and the installer must have over tightened it. I did have to really lever on it to remove the filter. So the tool dug in enough to cut into the filter shell.

The lesson I learned. Yes at 76 I still can learn. Use a new filter if you remove one to add a cooler. Don't cheap out like I did. It was only on for few hundred miles and was chrome.

Where I was lucky was had I went onto the interstate like I usually do it would have went until the red light came on and that may have been too late.

 

Good job pops!

 

I always use my hands to tighten and check afterwards. Filters tighten up with use so an installation wrench is no good.
When I smelt oil from my oil cooler install it was from the line popping off at the adapter behind everything. I had it double clamped.
Since then I modified fot 1/8" pipe and use Stainless braided lines. No leaks.
At least you didn't go for a slippery ride.

 

That had potential for disaster in a couple of different ways, glad you got home safely and were able to determine the cause of your problem!

I'll add this to the list of reasons why I use FLO PCS4 permanent oil filters

 

Glad you noticed the problem early and made it home OK.

I would have never guessed that a filter wrench would cut thru the can.

 

I always hand-tighten oil filters, be it bike or car. But good and lucky catch!

 

I can`t seem to picture what filter wrench you are talking about. I use the kind that fits over the whole top of the filter like a socket.

 

Glad that turned out as good as it did, it could have went way worse in a number of ways. Thanks for sharing, now I learned something too without having to go through it.

 

Similar?






Yes, those Removers can be invasive (as you found out). Should only be used for removing Old filter that will be discarded.

Glad it wasn't worse

 

Wow that was lucky. Good to be better safe than sorry for a few bucks.

Glad your ok