'07 FXDB Engine Dipstick Question?
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2022
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From: LA Ca.
'07 FXDB Engine Dipstick Question?
This has been bugging me. I have the stock engine oil dipstick on my '07 96" Street Bob. It's the one with the pivoting/swinging plastic type dipstick.
I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the pivoting dipstick made it so that you could accurately check the oil upright or on the jiffy stand.
So is this correct that I can check it with the bike upright on my bike lift??
Or do I NEED to get it on the jiffy stand to get the correct reading?? The factory manual does say on the jiffy stand.
If it must be on the jiffy stand, why does the dipstick pivot?????? Why does it do that????
Sorry for the dumb question. Again, it's been bugging me since I bought the bike.
Thank you!
Tom
I thought I remembered reading somewhere that the pivoting dipstick made it so that you could accurately check the oil upright or on the jiffy stand.
So is this correct that I can check it with the bike upright on my bike lift??
Or do I NEED to get it on the jiffy stand to get the correct reading?? The factory manual does say on the jiffy stand.
If it must be on the jiffy stand, why does the dipstick pivot?????? Why does it do that????
Sorry for the dumb question. Again, it's been bugging me since I bought the bike.
Thank you!
Tom
Last edited by Tom H; Jan 15, 2024 at 06:14 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 822
Likes: 488
From: LA Ca.
Crazy, yes and no. I was thinking of a part to to update where I'm at. Short version, way better, but will still get an occasional difficult start and I smell the bad exhaust smell, but then it starts right up the next hit of the starter button. I'll have to do a part 2.
So I take it that no one knows why the dipstick is hinged/pivots? Maybe HD made the angle of the dipstick hole wrong and a solid dipstick would not get into the oil correctly????? So they made a pivoting one instead of fixing the casting, much cheaper I would think?? Any thoughts on this??
I guess that I will always confirm the level is correct on the jiffy stand. While doing my oil change with bike on my lift, I'll just have to remember the aprox. difference between the two.
Thank you!!!
Tom
So I take it that no one knows why the dipstick is hinged/pivots? Maybe HD made the angle of the dipstick hole wrong and a solid dipstick would not get into the oil correctly????? So they made a pivoting one instead of fixing the casting, much cheaper I would think?? Any thoughts on this??
I guess that I will always confirm the level is correct on the jiffy stand. While doing my oil change with bike on my lift, I'll just have to remember the aprox. difference between the two.
Thank you!!!
Tom
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 988
From: Ohio
Take a small very fine file and make a mark on the dipstick edge as to where full is when the bike is upright.
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From: Albuquerque, NM
Crazy, yes and no. I was thinking of a part to to update where I'm at. Short version, way better, but will still get an occasional difficult start and I smell the bad exhaust smell, but then it starts right up the next hit of the starter button. I'll have to do a part 2.
So I take it that no one knows why the dipstick is hinged/pivots? Maybe HD made the angle of the dipstick hole wrong and a solid dipstick would not get into the oil correctly????? So they made a pivoting one instead of fixing the casting, much cheaper I would think?? Any thoughts on this??
I guess that I will always confirm the level is correct on the jiffy stand. While doing my oil change with bike on my lift, I'll just have to remember the aprox. difference between the two.
Thank you!!!
Tom
So I take it that no one knows why the dipstick is hinged/pivots? Maybe HD made the angle of the dipstick hole wrong and a solid dipstick would not get into the oil correctly????? So they made a pivoting one instead of fixing the casting, much cheaper I would think?? Any thoughts on this??
I guess that I will always confirm the level is correct on the jiffy stand. While doing my oil change with bike on my lift, I'll just have to remember the aprox. difference between the two.
Thank you!!!
Tom
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2022
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From: LA Ca.
Rounders, your right, it's not that critical.
I normally check the oil cold. From what I have read, half way from add to full when cold is fine. This is what my bike is, half way when on my lift or side stand. Didn't seem to make much difference. Again the dipstick design had me wondering about why it pivots.
Thanks again!
Tom
I normally check the oil cold. From what I have read, half way from add to full when cold is fine. This is what my bike is, half way when on my lift or side stand. Didn't seem to make much difference. Again the dipstick design had me wondering about why it pivots.
Thanks again!
Tom