My first oil change
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 69
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From: Fly over country
My first oil change
So I have this beautiful 09 Super Glide Custom and with just 4,000 miles, I don't really know when the oil was changed, so............
Went to the local Harley dealer and picked up three quarts of SYN 3 (20/50) and a chrome filter. Going to have to change brands of oil if I do this very often.
Anyway things went along ok until I started to remove the oil filter. Could not budge it with my adjustable wrench. Went to auto parts store and purchased a plastic cup type that basically works like a socket with 3/8" drive. Guess what, the 3/8" drive just rounded out the plastic 3/8" hole. Tried driving a large nail through the filter and still could not budge it. Back to the auto parts store for a metal cup, like the plastic one. Used a half inch break over bar converter down to 3/8" inch and got it off. Man what a deal. I've got oil all over the front of my bike and my garage floor. Hoping for an easier time the next time it needs a change. Anyone know why that filter was so tough to remove? It was a learning experience for sure.
P.S. think I will switch to Mobil 1 20/50 from Wallmart.
Went to the local Harley dealer and picked up three quarts of SYN 3 (20/50) and a chrome filter. Going to have to change brands of oil if I do this very often.
Anyway things went along ok until I started to remove the oil filter. Could not budge it with my adjustable wrench. Went to auto parts store and purchased a plastic cup type that basically works like a socket with 3/8" drive. Guess what, the 3/8" drive just rounded out the plastic 3/8" hole. Tried driving a large nail through the filter and still could not budge it. Back to the auto parts store for a metal cup, like the plastic one. Used a half inch break over bar converter down to 3/8" inch and got it off. Man what a deal. I've got oil all over the front of my bike and my garage floor. Hoping for an easier time the next time it needs a change. Anyone know why that filter was so tough to remove? It was a learning experience for sure.
P.S. think I will switch to Mobil 1 20/50 from Wallmart.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,416
Likes: 88
From: San Quirino, Italy
So I have this beautiful 09 Super Glide Custom and with just 4,000 miles, I don't really know when the oil was changed, so............
Went to the local Harley dealer and picked up three quarts of SYN 3 (20/50) and a chrome filter. Going to have to change brands of oil if I do this very often.
Anyway things went along ok until I started to remove the oil filter. Could not budge it with my adjustable wrench. Went to auto parts store and purchased a plastic cup type that basically works like a socket with 3/8" drive. Guess what, the 3/8" drive just rounded out the plastic 3/8" hole. Tried driving a large nail through the filter and still could not budge it. Back to the auto parts store for a metal cup, like the plastic one. Used a half inch break over bar converter down to 3/8" inch and got it off. Man what a deal. I've got oil all over the front of my bike and my garage floor. Hoping for an easier time the next time it needs a change. Anyone know why that filter was so tough to remove? It was a learning experience for sure.
P.S. think I will switch to Mobil 1 20/50 from Wallmart.
Went to the local Harley dealer and picked up three quarts of SYN 3 (20/50) and a chrome filter. Going to have to change brands of oil if I do this very often.
Anyway things went along ok until I started to remove the oil filter. Could not budge it with my adjustable wrench. Went to auto parts store and purchased a plastic cup type that basically works like a socket with 3/8" drive. Guess what, the 3/8" drive just rounded out the plastic 3/8" hole. Tried driving a large nail through the filter and still could not budge it. Back to the auto parts store for a metal cup, like the plastic one. Used a half inch break over bar converter down to 3/8" inch and got it off. Man what a deal. I've got oil all over the front of my bike and my garage floor. Hoping for an easier time the next time it needs a change. Anyone know why that filter was so tough to remove? It was a learning experience for sure.
P.S. think I will switch to Mobil 1 20/50 from Wallmart.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Timbuktu
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
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From: Southern Oregon
It only takes 3 qts after a tear down, 2.5 qts on a change. Over fill it and your apt to have oil coming out the breather tubes in your air filter. When I seen the tread title I had a hunch something about a mess would be included lol If you dont poke a few holes in your filter you will always have a mess. Theres a lot of posts about the factory installed out filters being a sob to get off, hopefully someone did change it once already at 1,000 miles. A lot of people like the K&N filters because they have a nut molded on the end and you can use a socket. If you haven't already done so Id change the tranny and primary oil just for a peace of mind
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 32
I've got the 09 SG as well. The first oil filter was terrible to remove just as you described. I wound up taking the voltage regulator off and putting a huge pair of channel lock pliers on it to get it off. I had tried the cup, band and three finger filter wrenches on the filter to no avail.
I did spend the $20 bucks on the HD Filter Funnel and poked a hole in the filter to let it drain into the filter funnel. I had no oily mess on the engine. Go ahead and change the tranny and primary while you are at it so you know what's in there.
I went to the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W50 in the engine, Mobil1 75W90 LS gear oil in the tranny and Mobil1 Racing 4T 10W40 in the primary. I use a Chrome K&N filter as it has the welded 17mm nut on the end of the filter.
I did spend the $20 bucks on the HD Filter Funnel and poked a hole in the filter to let it drain into the filter funnel. I had no oily mess on the engine. Go ahead and change the tranny and primary while you are at it so you know what's in there.
I went to the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W50 in the engine, Mobil1 75W90 LS gear oil in the tranny and Mobil1 Racing 4T 10W40 in the primary. I use a Chrome K&N filter as it has the welded 17mm nut on the end of the filter.
Anyone got Birds? 
Have gun will travel.
Have gun will travel.