Sic 'em Dan :>) ( I should mention that I'm on my 68th trip around the sun )

 

Back to serious matters..and I am even older then Uncle Larry And no joke. You son's cruiser just may be on the stand. I know the first on the stand I noticed was a Dyna. And they go back as far as my service manuals. I truly did not realize the big cruisers are on the stand too as I search back thru my service manuals. Most I have messed with do not have marked sticks.

Most older Softtails are level. If you don't have an owners manual, you can get a free on line one at the Harley Motors site.

Did not mean any thing by the joke. Sort of pisses me off how Harley has them all over the place since people mod these bikes all the time and if the stand or suspension is modified, who knows what on the stand is.

 

Regardless of what any manual says, you can check it on the stand. If your manual suggests checking it straight up...do it one time...get the level correct...put it on the stand and check it again...make a mental note of where it comes to, or mark the dipstick if cannot remember.

 

https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....es=0&view=FitH

 

Looks like we know the answer. Up right off the stand thanks to PIG

 

My Indy said to do mine while it's on the stand.

 

Think you might want to read your owners manual????

 

Agree with Tom84 !!!! Could it be simpler ??? And take note that if your crank vent system runs oily then it's telling you to run the oil level half quart low,regardless of how yours is routed.

 

Half wrong and totally wrong.

Why it's half wrong is the FP did not know where to reference his upright check.

The other is the oil bag can be at the top of the stick if it's checked at hot oil running temperature. That way you have a full reservoir of cooling oil or long trips.

This oil bag is separate from the crank area. Just because it's full hot does not put any more oil in the engine. The oil pump puts oil into engine and the larger return pump side always removes it till there is only about 1 1/2" of oil in there (for inner cam bearing splash lube). (The new M8 actually leave even more for more misc splash lub).. The vent system is all the way up in the top of the heads under the valve cover and the vapor must pass thru the crank roller bearings, into the cam galley and up thru the push rod tubes.

Now if you do get it way up in the pan to overflowing, maybe so but that will create other problems.

 

Although I never tried that, I wouldn`t think there would be enough difference in oil level to be the least concerned about.........