I know that I'm new to the Evo, but where is the oil filter? Does it use a cleanable?

 

If you look at the very front of the motor it is just behind the down tubes of the frame.

 

On my 91 Ultra it is almost straight down from the oil tank, in front of the rear tire, and behind the motor. It uses a spin on canister style, not a cleanable type.

 

Not on an 89

 

Just went out and looked.......bingo, thanks. Still waiting for my service manual to come in and was wondering.

 

I think it was '92 when the oil filter was relocated.......about the same time they relocated the breathers into the head.

 

Be sure NOT to use the new Premium Oil Filters (63731-99A or 63793-01K). They are to fine of filtration. It will not let enough oil flow to the motor.

Use the Short Genuine H-D® Spin-On Oil Filters (63810-80A, Black or 63796-77A, Chrome).
With the under the transmission filter location, the Long Filter (63805-80A) will hang too low and hit the ground.

Of course you can also use other brand filters at your discretion.

 

FYI:Not all bikes are exactly the same...

 

When I bought my 98 Fatboy a couple of years ago I noticed it had the long filter instead of the short and asked the guy about this, he said he ran them to increase oil capacity slightly and no problem. I have been running the long filter since with no problem either and just switched to the K&N equivalent a couple of oil changes ago.

Could I be doing harm to my motor without knowing it, or am I fine running either.

 

Hard to say, as the Klingon said I would use the correct filter for the bike.

At best the other styles would just go into by-pass and you would have no filtering, at worst you will blow the engine. Then again they may work.

Unless you can check oil flow I don't think you could know for sure. If the filter isn't filtering and the by-pass doesn't open then you may see and increase in oil pressure.
You could check pressure before and after the filter, but unless you know what is normal there is no way to know for sure. But then again the pressure control ball valve in the engine should allow for the correct pressure.

Good question though, may be someone more knowledgeable then me can actually answer.

I use the correct filter for the bike, on both my bikes and they are different years.(1985 & 2001) use different filters.