1986 Harley FLST primary oil level
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1986 Harley FLST primary oil level
Can anyone comment on the primary oil level for a 1986 FLST 1340 EVO.
I have been reading the workshop manual and it specifies to use 1.4 litres of primary fluid.
(1.4 litres is approx. 1.47 quarts or 47 floz)
When I have the bike on the stand in a level position the fluid almost reaches the adjustment plate but I have read other posts that the level of the primary oil should only reach the bottom of the diaphragm spring.
Other posts say that the level of the primary oil should be level to the inspection cover lip when the bike is on the side stand...is this correct?
Does 1.4 litres sound right for my model bike or am I using too much?
Any help would be appreciated.
I have been reading the workshop manual and it specifies to use 1.4 litres of primary fluid.
(1.4 litres is approx. 1.47 quarts or 47 floz)
When I have the bike on the stand in a level position the fluid almost reaches the adjustment plate but I have read other posts that the level of the primary oil should only reach the bottom of the diaphragm spring.
Other posts say that the level of the primary oil should be level to the inspection cover lip when the bike is on the side stand...is this correct?
Does 1.4 litres sound right for my model bike or am I using too much?
Any help would be appreciated.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
I never measure "how much" anymore.
I was running where it just touched the clutch assembly spring and had difficulty shifting, finding neutral and even the ease of the clutch lever.
My 86 FLTC works it's best when I bring the level to just below the chain adjustment cover on the side stand.
When I fill to the edge of chain adjustment cover while on the side stand, my clutch lever requires about half the effort and is very smooth. It also changes gears very smoothly, drops into neutral with ease. I found it also quiets the primary considerably.
How many miles do you have on your ride?
My 86 FLTC works it's best when I bring the level to just below the chain adjustment cover on the side stand.
When I fill to the edge of chain adjustment cover while on the side stand, my clutch lever requires about half the effort and is very smooth. It also changes gears very smoothly, drops into neutral with ease. I found it also quiets the primary considerably.
How many miles do you have on your ride?
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Hi JohhnyC,
Thanks for the reply. I did run it at the level just touching the diaphragm spring and had the same problems that you were having so I thought I may have it at the wrong level...too much or not enough, not sure??
So I checked my workshop manual and it says to add 1.4 litres which seems like too much.
I will give it a try at the level you suggest and I have been told that its better to have a little less oil in the primary than too much.
My 86 FLST has 44,000 miles on it.
Thanks for the reply. I did run it at the level just touching the diaphragm spring and had the same problems that you were having so I thought I may have it at the wrong level...too much or not enough, not sure??
So I checked my workshop manual and it says to add 1.4 litres which seems like too much.
I will give it a try at the level you suggest and I have been told that its better to have a little less oil in the primary than too much.
My 86 FLST has 44,000 miles on it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Florida
It was '90 or '92 they went from the bottom of the inspection cover to the bottom of the clutch hub, I forget which. Even the indie I USED to use only filled it to the bottom of the clutch hub, "just enough to touch the chain" is what they told me, when my manual clearly says to fill it to the inspection cover. I don't go there anymore.
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JohhnyC,
When you fill the primary oil level on your bike to the edge of the chain adjuster cover do you need to have the primary inspection cover on as the oil level would go fairly high and flow out, is that correct?
I had a look at the level when I had the bike on the side stand and where the oil level was on the bottom lip of the primary inspection cover and it took 1.1 litres of oil instead of the 1.4 litres as recommended in the service manual.
Anyway I am going to put the primary inspection cover back on and with the bike on the side stand I am going to fill the oil level to the bottom edge of the chain adjuster cover opening and see how it goes. I will also measure how much oil it needs to get to that level.
Here is the picture of the oil level when the bike is on the side stand and the oil level is to the edge of the primary inspection cover...does this look like the oil level is too high or too low, any comments?
When you fill the primary oil level on your bike to the edge of the chain adjuster cover do you need to have the primary inspection cover on as the oil level would go fairly high and flow out, is that correct?
I had a look at the level when I had the bike on the side stand and where the oil level was on the bottom lip of the primary inspection cover and it took 1.1 litres of oil instead of the 1.4 litres as recommended in the service manual.
Anyway I am going to put the primary inspection cover back on and with the bike on the side stand I am going to fill the oil level to the bottom edge of the chain adjuster cover opening and see how it goes. I will also measure how much oil it needs to get to that level.
Here is the picture of the oil level when the bike is on the side stand and the oil level is to the edge of the primary inspection cover...does this look like the oil level is too high or too low, any comments?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
We seem to be having problems in recent weeks with this subject, across HDF. It is not possible, or even reasonable, to expect to put in a specific quantity of oil AND get the correct level. So don't try!
The quantities in the manual should be regarded as a guide - in other words have that much available before you start. But fill to the correct level. If you have any left over, then whoppee! Let us not agonise over it pleeeease.......
The quantities in the manual should be regarded as a guide - in other words have that much available before you start. But fill to the correct level. If you have any left over, then whoppee! Let us not agonise over it pleeeease.......
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,959
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From: Florida
JohhnyC,
When you fill the primary oil level on your bike to the edge of the chain adjuster cover do you need to have the primary inspection cover on as the oil level would go fairly high and flow out, is that correct?
I had a look at the level when I had the bike on the side stand and where the oil level was on the bottom lip of the primary inspection cover and it took 1.1 litres of oil instead of the 1.4 litres as recommended in the service manual.
Anyway I am going to put the primary inspection cover back on and with the bike on the side stand I am going to fill the oil level to the bottom edge of the chain adjuster cover opening and see how it goes. I will also measure how much oil it needs to get to that level.
Here is the picture of the oil level when the bike is on the side stand and the oil level is to the edge of the primary inspection cover...does this look like the oil level is too high or too low, any comments?
When you fill the primary oil level on your bike to the edge of the chain adjuster cover do you need to have the primary inspection cover on as the oil level would go fairly high and flow out, is that correct?
I had a look at the level when I had the bike on the side stand and where the oil level was on the bottom lip of the primary inspection cover and it took 1.1 litres of oil instead of the 1.4 litres as recommended in the service manual.
Anyway I am going to put the primary inspection cover back on and with the bike on the side stand I am going to fill the oil level to the bottom edge of the chain adjuster cover opening and see how it goes. I will also measure how much oil it needs to get to that level.
Here is the picture of the oil level when the bike is on the side stand and the oil level is to the edge of the primary inspection cover...does this look like the oil level is too high or too low, any comments?
That is the Derby cover, not the "adjuster" access. On mine, the adjuster cover is the little cover forward of the derby cover. My derby is higher than the adjuster. If I fill to the bottom of the derby cover as you have it (which I have done in the past), when you open the adjuster window, it will flood out, and if you don't have a good gasket in there, it's going to leak out anyway. I fill mine to the bottom of the adjuster window.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
That is the Derby cover, not the "adjuster" access. On mine, the adjuster cover is the little cover forward of the derby cover. My derby is higher than the adjuster. If I fill to the bottom of the derby cover as you have it (which I have done in the past), when you open the adjuster window, it will flood out, and if you don't have a good gasket in there, it's going to leak out anyway. I fill mine to the bottom of the adjuster window.
That's exactly right.
I did mine while on my lift which means it was level. And if I had to open the chain adjustment / inspection cover with it on it's side stand it would then run out too.
It seems to me that filling to the edge of the chain adjustment / inspection cover is a little bit higher than using the bottom of the clutch spring as a fill point. Plus you really can't see well enough down in between the outer primary cover and the base of the clutch spring.
However, I had attempted to keep it full to the clutch spring level the best I could and was having issues. Just as soon as I changed out the oil and went back to the way I was first taught to fill to the chain adjustment inspection cover's edge there was a big difference. In doing so too, if, and when you needed to check / adjust the chain you could access it without a flood of oil coming out of that opening.
It was like night and day in improvements by filling to the edge of the inspection cover. Clutch lever real smooth and easy, finding neutral coming down from 2nd, or up from first real easy, and the shifting was real smooth.
But again I don't know which way has more fluid? And which way has less? It was just a matter of never knowing if the level was "by the book" because of the issue of seeing the clutch spring's edge.
Hope it works out that well for you too.