Torque specs?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 138
Likes: 92
From: Arizona
Torque specs?
I've just completed changing oil in all three holes on my new to me 2011 Softail Deluxe. But one thing pisses me off some. WTF is up with the torque specs in the owners manual for the drain plugs? I torqued them all to 15 ft lbs, which is at the bottom of the torque range in the manual. It felt so tight to me that I checked my torque wrench against another to see if there was something wrong with it. There isn't. Two of the tree plugs ground off a curl off of the new O rings. I don't have any leaks that I can see. I did use thread sealant as extra insurance.
Anyway, just curious what you all are doing about torque specs for your bikes. Do you just use your well calibrated elbow? Are all the torque specs in the repair manual off like this? For sure I don't think they'll vibrate out.
Done venting, Chris-
Anyway, just curious what you all are doing about torque specs for your bikes. Do you just use your well calibrated elbow? Are all the torque specs in the repair manual off like this? For sure I don't think they'll vibrate out.
Done venting, Chris-
Last edited by Cwood8656; Jan 28, 2019 at 03:00 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 306
Likes: 535
From: Warner Robins GA
I've just completed changing oil in all three holes on my new to me 2011 Softail Deluxe. But one thing pisses me off some. WTF is up with the torque specs in the owners manual for the drain plugs? I torqued them all to 15 ft lbs, which is at the bottom of the torque range in the manual. It felt so tight to me that I checked my torque wrench against another to see if there was something wrong with it. There isn't. Two of the tree plugs ground off a curl off of the new O rings. I don't have any leaks that I can see. I did use thread sealant as extra insurance.
Anyway, just curious what you all are doing about torque specs for your bikes. Do you just use your well calibrated elbow? Are all the torque specs in the repair manual off like this? For sure I don't think they'll vibrate out.
Done venting, Chris-
Anyway, just curious what you all are doing about torque specs for your bikes. Do you just use your well calibrated elbow? Are all the torque specs in the repair manual off like this? For sure I don't think they'll vibrate out.
Done venting, Chris-
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 242
From: Glen Mills, PA
Is that torque wet or dry?
I dont torque torque the drain plugs. I use a small 1/4 ratchet and dont never hold the end and tighten snug. That is plenty. That slippery oil will add around 30% or more to your torque. So 15 will be closer to 20 with oil on the threads.
Good luck
I dont torque torque the drain plugs. I use a small 1/4 ratchet and dont never hold the end and tighten snug. That is plenty. That slippery oil will add around 30% or more to your torque. So 15 will be closer to 20 with oil on the threads.
Good luck
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,309
Likes: 6,328
From: Honah Lee
If you saw a curl of o-ring, you had the wrong o-ring in there.
Harley's drain plugs are MS o-ring fittings. 1/2 -20 fine thread . But with a steep bevel followed up with a c-bore spotface to clean up.
The proper o-ring actually contours into the bevel and the undercut of the plug.
The washer face of the plug goes metal to metal to the c-bore flat bottom. This provides your torque that any type of actual gasket would not. So plug will never loosen.
I never use a torque wrench since oily threads in aluminum tend to over tighten which when you keep a bike a long time tends to strip threads . I run it up and bump it with a quick jerk.
Proper size o-ring no mater what torque you did does not tear unless it's old or used. Use standard grade soft buna N.
And replace it. They are 20 for a few bucks on eBay. $5 for a 100 but who wants a 100
Harley's drain plugs are MS o-ring fittings. 1/2 -20 fine thread . But with a steep bevel followed up with a c-bore spotface to clean up.
The proper o-ring actually contours into the bevel and the undercut of the plug.
The washer face of the plug goes metal to metal to the c-bore flat bottom. This provides your torque that any type of actual gasket would not. So plug will never loosen.
I never use a torque wrench since oily threads in aluminum tend to over tighten which when you keep a bike a long time tends to strip threads . I run it up and bump it with a quick jerk.
Proper size o-ring no mater what torque you did does not tear unless it's old or used. Use standard grade soft buna N.
And replace it. They are 20 for a few bucks on eBay. $5 for a 100 but who wants a 100
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 138
Likes: 92
From: Arizona
Trending Topics
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 306
Likes: 535
From: Warner Robins GA
Is that torque wet or dry?
I dont torque torque the drain plugs. I use a small 1/4 ratchet and dont never hold the end and tighten snug. That is plenty. That slippery oil will add around 30% or more to your torque. So 15 will be closer to 20 with oil on the threads.
Good luck
I dont torque torque the drain plugs. I use a small 1/4 ratchet and dont never hold the end and tighten snug. That is plenty. That slippery oil will add around 30% or more to your torque. So 15 will be closer to 20 with oil on the threads.
Good luck
If you saw a curl of o-ring, you had the wrong o-ring in there.
Harley's drain plugs are MS o-ring fittings. 1/2 -20 fine thread . But with a steep bevel followed up with a c-bore spotface to clean up.
The proper o-ring actually contours into the bevel and the undercut of the plug.
The washer face of the plug goes metal to metal to the c-bore flat bottom. This provides your torque that any type of actual gasket would not. So plug will never loosen.
I never use a torque wrench since oily threads in aluminum tend to over tighten which when you keep a bike a long time tends to strip threads . I run it up and bump it with a quick jerk.
Proper size o-ring no mater what torque you did does not tear unless it's old or used. Use standard grade soft buna N.
And replace it. They are 20 for a few bucks on eBay. $5 for a 100 but who wants a 100
Harley's drain plugs are MS o-ring fittings. 1/2 -20 fine thread . But with a steep bevel followed up with a c-bore spotface to clean up.
The proper o-ring actually contours into the bevel and the undercut of the plug.
The washer face of the plug goes metal to metal to the c-bore flat bottom. This provides your torque that any type of actual gasket would not. So plug will never loosen.
I never use a torque wrench since oily threads in aluminum tend to over tighten which when you keep a bike a long time tends to strip threads . I run it up and bump it with a quick jerk.
Proper size o-ring no mater what torque you did does not tear unless it's old or used. Use standard grade soft buna N.
And replace it. They are 20 for a few bucks on eBay. $5 for a 100 but who wants a 100
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