I know, dumb question
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I know, dumb question
So I have not gotten a service manual yet and need to change the oil. What weight should I use, It is a 1975, has had some head work done, its running 10:1 instead of 9:1, and bored .20 over. Do I just pull the plug on the bottom of the case to drain? Do you just put oil in the oil tank under theseat, or do you have to use different oil for different components, whats the ammount that should be used? final question, I have the aftermarket oil filter kit that mounts to the left side front motor mount, anyone know what replacement filter should be used? Sorry for asking such rookie questions.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
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From: Houston Texas
RE: I know, dumb question
If you are talking about the 'plug' (Do I just pull the plug on the bottom of the case to drain?) under the center of the engine crankcase the answer is a great big NO! Do not even touch this plug! That is not a plug for draining oil.
The plug is there because when the engine was made there was a machining operation that required a hole in the case to access the machining inside. After that was done, instead of welding up the hole (too many $$$) Harley just ran a threaded plug into the cast aluminum case. Inside, the flywheels are about ¼ to ½ inch away and the thread for the plug is weak and easily stripped. Many members here have first hand experience with what I'm talking about.
The Sportster uses a dry sump oil system. That means there is no oil sitting in the bottom of the crankcase. The oil is held in the oil tank, or is circulating around in the engine, and in your case, the filter. To change the oil you drain the oil tank. Remove the oil filter and replace with a new one. The oil tank will hold 3 qts and the filter will take about a ½ qt more.
The primary and transmission share the same oil. The primary case and transmission case do have a separate drain plug for each however. The trans plug is at the rear of the engine. The primary plug is to the left of that under the primary.
I would use Harley Davidson 60wt oil in the engine, transmission, and primary. The engine oil mixes to a slight extent with the primary/trans oil because of a transfer valve located in the primary, so use the same type of oil in both the engine and pri/trans. You should be able to get this oil from a Harley dealer. What ever you have on the bike for an oil filter element, replace it with a like size new one............pg
[IMG]local://upfiles/8331/47D01C33B78749889D6AB9BE2810FCCC.jpg[/IMG]
The plug is there because when the engine was made there was a machining operation that required a hole in the case to access the machining inside. After that was done, instead of welding up the hole (too many $$$) Harley just ran a threaded plug into the cast aluminum case. Inside, the flywheels are about ¼ to ½ inch away and the thread for the plug is weak and easily stripped. Many members here have first hand experience with what I'm talking about.
The Sportster uses a dry sump oil system. That means there is no oil sitting in the bottom of the crankcase. The oil is held in the oil tank, or is circulating around in the engine, and in your case, the filter. To change the oil you drain the oil tank. Remove the oil filter and replace with a new one. The oil tank will hold 3 qts and the filter will take about a ½ qt more.
The primary and transmission share the same oil. The primary case and transmission case do have a separate drain plug for each however. The trans plug is at the rear of the engine. The primary plug is to the left of that under the primary.
I would use Harley Davidson 60wt oil in the engine, transmission, and primary. The engine oil mixes to a slight extent with the primary/trans oil because of a transfer valve located in the primary, so use the same type of oil in both the engine and pri/trans. You should be able to get this oil from a Harley dealer. What ever you have on the bike for an oil filter element, replace it with a like size new one............pg
[IMG]local://upfiles/8331/47D01C33B78749889D6AB9BE2810FCCC.jpg[/IMG]
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crazyeight
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Apr 14, 2010 09:45 AM
