Well for sure, I'm not happy about it. However, I have understood that HD has stated that a small amount of transfer is "normal." That's why I won't immediately take the bike to the dealer shop over this issue. If it was transferring a lot more, then I would take it in. But three or four oz in 6k miles isn't enough for me to get excited about.

I don't like having to check my tranny oil level so regularly. On my 2016, I really never checked level at all. Once the bike was broken in and had had a couple of oil changes, I just never checked it again until change time, which with a 20k interval, only happened once in the 36k miles I rode the bike. And even then I didn't check level. I just drained the old oil out and put new in. From now on, for sure, I will keep a very close eye on level, and probably not make it to the 20k interval between changes.

 

Yanny Laurel

 

I don't check the tranny. It is a pain to see. I check the engine oil and pop the derby. Since i ain't leaking or burning oil, I figure if it don't drain out when I pop the derby, I'm doing OK.

 

I knew my '17 SGS was transferring way before the 5K service. I had to bring it in at 6K for measurements, and they said it was doing 2.5oz - topped it off, and sent me on my way. I checked it at 600 miles and the dipstick was bone dry. Called up the Dealer and just came back - they called the Mothership because they claimed that much loss was at least 5oz. I'm told they are ordering the "fix" and will let me know when it's in. Meanwhile I'm supposed to continue riding w/o topping it off. The first thing they said when I showed them the dipstick was "That's not a Harley dipstick" - duh, yes it is - I've got the Speed Check (Mental note to self: Don't try removing it with your bare fingers after a ride unless you want to remove your fingerprints!) Anyways, I got to thinking if there was a difference in the level marks between the SC and the normal dipstick, so I got out the original, and one from my '13 Breakout, and compared all 3 - no visible difference in where the level marks are. (Yet the SC isn't "recommended" for the M8 transmissions) Look at the photo and tell me why. The top dipstick is from the '13 FXSB, the middle from the '17 FLHXS, and the Speed Check is on the bottom. I lined up the shoulders for the photo.

 

not noticing any differences for all intents and purposes

 

 

I would be wondering if the dealer put oil back in the trans at the 5000 mile service ? They do have a transferring problem though.

 

The only difference between the '13 & '17 dipstick is the rounded end, possibly from changing Mfrs. If you look up the dipsticks in the Ronnie's H-D parts breakdowns it shows a completely different dipstick for the '17 models, one that can be removed by hand - yet all the '17's & '18's I've seen still have the hex key head design.

 

Either they did - or they stole my quart of Redline - since I supplied my own transmission fluid. They are supposedly required to toss out the old oil after measuring it.