So I am a brand new Harley owner doing an oil exchange for a 2008 Heritage.... completely lost on where the drain is. What was immediately apparent to me as a drain returned about a quart making me think it was the transmission. Also the plug had a hex center, but appears to be a located in an oil pan. See pic. The oil dip stick is full so I know this is wrong.

At the risk of being a complete fool.... And because I am totally petrified to fire the bike up... I'll post here.

User manual figures to me is completely useless as I don't see a hose. I'll attach pics. Please tell me where to look and size of socket to use. Give me a landmark or return pic please.

Flame away, I don't care. I am sure I'll go duh.....

Thanks

 

You pulled the drain plug for the crankcase. Be very careful replacing it. Only a small amount of oil is in there.

The oil tank drain plug is behind the frame rail, below the swingarm pivot bolt. It will take either a 1/4" Allen wrench or a 5/8" socket.

 

As mentioned above, use a 5/8 socket. The drain bolt faces downward. When you do an oil change on a softail it is good to run the bike for a minute or two to make sure any sumped oil is back in the oil bag...

 

Here is a picture of where the engine oil drain plug is located

 

Thanks!! Can you see why new users are completely baffled with a figure like that in the manual? So this wasn't the transmission oil?? I see the drain plug for the primary and could have sworn this was transmission? ???? Wow confusing....

 

Kind of.
It will help to stand the bike up straight to drain all the oil out of the tank.
Good thing Bone Doc came along. I don't know how to do the picture like that.

 

The transmission is up between your shocks. Use a cut off paper towel tube to slide up between shock to keep from making a mess. That plug you removed should be resealed with the proper sealer and be real careful. It's a tapered plug and will split that thin housing. It says in service manual to never remove it.(it is meant for non mechanics) It's actually used to check for an oil pump problem called sumping.
Be sure to replace the o-ring on those MS plugs on your three proper drain plugs. They seal on the metal face, not on a gasket, so also be careful how tight you make them. It's pretty easy to strip them. Get you a service manual.
That oil drain really does not look like what you removed. Now the primary level really is confusing if it's still like most Softails owner manual.

 

No you did not drain the tranny, and no need to take off the derby cover unless you plan on changing the primary oil. The oil you drained is engine oil that was sumped in the crankcase. As mentioned, be careful replacing it as it is a tapered pipe plug. Use a sealer on it and don't over tighten it. Prime the new oil filter by putting a few ounces of oil in it before spinning it on, don't over tighten it as well. Use a new o-ring and Teflon tape on the threads of the drain plug. Put 2.5 quarts in the oil tank and fire the bike to circulate the oil, then top off to the proper amount if needed. Then have a beer because you are done!

 

 

Gosh took out something was never supposed to do, how much more could I screw things up??? I got some blue thread lock and I'll be careful replacing.

All I can say is for a novice your eyes go for that particular plug, not the one on the frame....