Primary fluid level
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 138
From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
Primary fluid level
Anyone find the primary level rather hard to see?
Changed it in my 05 today. Measure the fluid. Manual says 26OZ. I put that in and still couldnt see it. Put in another oz or so. Yes I have the manual but that doesnt make the level any easier to see down in that dark hole.
I think I did good, its hard to see the bottom of the clutch basket.
Changed it in my 05 today. Measure the fluid. Manual says 26OZ. I put that in and still couldnt see it. Put in another oz or so. Yes I have the manual but that doesnt make the level any easier to see down in that dark hole.
I think I did good, its hard to see the bottom of the clutch basket.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 138
From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
Ummm. Like you think I didnt shine a light down there?
While trying to hold the bike level with the other hand? A little credit please.
While trying to hold the bike level with the other hand? A little credit please.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,293
Likes: 6,322
From: Honah Lee
It's a pain. I made a little bent wire dip stick. Piece of white insulation copper wire. Bent almost 90 degree. I put it in and down on lower lip of derby opening and rotate it. However, like you, I do the correct amount and it always seem correct.
Bet most people just dump in a quart and be done with it. If you live in WV, it's never correct anyway.
Bet most people just dump in a quart and be done with it. If you live in WV, it's never correct anyway.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
if the manual for your bike says 26 and if you measured it right.. then that's all you need if you still have the stock covers on it...
My 07 - 96''er says to put in 1 quart and that what I do....
only reason I can think of that it might be low is,,,, drum roll -- are you sure you installed the drain plug back in it?... might sound silly but,, it wouldn't be the first time I've heard of someone doing that..
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My 07 - 96''er says to put in 1 quart and that what I do....
only reason I can think of that it might be low is,,,, drum roll -- are you sure you installed the drain plug back in it?... might sound silly but,, it wouldn't be the first time I've heard of someone doing that..
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,970
Likes: 900
From: Omaha
If you have adequate shop lighting you should be able to see the oil when the bike is upright.
If you can't see the oil then there's not enough.
If you put too much in it will spill out of the derby cover opening.
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If you can't see the oil then there's not enough.
If you put too much in it will spill out of the derby cover opening.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,293
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From: Honah Lee
New models are
engine is hot oil on the jiffy stand with plug stick screwed in.
transmission cold on jiffy stand with plug stick not screwed in.
Primary as an amount. Big cruisers are 38 ounces now which puts level slightly higher to held insure the bearing on the compensator gets enough oil.
(Harley found out sustained high speed driving can starve the bearing since the oil left a void down the center-line of the primary.
However, primary should always be at least to bottom of diaphragm spring with bike level. It would be way too low if you do primary on the stand.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 15, 2016 at 07:33 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 377
Likes: 74
From: Western New York
My '13 softail manual calls for 32oz wet and 40oz dry. Put the bike upright to fill. I use a 2x4 to get the bike close to level and fill. Before and after both changes I could fit my pinky finger down and just touch the fluid at the bottom of the clutch with jiffy on a 2x4.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 286
From: Buford, GA
I wasn't trying to be a smart a** ... I know it's worked for me. I've used the 2X4 under the jiffy to get bike close to level. Now I use a J&S jack.