First 3-hole
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 1,349
From: Black Hills of SD
First 3-hole
Well, I'm all proud of myself. I just completed my first HD 3-hole oil change. The bike had just had all three done at the HD shop a week before I bought my bike so I went with it until now. Pretty easy actually other than the below oil filter comments.
So, admiring my work and cleaning things up from the SOB that overtightened the oil filter to holy-hell tight and turned a simple job it a real bitch and a mess - I spot a 1/8"pipe plug in the right side engine case down under the cam cover. There is nothing in the manual about removing that and what I suspect would be to drain the case oil laying there. Does anyone remove that plug to get all the oil you can out for the oil change? Maybe it's a casting plug?
As the manual stated I put just a touch over three quarts in the oil tank and it is just about perfect for the oil level. You know there is still oil in the case and cam chest - Maybe that pipe plug would get that out. Thoughts?
So, admiring my work and cleaning things up from the SOB that overtightened the oil filter to holy-hell tight and turned a simple job it a real bitch and a mess - I spot a 1/8"pipe plug in the right side engine case down under the cam cover. There is nothing in the manual about removing that and what I suspect would be to drain the case oil laying there. Does anyone remove that plug to get all the oil you can out for the oil change? Maybe it's a casting plug?
As the manual stated I put just a touch over three quarts in the oil tank and it is just about perfect for the oil level. You know there is still oil in the case and cam chest - Maybe that pipe plug would get that out. Thoughts?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 11,075
From: NE Ohio
mine is a typical pipe thread plug.
Only got a couple ounces (at most) of oil out of it
So never bothered to pull it again.
..L.T.A.
Last edited by Cap77; Apr 27, 2023 at 08:16 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,040
Likes: 12,956
From: Texas, USA
Well, I'm all proud of myself. I just completed my first HD 3-hole oil change. The bike had just had all three done at the HD shop a week before I bought my bike so I went with it until now. Pretty easy actually other than the below oil filter comments.
So, admiring my work and cleaning things up from the SOB that overtightened the oil filter to holy-hell tight and turned a simple job it a real bitch and a mess - I spot a 1/8"pipe plug in the right side engine case down under the cam cover. There is nothing in the manual about removing that and what I suspect would be to drain the case oil laying there. Does anyone remove that plug to get all the oil you can out for the oil change? Maybe it's a casting plug?
As the manual stated I put just a touch over three quarts in the oil tank and it is just about perfect for the oil level. You know there is still oil in the case and cam chest - Maybe that pipe plug would get that out. Thoughts?
So, admiring my work and cleaning things up from the SOB that overtightened the oil filter to holy-hell tight and turned a simple job it a real bitch and a mess - I spot a 1/8"pipe plug in the right side engine case down under the cam cover. There is nothing in the manual about removing that and what I suspect would be to drain the case oil laying there. Does anyone remove that plug to get all the oil you can out for the oil change? Maybe it's a casting plug?
As the manual stated I put just a touch over three quarts in the oil tank and it is just about perfect for the oil level. You know there is still oil in the case and cam chest - Maybe that pipe plug would get that out. Thoughts?
The basic answer to the highlighted question is no. Do not remove the pipe plug under the cam chest. That pipe plug is a tapered plug. If overtightened you can crack your engine case and you would be in a world of hurt. If you are concerned with getting every ounce of dirty oil out of your engine then use the Rogue Chopper Oil Scavenger System. It works very well.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,094
Likes: 51,354
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
OP , don't sweat an once or two still there, just do the regular services and you are good to go.
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Apr 27, 2023 at 09:43 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 1,902
Likes: 1,349
From: Black Hills of SD
Thanks guys - While the oil was draining I had thoughts that if I put a little pressure on the oil tank if it would push the oil back into and out the tank drain. I know when I had the cam cover off doing maintenance there was a decent amount of oil that will not come out with a normal oil change. But I did not try it. I suspect that is something that is the same or similar to what was recommended above in a post by Mr. Bone Doc. I'll look into that.
Oils I used. I'm already going to hell if there is such a place - So here goes. Mobil 1 15w/50 for the engine, Castrol GTX 20w/50 for the trans & Prim. M1 102A filter.
There, I did it.
As for the plug in the bottom. Yes, I could see it was a 1/8" tapered pipe plug and in cast aluminum = "I bet bad things have happened there before" Kind of like the plug in the primary case - I have pipe plugs. I see that needed to be modified later. Again the shop gorilla tightened the crap out of it and it goes in past the spec in the manual now to be tight. Mine sits slightly below flush and the spec was something like .016" above flush. For now it's fine, but I may consider modifying that and going to an O-ring fitting someday.
Oils I used. I'm already going to hell if there is such a place - So here goes. Mobil 1 15w/50 for the engine, Castrol GTX 20w/50 for the trans & Prim. M1 102A filter.
There, I did it.
As for the plug in the bottom. Yes, I could see it was a 1/8" tapered pipe plug and in cast aluminum = "I bet bad things have happened there before" Kind of like the plug in the primary case - I have pipe plugs. I see that needed to be modified later. Again the shop gorilla tightened the crap out of it and it goes in past the spec in the manual now to be tight. Mine sits slightly below flush and the spec was something like .016" above flush. For now it's fine, but I may consider modifying that and going to an O-ring fitting someday.
Last edited by MarlinSpike; Apr 28, 2023 at 08:33 AM.
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Who doesnt have a story or two? I later discovered that two hole is really where its at.
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Joined: Nov 2021
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From: FL winter, northern MI summer
I scan the maintenance schedule out of the manual, print it out, and cross off the items when completed. I do multi things.... as the oil is draining, I'll pull the air filter and wash. While primary is draining, I'll lube the clutch cable and and adjust the clutch, etc. I just did the 15K mile on my FB a couple weeks ago.
Edited to fix spelling, is there a spell check on here anywhere?
Edited to fix spelling, is there a spell check on here anywhere?
Last edited by Kenelz; Apr 28, 2023 at 08:04 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,293
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From: Honah Lee
Well, I'm all proud of myself. I just completed my first HD 3-hole oil change. The bike had just had all three done at the HD shop a week before I bought my bike so I went with it until now. Pretty easy actually other than the below oil filter comments.
So, admiring my work and cleaning things up from the SOB that overtightened the oil filter to holy-hell tight and turned a simple job it a real bitch and a mess - I spot a 1/8"pipe plug in the right side engine case down under the cam cover. There is nothing in the manual about removing that and what I suspect would be to drain the case oil laying there. Does anyone remove that plug to get all the oil you can out for the oil change? Maybe it's a casting plug?
As the manual stated I put just a touch over three quarts in the oil tank and it is just about perfect for the oil level. You know there is still oil in the case and cam chest - Maybe that pipe plug would get that out. Thoughts?
So, admiring my work and cleaning things up from the SOB that overtightened the oil filter to holy-hell tight and turned a simple job it a real bitch and a mess - I spot a 1/8"pipe plug in the right side engine case down under the cam cover. There is nothing in the manual about removing that and what I suspect would be to drain the case oil laying there. Does anyone remove that plug to get all the oil you can out for the oil change? Maybe it's a casting plug?
As the manual stated I put just a touch over three quarts in the oil tank and it is just about perfect for the oil level. You know there is still oil in the case and cam chest - Maybe that pipe plug would get that out. Thoughts?
A TCb also has an 1 & 1/2 inches of oil in crank case.
Don't worry about it. That fresh oil service and a filter is all you need.
Now if you are bound and determined and this is not a tin man post for a flush kit, be sure to not overtightenen that tapered pipe plug.
Use a proper pipe thread liquid sealer. Over Tightening it will crack the aluminum . Seen dozens of cases on here.
Just a few weeks back, on one on a Sporty.