How Necessary is it?
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
How Necessary is it?
Alright fella's now that spring is quickly approaching and will soon be time to bust out the rides (at least for those of us in the northern states), honestly how necessary is it to change out the oil/primary/tranny? I changed my oil/primary/tranny before putting her away for winter, have not rode it or started it since I stored it away. So is it really necessary to change these again and if so why?
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 640
Likes: 44
From: Mancheser UK
I'd say no to changing it again, I change mine before it goes into storage for winter, so that its got clean oil in it with no contaminants, come the spring, I'm ready to go. Cant see the sense in changing it again. If you left it for years maybe, but not just a couple of months. Thats my view.
Reddog UK
Reddog UK
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 533
Likes: 2
From: Eugene, OR
It depends on how you ran the bike during storage and how long it was stored. Short periods of idling produces condensation. This condensation eventually turns into sludge that can damage your motor. However if you managed to get it in a longer ride allowing the motor/trans to reach operating temp it can reabsorb the condensation. I have only rode once since Oct 23rd, so I changed the oil. I looked at the tranny fluid and it appeared brand new still, but I don't have a good reason for not changing it too. Who knows what is going on behind my primary cover for the clutch.
I run all synthetics but an oil change at the start of riding season is cheap insurance.
I run all synthetics but an oil change at the start of riding season is cheap insurance.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Thanks all for the replies. Was just double checking if it indeed was necessary, didn't really want to spend more money on this stuff if it wasnt needed. It has been stored since October and I have not riden it at all, havent even started it, by the advice of the brothers on the forum due to them saying that starting it periodically will lead to condensation.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
I take my first ride of the season (bring it up to op temp) and pull into the garage and drop the oil. Just what I do, right or wrong, idk, but I haven't had any probs...
Oh, and as far as other fluids, I just change them when recommended...or slightly sooner, depending if im doing other work on the bike.
Oh, and as far as other fluids, I just change them when recommended...or slightly sooner, depending if im doing other work on the bike.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
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From: NJ
I change out my fluids according to the maintenance schedule regardless of the time of year or how long between rides. 5k crankcase, 10k primary, 20k tranny. Why? because I have better things to waste my money and time on.
