Sportster drain plug

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Feb 17, 2017 | 10:23 AM

#11

Mark Gillies

Stage II

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

From: West Branch

Oil Drain

Hi guys, just joined. My question is what if you are switching to synthetic oil, is it still not an issue with what little oil that's left in the motor.

Feb 17, 2017 | 10:37 AM

#12

hexnut

Banned

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 1,127

Likes: 226

From: middle Tennessee

No, not an issue.

Feb 17, 2017 | 01:58 PM

#13

John Harper

HDF Community Team

Joined: Dec 2011

Posts: 8,601

Likes: 4,039

From: San Diego, CA

The check ball is part of the filter system. That is not the only place it will drain back in to the engine, the oil pump is another source of leakdown. Tolerances and/or open gerotor position can let oil drain back from the tank while sitting for a while. Once you start the motor, it should all get scavenged back to the tank by the return gerotor rather quickly.

Probably time to look on Ebay for a Factory Service Manual.

John

Feb 17, 2017 | 06:14 PM

#14

cvaria

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2012

Posts: 12,367

Likes: 2,215

From: Tallahassee, Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gillies

Hi guys, just joined. My question is what if you are switching to synthetic oil, is it still not an issue with what little oil that's left in the motor.

not an issue. Proceed.

Feb 17, 2017 | 10:30 PM

#15

Kungfuman

Intermediate

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 28

Likes: 4

From: Ohio

I agree non issue. I would check all the lines are connected correctly from your oil tank to your oil pump, from the pump to your filter housing. The return line and the transmision breather too. The service manual is your best bet for this. Sounds like it hasnt ran in a while. You might want to pull the plugs and crank it for a little while first to make sure the lifters and heads are lubed up before actually firing it up. You should have a red idiot light on your dash that will go out as soon as it fires. This will confirm you have oil pressure in the system. your other option is to hook up a pressure gauge in place of the idiot light plug on the front of your crank case near the oil filter housing. this will prove the pump is working as it should. I have an 87 sporty.

Feb 18, 2017 | 11:18 AM

#16

DaddyKnuck

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 17,625

Likes: 1,665

From: Blairsville GA

Back in the iron barrel days, before bikes had an oil filter, it was considered smart to disconnect the return line at the tank after an oil change. The theory was to run the engine until clean oil came out, or perhaps just kick the motor over, I don't really remember.

What I do remember is that the few times I tried it I made a big mess. In the last 50 years or so since, I haven't lost any sleep for the few ounces of "dirty" oil that remains in the engine.

Feb 18, 2017 | 12:56 PM

#17

Almond farmer

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2016

Posts: 297

Likes: 19

From: Central CA

Don't mean to high jack this thread.
So, if the evo engine oil capacity is 2.8 quarts,
what should be the minimum volume of the oil reservoir tank for a custom made tank, taking into consideration some air space is required above the oil level for the vent tube.

If the engine has not run for a long time( years), will simply removing plugs and turning over engine with electric starter motor, pump the oil from the engine case back to the reservoir tank?

Last edited by Almond farmer; Feb 18, 2017 at 01:20 PM.

Feb 18, 2017 | 01:03 PM

#18

HOTLAP

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 5,067

Likes: 394

From: Edmonton Alberta Canada

Technically the bigger the better, more oil means it passes thru the engine less often extending it's life and also the longer it is in the tank the more time it has to cool before returning to the engine.