OK I screwed up. Just bought my sportster used without manual, tried drainig oil through plug on bottom and let drain all day. Can`t even figure out how to getthe oil outof the oil tank. How do I drain the tank? Have I lost my prime? I`m scared to death. Please help!

 

I use a long Big Gulp straw. Tastes like a bucketful of hell, but it's the only way to really get it all.[sm=icon_guiness.gif]

 

Bored as fuuuuuudge and this one post got me thinking. Only 4 posts..... Wonder if the bike exploded on him......

 

Pour in a half of a quart of Marvel Mystery oil, when it runs clear, all your oil is washed out.

 

I use the Scavenger. It takes 5 minutes and a extra 1/2-1 qt of oil. But it looks soooooo clean

 

Find something more important to obsess about. Leaving a little old oil in the engine will not harm a thing.

ROSC, your oil tank has a hose attached that you drain through. Mines under the battery, the hose is stopped by a plug thing on the frame (1991 Sportster). The overwhelming majority of oil is in the tank and soaked into the filter. And you probably have not lost the prime, since the tank feeds your oil pump and you have not drained it. I usually do the filter change first, then drain and replace the oil in the tank. That way only one end of the system is open at a time.

John

 

It's a waste of time IMHO. Most of us here just do a normal oil change. Many here have 75k+ miles on their Sporty. My buddy has over 100k miles.

You can do what you like but I don't see and benefits.

 

I tried this for the first time last week. It was very easy to do. As long as you keep an eye on the oil tank level during the process, and don't let it run dry, you will be fine.

Also put the new filter on before purging the system.

 

Yes, many Sportster have lived long lifes with a "standard" oil change.

The Savenger tool is the best answer to your original question.

FWIW...
1) Yes drain, tip bike left and right and "filler 'er up" and go.
Stay on HD recommended oil change schedule.
2) Do an oil change, drive 50 miles and do another oil change...don't forget your filter.
3) Change oil every 1000 miles/ filter 5000
4) Combo of 2 then 3 above.
I'd think that # 4 above would accomplish you to have one clean oil system.

 

This is hard on the starter, but it is like starting a newly built engine.

Pull the plug wires and turn the engine over until the oil pressure light goes out.

Put the plug wires back on and start her up, do not rev her hard for a minute or two. Everything should be fine.

We start newly built Harley motors all the time with nothing but assembly lube on the bearings. Our motors have bearings on the crank and not just babbitts like a car, that require pressure from the oil to almost float the journals.