Changing Oil
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Changing Oil
Wife showed up with 3 quarts of syn and an oil filter and wants me to change her oil. I don't have a clue how to change the oil on a Sportster. Any help would be appreciated so we can ride tomorrow.
Thanks,
David
Thanks,
David
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: Changing Oil
Find the hose that comes out of the oil tank and is clamped to the left (if you are sitting on the bike) side of the bottom of the frame. Unclamp from the frame. Use a regular screwdriver to reove the plug at the end of the hose. Insert hose in oil pan. Undo oil filler plug. Remove oil filter but not without putting some tinfoil or something under the filter to catch all the oil in it. Put on new filter. Not too tight. I believe the manual says half turn past where it starts to get tight. reinstall plug at the end of the drain hose. Reclamp to the frame. Pour oil into oil tank. I can't remember how much it takes and I'm too lazy to get the manual out. By the way having a manual might help at a time like this. That is for the crank case. Then you gotta do the primary/transmission too. It's in the book. Good luck. When I first got here no one would tell me how to do an oil change.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 22
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Changing Oil
ORIGINAL:
1. Find the hose that comes out of the oil tank and is clamped to the left (if you are sitting on the bike) side of the bottom of the frame. Unclamp from the frame. Use a regular screwdriver to reove the plug at the end of the hose. Insert hose in oil pan.
2. Undo oil filler plug.
3. Remove oil filter but not without putting some tinfoil or something under the filter to catch all the oil in it. Put on new filter. Not too tight. I believe the manual says half turn past where it starts to get tight.
4. reinstall plug at the end of the drain hose. Reclamp to the frame.
5. Pour oil into oil tank. I can't remember how much it takes and I'm too lazy to get the manual out.
6. Then you gotta do the primary/transmission too.
1. Find the hose that comes out of the oil tank and is clamped to the left (if you are sitting on the bike) side of the bottom of the frame. Unclamp from the frame. Use a regular screwdriver to reove the plug at the end of the hose. Insert hose in oil pan.
2. Undo oil filler plug.
3. Remove oil filter but not without putting some tinfoil or something under the filter to catch all the oil in it. Put on new filter. Not too tight. I believe the manual says half turn past where it starts to get tight.
4. reinstall plug at the end of the drain hose. Reclamp to the frame.
5. Pour oil into oil tank. I can't remember how much it takes and I'm too lazy to get the manual out.
6. Then you gotta do the primary/transmission too.
1. On the pre-2004 models there was a bung on the frame in front of the rear tire. A screwdriver is all you need. Just leave a pan under the hose.
2. This allows air into the oil tank and helps to drain the oil
3. A second oil pan is needed to catch all the oil, not just a rag or tinfoil. I normaly use an old t-shirt sleeve as a scaraficial rag to assist in keeping the oil from getting over the case.
I've been hand tightening the filters for .... I don't remember exactly. Perhaps 20,000 miles, at least. Hand tight works fine. Just keep in mind how hard it is to remove the filter if you use a wrench to tighten it.
4. Just put the plug back in. Don't tighten it or put it on the frame yet. I will explain after the next step.
5. It takes just under 3qts of oil, or just more than 2.5 qts. As long as it shows up on the dipstick you are good.
5 1/2. After puting in your first quart of oil go back under the frame and remove the plug from the hose untill you see some oil. Otherwise you will have an airbubble in the system that can cause some problem the book will explain if you don't believe me.
6. Tranny is only done every 5k miles. You will want the book for this one! Remember your T27.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 4
From: Northern California
RE: Changing Oil
First, check to see if the synthetic is certified for CF, CF-4, CG-4 and CH-4 use. Automobile oil often isn't. Also, it is the correct viscosity for your bike.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: Changing Oil
TWO CORRECTIONS TO ABOVE POSTS:
1: You need to add 4oz. of oil to the new filter before installing it.
2: Unless it's a 07up sporty, the manual does NOT list the correct oil quantity for an oil change. The quantity
listed in the manual is for a factory new dry engine. An oil change takes just under 3 quarts counting the
4 oz. that go in the filter.
1: You need to add 4oz. of oil to the new filter before installing it.
2: Unless it's a 07up sporty, the manual does NOT list the correct oil quantity for an oil change. The quantity
listed in the manual is for a factory new dry engine. An oil change takes just under 3 quarts counting the
4 oz. that go in the filter.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 34
From: Newport news, Virginia
RE: Changing Oil
What letter size oil filter wrench is needed to remove the oil filter? A size F is too small.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 22
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Changing Oil
Thanks for psoting about the air bubble.
I did not do this untill looking it up in the book w/no problems. I'm not sure if the stealership did it either. It's something I do now but as shown above I forgot the reason for doing it.
cHarley made the other point, I sometimes forget to put a good amount of oil in the filter which helps get the pressure up when first starting.
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