new 883, 1st oil/primary fluid change question
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 5
From: Phoenix, AZ
I dunno about VERY BAD...it's not the BEST, but it's definitely not the worst. Don't use it in your primary...I will say that. But for engine, I usually run about 2-2.5 quarts a change and I have never had a problem.
Also, every other time you change your oil, I'd recommend running some SeaFoam through the crank case before you drain it. NOT MUCH! About an 1/8th to a 1/4 of the can will do it, but it will clean a lot of the sludge out of there. Run it for about 20-30 minutes around the neighborhood or something then drain it while it's still hot.
I change my oil every month and a half (daily rider - until I tore it apart) and I usually alternate the seafoam...do the oil one change, put it in the tank/carb the next. And follow the directions.
Next time I run it through the tank/carb I'll pop the carb off and take some pics. The back of my intake valves and the inside of my carb/intake manifold have looked damn near brand new since I rebuilt the motor over a year ago. It's good ****.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: allen park mi
ok at the risk of being called ignorant or jst plain stupid on the matter why is everybody so against the syn 3 in the primary. i only ask because this is the crap my dealer recommended i use in mine
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 5
From: Phoenix, AZ
Don't use it in the primary. It can cause the clutch to slip and burn out your plates much easier. I use RevTech Sportster formula in mine. It's a bit heavier and more stable under high heat.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
And if all that scientific stuff about the properties of oil makes your eyes roll back into your head....like it does mine. HD lubricant products are CITGO. That's all I need to know about that.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 680
Likes: 1
From: Seattle area
Maskedman --
Don't over-think this. There is nothing wrong with the HD products; they will work just fine. The other oils recommended will also work fine. Most riders seem to have a favorite, and believe the others are crap.
Bottom line, just use the correct *type* of oil in each hole, at the recommended intervals -- the brand is mostly irrelevant.
Best advice you can receive is to get the service manual. Worth its weight in gold.
Don't over-think this. There is nothing wrong with the HD products; they will work just fine. The other oils recommended will also work fine. Most riders seem to have a favorite, and believe the others are crap.
Bottom line, just use the correct *type* of oil in each hole, at the recommended intervals -- the brand is mostly irrelevant.
Best advice you can receive is to get the service manual. Worth its weight in gold.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 994
Likes: 43
From: Essex, England
Hi Guys
I'm about to do this but cant get a lot of the oils people mention. So I went for Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle 75W-90 which isa GL4 API spec oil. Anyone else used this? I wont get clutch clip with this will I?
Thanks
I'm about to do this but cant get a lot of the oils people mention. So I went for Castrol Syntrans Multivehicle 75W-90 which isa GL4 API spec oil. Anyone else used this? I wont get clutch clip with this will I?
Thanks
Stage III
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Bondi
Sooooo!! i've had my beautiful sportster for 3 years now, and I've always changed the engine oil but never the transmission oil, i didn't know i needed to actually do it until i run into this forum... so... i know is easy, but should it be done yearly as well??
thanks!!
thanks!!