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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 03:48 PM
  #1  
straps's Avatar
straps
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From: indiana
Smile my first harley

i jus bought this bike less than 2 days ago but,at the risk of sounding dumb,i would rather ask then not know,and ruin a brand new custom built iron head,im new to the harley and not sure but "what weight oil goes in the oil tank?the guy i got it from gave me 20/50 and a oil filter and said the bike would be ready for an oil change soon,but did not mention if i was to put the 20/50 in the oil tank if it got low.my thought was that is awfully thick to put in that oil tank so here i am scared im gonna screw up sumthin up,but the tank needs leveled up before i go taking a cruise.thnx for any input anyone has to offer.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 03:50 PM
  #2  
veritas.archangel's Avatar
veritas.archangel
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From: Allyn, WA
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Pics would be nice. But knowing the year bike you're talking about would really help, since "ironheads" were built from '57 to '85.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 04:45 PM
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straps's Avatar
straps
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From: indiana
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sorry i did put a pic on my profile,i havnt got the others loaded up yet,its a 84 sportster,bored and stroked from a 1000 to a 1200,crane cam,dome pistons,S&S carb,drag pipes,for exact engine details i will have to look at the reciepts from H-D when my buddy had the motor done.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 05:20 PM
  #4  
cool granny 48's Avatar
cool granny 48
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From: St. Louis, Mo
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Originally Posted by straps
i jus bought this bike less than 2 days ago but,at the risk of sounding dumb,i would rather ask then not know,and ruin a brand new custom built iron head,im new to the harley and not sure but "what weight oil goes in the oil tank?the guy i got it from gave me 20/50 and a oil filter and said the bike would be ready for an oil change soon,but did not mention if i was to put the 20/50 in the oil tank if it got low.my thought was that is awfully thick to put in that oil tank so here i am scared im gonna screw up sumthin up,but the tank needs leveled up before i go taking a cruise.thnx for any input anyone has to offer.
Did you proof read what you wrote
before you posted it ? I read it 3
times & still couldn't believe it !!!

He gave you 20/50 with the bike.
where would you think you would
put it, in the gas tank ?

If he gave you 20/50 you can pretty
much assume thats what is used in
the bike, changing oil or topping off.
And yes, it goes in the oil tank.Duh!!

I read somewhere that there are no
dumb questions. I think you may have
dispelled that theory with this post.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 05:33 PM
  #5  
straps's Avatar
straps
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thnx for making me feel like an idiot,instead you could of jus said yeah if thats what he gave you then yes it goes in the oil tank end of story.not posting DUH,if you got understanding of what i was asking then dont drag it out,if this is what this site is about slapping new ppl then *** this site im out
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 05:35 PM
  #6  
Mike07FLHTC's Avatar
Mike07FLHTC
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 713
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From: Pa.
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Yes you can run 20/50 in it no problem. I run 60wt. in my iron head.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 05:38 PM
  #7  
volks-man's Avatar
volks-man
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Joined: Jul 2010
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welcome, straps.
we all have to learn sometime!

yes the 20/50 most likely goes in the oil tank.
and
your oil may not be low. i am unsure what you need to do to check it on an ironhead sporty... but my 2010 requires the engine at operating temp, then idled for several minutes, and then checking the dipstick with the bike ON THE KICKSTAND. if you check it while upright, mine will read wrong.

disregard 'granny'^...
wrinkled old prunes are seldom as sweet as plums.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 05:43 PM
  #8  
davidearlcox's Avatar
davidearlcox
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From: Lawrenceville, Ga.
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20w/50 is acceptable in the Ironheads for normal ambient temps and normal operation with stock or near stock engines. Some of the old timers run straight 60 weight oil, figuring they'll run quieter.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 06:01 PM
  #9  
jooles7009's Avatar
jooles7009
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Posts: 42
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From: old bridge, new jersey
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Originally Posted by cool granny 48
Did you proof read what you wrote
before you posted it ? I read it 3
times & still couldn't believe it !!!

He gave you 20/50 with the bike.
where would you think you would
put it, in the gas tank ?

If he gave you 20/50 you can pretty
much assume thats what is used in
the bike, changing oil or topping off.
And yes, it goes in the oil tank.Duh!!

I read somewhere that there are no
dumb questions. I think you may have
dispelled that theory with this post.
granny, that was really rude! hope you don't post stuff like that all the time!
 
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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 06:10 PM
  #10  
Robotech's Avatar
Robotech
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,036
Likes: 8
From: Temecula, CA
Default

Originally Posted by straps
i jus bought this bike less than 2 days ago but,at the risk of sounding dumb,i would rather ask then not know,and ruin a brand new custom built iron head,im new to the harley and not sure but "what weight oil goes in the oil tank?the guy i got it from gave me 20/50 and a oil filter and said the bike would be ready for an oil change soon,but did not mention if i was to put the 20/50 in the oil tank if it got low.my thought was that is awfully thick to put in that oil tank so here i am scared im gonna screw up sumthin up,but the tank needs leveled up before i go taking a cruise.thnx for any input anyone has to offer.
I THINK what you're asking is how do you know when it's due for an oil change, yes?

I'm not sure with Ironheads but I know my 99 would need a little bit of a top off between oil changes so while, yes, you do need to add oil if the level gets low this is not an indication that you need to do an oil change.

With the newer engines and synthetic oil the MoCo recommends you do them every 5,000 miles. Hopefully he told you at what milage the next one is due at and if he didn't, call and ask him.

As for granny's comment, that's the first "bad" post I've seen on this forum since joining it so don't let it get to you too much. Besides, in the world of "bikers", it's good to have a bit of a thick skin.
 
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