Drain Plug Torque
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Vermont
Drain Plug Torque
So I'm a firm believer in properly torqueing every nut, bolt and even the small screws on our modern motorcycles. During my younger Pan Shovel days, tighten it up and tighten it some more worked, but not on these new machines. However, I've found one torque listed in the manual to be a little too much for my liking. Drain Plugs. Manual calls for 14 to 21 Ft./Lbs on all 3 drain plugs, tranny oil and Primary. To me it seems as though the plugs wanted to strip going even to the lowest setting of 14 so I've pretty much just tightened the plugs up snugly and left it at that. Last night I was reading a magazine where the shop says proper torque on these drain plugs is 18 to 22 inch pounds, which makes more sense to me? Is the 14 to 21 a misprint? Anyone have a take on this? I run a 2010 Street Glide.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Blaine, WA
Divide 18 -22 by 12 and what do you get? 1.5 - 1.8ft/lbs........does that sound like enough? You could probably go over that with your fingers. 14-21ft/lbs is correct, I always use a torque wrench and never feel like one is going to strip out but then I'm the only one that's ever changed the oil on my bikes. If anyone else has worked on yours, maybe they've screwed up all three plugs.
Divide 18 -22 by 12 and what do you get? 1.5 - 1.8ft/lbs........does that sound like enough? You could probably go over that with your fingers. 14-21ft/lbs is correct, I always use a torque wrench and never feel like one is going to strip out but then I'm the only one that's ever changed the oil on my bikes. If anyone else has worked on yours, maybe they've screwed up all three plugs.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Kentucky
I have become comfortable with 12ft lbs with my torque wrench. Someone else's torque wrench may have a different feel.
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I've got 3 torque wrenches... not one reads 12 ft.lbs.
My smallest goes from 50-250 in.lbs. So I use it instead,
My smallest goes from 50-250 in.lbs. So I use it instead,
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 570
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From: New Mexico
I would go with the inch pounds. Your right about maybe stripping the plugs out with foot pounds. The oring is what is sealing. Its not like a gasket or pipe style plug. Its kinda like people over tightening oil filters. Hand tight if you can get a decent grip is usually plenty tight.
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From: Vermont
Besides my torque screw driver, that's the way my wrenches are to. And I do know how to convert inch pounds to foot pounds etc. Nope, nobody but me works on my bike or has changed the oil since it was new. The first time I went to 14 ft/Lbs it felt like too much to me so ever since I snug up the drain plugs till the plug and gasket are bottomed then go a little more. I was just curios about that 14 - 21. Question answered thanks!