Torque specs oil plugs?

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Apr 18, 2019 | 07:51 AM

#31

doug62

Road Captain

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 530

Likes: 57

From: The South

Quote:

Originally Posted by 702

My wrist clicks when the correct torque is achieved,

You are one of the fortunate few that has a built in torque wrist!

Apr 20, 2019 | 09:35 PM

#32

Neckball

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 3,108

Likes: 9

From: Lincolnton, NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

Has anyone actually ever had an oil plug leak? Like I said I go years. even if it were to, it is not going to gush out. Like I said doesn't hurt. Just laugh at how adamant people are about piddly stuff like this.

I'm still running the original o-ring from 2005, 105,000+ miles, no leaks.

Seems the predominant thought process is a new o-ring is important but proper torque is not.

.

Apr 20, 2019 | 09:45 PM

#33

hattitude

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 14,156

Likes: 11,244

From: San Diego, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

Yes, the last time my '03 Heritage went to a dealer for a service. They buggered up the o-ring when putting the trans oil plug back in. I found small oil spots under the bike for the first time since I owned it. Yeah, it wasn't gushing out, but it's not designed to have a small, slow drip.... so that bothered me.

I drained the trans, replaced the o-ring, and reinstalled the trans oil plug. No leak...

Shortly after that incident, I moved to a place where I had a garage to work on my bikes myself. My bikes haven't been back to a dealer for anything other than warranty work since then......

Apr 20, 2019 | 10:06 PM

#34

Teardrop

Road Warrior

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 1,290

Likes: 20

From: Salem, Or

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

I keep a few on hand. But I have reused them for years. Not saying don't. But in my experience not needed. Granted it is easy and cheap.

I do the same. I reuse them until they are bad then replace. With that being said and how my luck is the next time I replace the oil I'll go out to the garage the next morning to find all the oil drained out on the garage floor because I failed to replace an o ring.

Apr 21, 2019 | 12:28 AM

#35

Joe from So Cal

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2018

Posts: 462

Likes: 87

From: Southern California

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

What did you do? Drill a hole in the oil plug so you can put a locking pin in it to some kind of hole you welded on the oil pan?

I have a drill press. I drilled a small hole through the head of each plug, Two of the plugs are lock wired together. The third plug I just go around a frame tube.

Stainless steel wire. The kit was about $25 at Harbor Freight. I do not want them falling out, and I don't like to over-tighten going into aluminum.

Apr 21, 2019 | 06:29 AM

#36

cajun1957a

Road Warrior

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 1,252

Likes: 142

Reading the original post and answers of 14-21 foot pounds, im at time perplexed at the variance between the low and high end. 7 foot pounds difference or more than 30 %. If these O-rings are so important to replace everytime, I think someone has stocks in the company that supplies them. I have the original on my 03-RKC. Not a drop of oil underneath and my built in torque "wrist" still has never ruined it nor has the plug come loose...……………………...Yet. I have to say Yet.

randy

Apr 22, 2019 | 06:58 AM

#37

Zerk

Banned

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 7,406

Likes: 834

From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe from So Cal

So if it falls out, you will have it to reuse?

Now if you welded tabs on the oil pan so you could run a pin through it, you would paranoid but useful set up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hattitude

Before draining it, did you try a torque wrench? I would have guessed loose before a bad oring.

Around 06, on my 01, my orings were coming out chewed up every oil change. Only had one bike, was going through a few a year.

Know what, not one leaked, despite being full of nicks. Then it just stopped. I started a thread thinking Harley had a bad batch. I don't think anyone else saw it. Maybe the dealer fond some ancient batch and was selling them, or getting from cheap source. Obviously I was using a new one each time.

Apr 22, 2019 | 09:09 AM

#38

hattitude

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 14,156

Likes: 11,244

From: San Diego, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zerk

Before draining it, did you try a torque wrench? I would have guessed loose before a bad oring.

.

No torque check, I looked up between the shocks with a bore scope and the o-ring was pinched and bulging out from under the plug. When I removed it, it was pretty tore up... They must have pinched/tore it up when putting it in, I can't believe even a dealer would reuse and o-ring that was in the condition it was when I removed it..

FWIW... I lubricate an o-ring prior to install, and use a torque wrench on my oil plugs.I have yet to have one leak, I have no idea what that dealer did/did not do.....

Last edited by hattitude; Apr 22, 2019 at 09:13 AM.