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Explicit instructions on the engine oil (hot and on jiffy stand), and transmission (upright). But silent about the primary.
Nowhere could I find instructions on bike orientation for checking the primary level. Just 32 ounces, and no higher than the edge of the clutch basket.
The drawings in the manual appear to be upright. And as I recall, my oil level came up to the clutch edge at 32 ounces with my bike upright.
Explicit instructions on the engine oil (hot and on jiffy stand), and transmission (upright). But silent about the primary.
Nowhere could I find instructions on bike orientation for checking the primary level. Just 32 ounces, and no higher than the edge of the clutch basket.
The drawings in the manual appear to be upright. And as I recall, my oil level came up to the clutch edge at 32 ounces with my bike upright.
Yep well based on my little fluid changing exercise id say that the fill to lip instruction in the manuals and on youtube etc is appropriate when the bike is on its side stand.
filling to lip level with the bike upright brings the fluid level above the tensioner block, viewable with the chain primary inspection cover removed and almost to the point where its about to over spill the primary inspection window.
To me, based on the last 24 hours, fill to lip if youre on the side stand. If you got the bike jacked/upright, just stick to 1 quart/965 ml.
Stop obsessing about the quantities listed in the service manual, and simply set the level visually, after all, if you don`t know what the level should be, how would you check it if you were on the road and suspected a leak?
Stand the bike up straight, fill the primary until the lube just touches the outside diameter of the clutch shell.
This is the correct level for every big twin since mid `84.
If you need to know how many ounces it takes, just keep track of how many ounces you use the first time you set the level and then you will know.
The service manual quantities will drive you nuts, if I followed the quantities listed in the service manual for my `89 Softail, I would have oil all over the garage floor from overfilling the oil tank, and my primary would be full right up to the derby cover opening...
Don`t take the quantities shown as anything more than giving you an idea of how much oil you should have on hand... Correct primary lube level, bike vertical.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Sep 20, 2020 at 09:56 AM.
[QUOTE=Dan89FLSTC;19412583]Stop obsessing about the quantities listed in the service manual, and simply set the level visually, after all, if you don`t know what the level should be, how would you check it if you were on the road and suspected a leak?
Stand the bike up straight, fill the primary until the lube just touches the outside diameter of the clutch shell.
This is the correct level for every big twin since mid `84.
If you need to know how many ounces it takes, just keep track of how many ounces you use the first time you set the level and then you will know.
The service manual quantities will drive you nuts, if I followed the quantities listed in the service manual for my `89 Softail, I would have oil all over the garage floor from overfilling the oil tank, and my primary would be full right up to the derby cover opening...
Don`t take the quantities shown as anything more than giving you an idea of how much oil you should have on hand... Correct primary lube level, bike vertical.[/QUOTE
Heh Dan!
Thanks for your guidance!
As a new Harley owner i think its right to check the manual and test its instructions before reaching out to forums.
Ive gone with the quart and adjusted the primary chain and shes running great. Better than she was before so im happy
Next time i change the prinary oil ill check back on your input above.
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