Primary Fluid Change Question
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 449
Likes: 22
From: In a van, down by the river
I pour it back in thru the inspection cover, its higher than the derby cover. I place a towel over the right grip and lean the bike up against a brick wall to fill it. Not sure about your year, but I just dump the whole bottle of Formula+ in there, never an issue.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Northeast U.S.
The newer models do not have an inspection cover anymore. I believe they discontinued the inspection cover shortly after they went to an "auto-adjusting" primary chain adjuster.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 4
From: Here
No good on the '07-up models. I wish we still had the inspection cover as it would be a lot easier than dicking with the derby cover every time.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
If you use the sight method the bike must be vertical when doing so--i.e., not on the kickstand. This detail is specified in my '07 owners manual but oddly is absent in the service manual (maintenance section). I would use the measurement method (38 oz.) since it is easier, especially if you don't have help holding the bike up while you inspect the level.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Someone mentioned o-rings, but my '07 uses a "seal ring," which looks like a large rubber band. I've found these to be very durable and have changed mine no more than twice in 37k miles, changing the oil every 5k. Be advised that if you don't clean the oil off the surfaces around the seal it will temporarily weep a bit afterward around the derby cover, but that will stop in short order unless the seal is damaged.
Last edited by iclick; Aug 16, 2010 at 11:54 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
By the way, it's a PITA to replace the primary oil. Couldn't find a small enough funnel to go into the hole at the bottom of the clutch basket so the one I used was a tad too big and some oil spilled over the primary cover.
You have to pour the oil very slowly to avoid spilling.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
I learned this trick in the Army working on Aircraft. Put a little spit on the head of the torx hole or a stripped out phillips head. Push some gritty dirt in the head of the screw or bolt. Put the screw driver or torx bit and turn it. We used to use scrubbing powder but dirt works in a pinch. It takes up the space where the damage is and allows the tool to bite. It works more often then not. The trick is doing it before it goes totally bad.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Take a small chisel and start it at about 10 o'clock on outside of the screw head, then rap it lightly with a hammer downward. That forces the screw to turn CCW. That worked like a charm for me. I then went to Ace Hardware and bought five chrome Allen button-head screws, which have not given me any trouble.
Yes they do, it's different than on previous models but the round cover with 5 bolts at the back of the primary cover is still called the clutch inspection cover. That's what my 09 Touring Bikes service manual calls it.
By the way, it's a PITA to replace the primary oil. Couldn't find a small enough funnel to go into the hole at the bottom of the clutch basket so the one I used was a tad too big and some oil spilled over the primary cover.
You have to pour the oil very slowly to avoid spilling.
By the way, it's a PITA to replace the primary oil. Couldn't find a small enough funnel to go into the hole at the bottom of the clutch basket so the one I used was a tad too big and some oil spilled over the primary cover.
You have to pour the oil very slowly to avoid spilling.
Jim