When changing oil, why take off primary cover?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 6
From: Kingman, AZ
I saw the post that threw you off.......iclick just kind of changed gears in the post and quit talking about oil filter mess to "think I will try this" about primary oil change.
Took me a little while to get used to the 3 oil areas vs a metric and then the added debate on whether to use three different types of lube (I do) vs one grade in all three "holes." Keep searching the posts and you will hit on a combo that makes sense to you.
Supporter
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 90
From: Vermont
Just wondered, seems on the oil changing forums, they mostly talk about how to stop the oil spills when changing the filter. Then everyone talks about when they refill the oil they have to take off the primary cover to pour the new oil in. Why not just pour the new oil through the dipstick hole like on every other metric motorcycle I've owned???
To refill the motors oil bag you do pour the oil through the dip stick hole. If you change the primary, a separate sealed unit, you drain it via a drain plug at the bottom back of the primary and refill through the derby cover hole. On earlier bikes you could refill the primary from the primary chain inspection cover or the derby cover hole, but the derby is the easiest. The later 96, 103 and 110's no longer have primary inspection covers so you must fill through the Derby cover hole. You can't refil the primary without the outer primary cover in place. The tranny is yet another separate unit with its own drain plug and fill hole.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,134
Likes: 4
From: Third Coast, South Texas
As already stated you can (and many people do) put 20W50 in all three "holes" (also called bags or boxes). There are discussions for years on what is the right thing to do. You do what you feel is necessary. Redline makes a V-Twin power pack which has 3 different oils for engine/tranny/primary. If your bike is newer (not sure when this started, maybe 2010) you need an extra qt. of primary oil b/c it calls for 38oz. The Owner's Manual will give you a good idea of where the drain plugs are and how much oil to replace with. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can save a great deal of money doing the oil service yourself.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 736
Likes: 23
From: Waverly Hall,Ga
Been thinking about taking my spare primary cover and boring and tapping a hole the size of the trans hole...what you folks think....???
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 7
From: The Great Northwest
You guys aren't thinking this thing through. It a piece of cake. Just drain the primary, then filp the bike over and add in the new fluid through the drian plug.
Viola!!
Viola!!
Last edited by Clint55; Oct 8, 2010 at 09:23 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: South of Boston, MA
+1 on the manual. Look around the threads to decide what you may want to use in each hole (like A$$#@!es, everyone's got an opinion). Fix my Hog DVDs were also very helpful to me when I started doing my own maintenance a couple of years ago when I bought my first Harley. Combined with the manual, you'll be saving a ton of $$