I am new to H-D. I have a two week old RKC. I was reading the owner's manual about checking the fluids in the bike.

There is a dip stick for the engine oil. Turn it by hand and remove it. Need a little oil?, put it in, screw on the top.

There is a dip stick for the tranny. Use an allen wrench, turn it and remove it. Need a little oil in the tranny? Put a little in. Use an allen wrench to replace the dip stick.

The primary... Remove the cover??? (The clutch inspection plate.) Buy a new "O" ring. Install the new "O" ring. Replace the cover. Need a little oil? Jamb an oil can into the opening and dump it in.

Why is there not a simple way to check the primary oil and top it off if necessary?

At one point I had a bike that had an inspection window for the engine oil. You simply looked at the window. If you could see the oil, if it lined up with the little red mark in the glass, it was at the correct level.

 

I had a VSTAR 1100, I hated the inspection window. Laying on the ground and having the bike's kick stand on a block of wood to keep it level.

I do hate the idea of having to replace gaskets just to do a oil level check.

 

I'd just change the primary oil and not worry about the level unless there's a leak. This way, you'll know what you've got. I don't usually replace un-damaged O rings but I do keep spares. I can get the 3/8" tip of a funnel into the primary of my '04 next to the clutch in order to add oil without spilling.

 

I have used thesame O ring seal over and over with out any leaks. You need to get this handy funel from Harley: HARLEY PRIMARY OIL FILL FUNNEL 63797-10

 

Harley oil servicing is a funny thing. fill it by the book and you have leaks. fill it to the low hot side book level and you have no leaks. ditto on the whole primary refill process. someone is going to come a long with a case mod to drill thru the tranny and primary case and just connect the two chambers. Oil wt is another story. seems like if you put 10w/40w in your primary, it seeps out over time (I lost a pint over a year), but if you go 20W/50W or higher, then you have the rusty compenator inner race problem.

 

I have never changed a primary o ring in over 80,000 mi of tourer riding. Dont worry about it.

Primaries arent that sensitive to oil level anyhow, again it aint worth worrying about. Just as long as there is some black stuff in there she will go for a bit longer.

 

As said above, no need for a new o ring. Just another statement in the book for a un needed purchase.

 

Same on my 08

 

if you don't see any leaks the oil is still in there. no need to even check it. i replaced 1 derby cover O-ring in the 26 years i have owned my 85. i kept the old one just in case.

 

Nobody uses a bent piece of cardboard for a funnel? And I thought the "O" Ring was a lifetime item. ( Mine is so far!)