Primary fluid change
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
There was a change in model years (I think '09 and up but you'd have to verify that). 38oz is correct for the later models. The OPs bike is an '05.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
This is a big inconsistency. The way I see it....if you fire up your bike and drive it around the block, then rush to do the primary you could get by with 32oz becuase there's splashy splashy oil all over the inside of the primary. But if you let the bike sit for a while and everything drains back down to the sump, then you are looking at 38oz. I once measured what it would take to get the oil to touch the reference point and I was well over 42oz. Main thing is that too much oil and neutral will be a bear to find since you won't have proper clutch disengagement. 38oz seems not to interfere with neutral.
his bike is a 2005. different spec.
*edit* others brought that up the same time that i was typing.....
Last edited by skratch; Oct 17, 2011 at 09:13 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
Okay, I have a stupid question, but I am a little confused with adding fluid to my primary on a 2005 FLHTCUI. Have service manual and owners manual and both state to add fluid to the primary with bike standing straight up not on jiffy stand. Add fluid till you see it and not over spring. Approximately 32 oz. Okay, I added a full quart of fluid. Can not see it anywhere at the bottom of the primary nor touching bottom of spring. So I keep adding just a little at a time up to about another half quart and still can not see fluid. Took it off of stand and put back on jiffy stand and while it is leaning I think I might be able to see something, but not a clear level. Anyway, I poured the old oil that was drained in an empty quard container and it was right at 32 oz. ??? Do you just put in 1 quart and call it good or do you have to have it filled till you see it at the bottom of the spring? Took it for a ride and it shifted fine and found nautral with no problem. Seemed to even shift smoother then before, but I don't want to hurt anything if I put to much in. Thanks for any advice and if you feel you need to flame then go for it.
Electra1
Electra1
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 609
Likes: 14
From: Mount Airy, MD
I'm taking my on route on this one - flame suit on
Here's what I do, everyone else can do what they want. I've found that if I add fluid to my primary until the tensioner pad is covered with fluid as well as half way up a chain link as it lays horizontally on top of the tensioner pad, my primary noises are silenced almost completely.
Why have I chosen this route? Well, after swapping out my stock compensator at ~10k miles and installing a an SE compensator in its place I noticed that the tensioner had what I consider excessive wear for ~10k miles. When filling the primary after the swap with the bike straight up, I noticed that a dry fill (45oz. I believe) didn't cover the tensioner with fluid so I decided to experiment. I buttoned everything up and took her for a ride. The prmary was pretty noisy. So I put her back on the lift, pulled the derby cover, and added more fluid until I achieved the fill level above in the first paragraph. Buttoned it up again and hit the road. Everything was much quieter.
I ran the bike that way for my 6k mile trip to Colorado, Wyoming, and Sturgis and the primary noise was non-existent. I just serviced the bike again and followed the same fill procedure filling the primary, fired it up, and hit the road and the primary noises are still much quieter.
I sticking with this primary fill procedure for the life of the bike just to see how it goes.
Ride and enjoy!
Why have I chosen this route? Well, after swapping out my stock compensator at ~10k miles and installing a an SE compensator in its place I noticed that the tensioner had what I consider excessive wear for ~10k miles. When filling the primary after the swap with the bike straight up, I noticed that a dry fill (45oz. I believe) didn't cover the tensioner with fluid so I decided to experiment. I buttoned everything up and took her for a ride. The prmary was pretty noisy. So I put her back on the lift, pulled the derby cover, and added more fluid until I achieved the fill level above in the first paragraph. Buttoned it up again and hit the road. Everything was much quieter.
I ran the bike that way for my 6k mile trip to Colorado, Wyoming, and Sturgis and the primary noise was non-existent. I just serviced the bike again and followed the same fill procedure filling the primary, fired it up, and hit the road and the primary noises are still much quieter.
I sticking with this primary fill procedure for the life of the bike just to see how it goes.
Ride and enjoy!
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 531
Likes: 4
From: Chile Flats, AZ
My Owner's Manual states: 1.40 qts US (44.8 oz. US) APPROXIMATELY
My Service Manual states: 38 oz US (1.20 qts US) APPROXIMATELY
My Service Manual states: 38 oz US (1.20 qts US) APPROXIMATELY
Last edited by JetD; Mar 20, 2013 at 10:16 PM. Reason: added detail
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
Thanks for the advice. Mine states 32oz, but even with the quart and a half of fluid in the primary and on it's jiffy stand you still can not see it hitting the bottom of the spring. I am sure it is, but I sure can not see it. It does shift better / smoother. Not sure why they would show a picture of fluid at the bottom of the spring in the manual when adding 32oz of fluid, when it doesn't fill that far. Instead it doesn't even come close. Little confusing.
If you do over fill by a half a quart what, if any damage can you do? I know neutral might be hard to find, but other then that is there anything more that could be damaged?
If you do over fill by a half a quart what, if any damage can you do? I know neutral might be hard to find, but other then that is there anything more that could be damaged?
Last edited by Electra1; Oct 17, 2011 at 11:07 PM.
