Beginner's questions!
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 24
Likes: 10
From: Spokane, WA
Beginner's questions!
Okay, so go easy on me. I just got a 1988 FLHTC Electra Glide. It's my first motorcycle in forty years. There's a lot to learn.
In winterizing the bike, I'm changing fluids.
I found a single drain plug on the bottom of the bike... just forward of the oil filter. I believe this is the transmission fluid drain plug Yes? No? I drained less than one quart of a dark maroonish colored fluid.
I removed and replaced the oil filter.
I found an oil tank drain site on the inferior portion of the tank. I drained the oil... and refilled the tank.
My questions (and yes, I've searched this and other forums... and my service manual is REALLY NO HELP!): Is there another oil drain plug (other than on the oil tank)? Where is the transmission fluid dipstick and filler site?
Your attention is appreciated.
Your experienced is valued.
Thanks for any information.
In winterizing the bike, I'm changing fluids.
I found a single drain plug on the bottom of the bike... just forward of the oil filter. I believe this is the transmission fluid drain plug Yes? No? I drained less than one quart of a dark maroonish colored fluid.
I removed and replaced the oil filter.
I found an oil tank drain site on the inferior portion of the tank. I drained the oil... and refilled the tank.
My questions (and yes, I've searched this and other forums... and my service manual is REALLY NO HELP!): Is there another oil drain plug (other than on the oil tank)? Where is the transmission fluid dipstick and filler site?
Your attention is appreciated.
Your experienced is valued.
Thanks for any information.
I asume you aren't using a genuine HD manual
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 65
From: Earth
Here is a link to a site that has parts breakdowns that may be helpful for you. I do not see an 1988 but there is a 1991 FLHTC that may help you a bit.
http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....p?Type=12&A=30
http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....p?Type=12&A=30
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 27
From: Toms River, NJ
My advice is to stop and have someone go over the bike with you. An hour or two and a service manual will get you on track safely and correctly. Not knowing IS GOING to cost you more. If you can't find someone at the dealership, hog member, etc. check out the videos FIXMYHOG.com even youtube has some.
Be Safe JIM
Be Safe JIM
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
+1 on the suggestion that you stop, Do not pass GO, and do NOT collect $200! It's pretty clear from what you've written that you may be in some serious do-do if you start and/or ride your bike the way it is right now. It kind of sounds like there isn't any oil in your Transmission or maybe your Primary at the moment, If there is a plug on the bottom of your engine and you removed it . . . DO NOT put it back in . . . let someone who has actually done it before without cracking your engine case do it. Hopefully the plug you pulled was either for the Transmission or the Primary and not the Engine.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the tranny fill is on the right side of the bike on top of the tranny, the dipstick is built into the plug look for a big allen head bolt.
the oil drain is on the tank- you found it!
make sure the bolt for the oil filter mount is tight, you'll see it pointing straight down-- if the bolt drops out, the oil filter bangs on the pavement
there is also primary chaincase lube, the drain plug is at the rear on the outer primary cover- allen head.
remove the allen, let it drain for awhile, I usually turn the clutch basket and work the clutch to "encourage" more of the old stuff to drain.
you fill by adding fluid into the clutch inspection hole, fill until fluid covers the bottom of the clutch basket
the factory manual covers 1984 to 1990 models I think--- easy to find and it covers the FXR and FLT models. you should get it, there is also a screen on the oil pump which needs to be checked and cleaned every once in a while
MOST of the riders here have newer model bikes- there is an Evo forum where good help can be found.
When your bike sits for long period, the oil will seep past the oil pump check ball into the motor case- when you start it, LOTS of foamy oil will come out of the breather hose--- this is normal, your bike isn't broken.
The breather hose comes from the oil pump and may be routed to the air cleaner ( if stock) or someone may have just routed it to dump under the bike--- have a dish ready to catch ! ( I route the hose to a clean container and dump the oil into the tank)--- this was later solved when they moved the oil tank under the tranny in 1993
Mike
I suggest using conventional oils ( not synthetics) on that bike--- synth will find it's way out pretty quickly, and the H-D tranny and primary lube works well
the oil drain is on the tank- you found it!
make sure the bolt for the oil filter mount is tight, you'll see it pointing straight down-- if the bolt drops out, the oil filter bangs on the pavement
there is also primary chaincase lube, the drain plug is at the rear on the outer primary cover- allen head.
remove the allen, let it drain for awhile, I usually turn the clutch basket and work the clutch to "encourage" more of the old stuff to drain.
you fill by adding fluid into the clutch inspection hole, fill until fluid covers the bottom of the clutch basket
the factory manual covers 1984 to 1990 models I think--- easy to find and it covers the FXR and FLT models. you should get it, there is also a screen on the oil pump which needs to be checked and cleaned every once in a while
MOST of the riders here have newer model bikes- there is an Evo forum where good help can be found.
When your bike sits for long period, the oil will seep past the oil pump check ball into the motor case- when you start it, LOTS of foamy oil will come out of the breather hose--- this is normal, your bike isn't broken.
The breather hose comes from the oil pump and may be routed to the air cleaner ( if stock) or someone may have just routed it to dump under the bike--- have a dish ready to catch ! ( I route the hose to a clean container and dump the oil into the tank)--- this was later solved when they moved the oil tank under the tranny in 1993
Mike
I suggest using conventional oils ( not synthetics) on that bike--- synth will find it's way out pretty quickly, and the H-D tranny and primary lube works well
Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 19, 2011 at 11:26 PM.
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