I have purchased a 2004 HD Electagide Classic. The Bike has 10,032 miles on it, I am getting conflicting answers on how much oil to use for a oil change. Some say 4 Quarts some say 3.5 Quarts. I don't no when it was last changed so I want to no for my own Records. Question 2, What is the spark plug Gap for This Bike? Whenever I get another Bike I like to change Filters plugs and oil, also what weight oil do you Guys Recommend & what do you think about synthectic oil and what Type oil do you recommend? Thanks for any Help Guys. Randy

 

Please Reply, I am waiting on a new Rear Tire & do the things I mentioned above, I am Ready to Ride again. Randy

 

4 with a filter change

 

Start with 3 1/2 qts. and check when warm. Plugs are .038-.043.
I won't start an oil thread!!

 

Start with 3.5 QTS and check it. 4 QTS could be after a tear down. You can use any brand oil you like as long as its changed at the proper interval. I use Mobile1 20/50 synthetic because of its availability.

You should purchase the factory Service Manual

 

I have a 99 twin cam, if I put 4 quarts in it, it will blow some out the breathers into my air cleaner until it is happy, I just recently had a big bore kit put on my bike and it no longer is spitting oil out the breathers, my bike had 60k miles when the big bore was done. Some will take 4 quarts and be happy some will not, a friend puts in 3.5 quarts, if he puts in 4 it will blow it out and stop at 3.5.

I use Amsoil 20/50 in my engine and primary and use Amsoil 75/90 gear oil in my tranny, synthetic is better and can handle higher temps in the air cooled bikes, I would not use dino unless I had a oil cooler with fans on it, thats just me and what I do. As many people that are on here will give you as many opinions on oil, I race cars and use the best oil I can and what my engine builder tells me to use in his engines, he has been building them for over 30 years and I have not had one blow up yet.

 

20W50 oil in what ever variety you choose. I use regular castrol from walmart. Mine takes a hair over 3.5 quarts to fill with the filter. Start there and add if needed.

There are lots of opinions on syn vs reg oil. I don't want this to turn into a debate, so I will keep my opinions to myself. As long as you change at the recommended 5000 mile interval, both will do the job.

Also, since you don't have a record of the last service, there are 2 other oils that need changed, the primary and the transmission.

I use HD FORMULA PLUS in both.

congrats on the new ride! And welcome to the forum. Lots of great info here.

 

Congrats on the new ride!

Best advice is to get a service manual asap.

On how much oil to put in...use the dip stick...don't confine yourself to some pre-determined amount...it is important for the oil to be between the bottom and top mark on the dipstick when engine is hot.

I find the best way is to put it in a little below the middle of the two marks on the dipstick. Start it up and let it run for 30 seconds.

Then check the oil again, and add however much is needed (if any) to get it to the midway point.

Here is a useful link until you get your service manual.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/oil-r...f-my-bike.html

 

ha! I'd find out what oil has been in it. It is not a good idea to switch to syn after using dino for 10K miles. The reason is that syn has detergents which will unass all the crud that has built up using dino, translates to engine wear. Syn to dino is OK but I'd stay with syn if I could.

 

What you buy and what you put in your bike are quite different, as Kevin points out! You need enough to fill it to the mark.

You new service manual will tell you how much oil is required for a dry fill (after a strip and rebuild) and a lower amount for a wet fill. In all cases, however, fill to the mark, as per the book.