Fluid Change & Checking Help
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo, New York
everyone has to start somewhere, think back to your first time putting a wrench to your scooter. I know my first time I was a teenager and had no clue what I was doing. Thank God it was on an old Yamaha I only paid $300 for. Back then, (circa 1986, there was no internet and the bike had no manual). btw, I LOVE the "fluid change for dummies pic above). Tell the dude that if he needs to remove the wheels, mess with the forks, etc to ride it to the dealership, but I think we collectively can walk anyone through their first fluid change experience...but just to be safe...wear a condom for your first time.
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: NH
Well, mine being a '99 the drain bolts are 3/4" not 5/8 but are in the same spots. Rode down to the HD dealer, about 50 miles from me, bought synthetic fluids for engine and chaincase, but standard gear oil for trans at their recommendation, got home, and did the complete fluids change. Nice to know it was done right and exactly what when in it. Of course, I had already done the first engine oil / filter change 1500 miles ago, with standard H-D oil, but I wanted everything to be synchronized so I did it all over and noted it. I don't have the oil filter removal tool, but its no big deal to pull off the regulator and just use a standard auto oil filter wrench. Fired it up, checked for leaks, took it for a short ride, checked levels again, all set, rode it another 50 miles this weekend.
Apparently my post made me an easy target but hey, I really didn't know which plug drained the tranny (or where the fill was), and I really wasn't sure about the chaincase either. I've wrenched on vehicles for years, built up a nice old Range Rover for wheeling, replaced headgaskets, brake work, electrical work, cooling system, you name on a variety of foreign and domestic rigs. When I initially changed the oil, I thought 'piece of cake' - just look for the obvious drain at the bottom of the sump right under the engine crank. Well, there is a recessed drain plug there, but it isn't for draining out the engine oil. There are other recessed hex drains as well, but again, these aren't what they seem. I did not have the owner's manual. No need for all the 'hey stupid' commentary. I got it now, its all set, I plan to do as much work on this thing as I can. But like I said, its my first bike, and there will be a learning curve. Thanks for those who offered good info which answered my questions.
Apparently my post made me an easy target but hey, I really didn't know which plug drained the tranny (or where the fill was), and I really wasn't sure about the chaincase either. I've wrenched on vehicles for years, built up a nice old Range Rover for wheeling, replaced headgaskets, brake work, electrical work, cooling system, you name on a variety of foreign and domestic rigs. When I initially changed the oil, I thought 'piece of cake' - just look for the obvious drain at the bottom of the sump right under the engine crank. Well, there is a recessed drain plug there, but it isn't for draining out the engine oil. There are other recessed hex drains as well, but again, these aren't what they seem. I did not have the owner's manual. No need for all the 'hey stupid' commentary. I got it now, its all set, I plan to do as much work on this thing as I can. But like I said, its my first bike, and there will be a learning curve. Thanks for those who offered good info which answered my questions.
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