How to Check Oil in a Harley Davidson

Many motorcycle riding courses instruct their students to check their motorcycle's oil supply before every ride. This is a fairly simple task for most motorcycles, but Harley-Davidson machines, which use three separate oil types, pose a rather unique problem. While the motor's oil supply and the transmission fluid can be checked easily with the dip sticks built into the filler caps, the primary drive's fluid supply is only accessible by removing the primary's round derby cover.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Harley-Davidson 20W50 motor oil
• Harley-Davidson primary fluid
• Torx-27 screwdriver
• Harley-Davidson transmission fluid

1. Checking the Motor Oil

   • 1

     Start the motorcycle. Let it warm up in place for three minutes, then stop the motor.

   • 2

     Unscrew the filler cap from the right side of the oil tank, below the rider's seat. Wipe the cap's dip stick clean with a towel.

   • 3

     Reinsert the dip stick completely into the oil tank and withdraw it. Take note of the oil level in relation to the Add line marked on the dip stick.

   • 4

     Pour 20W50 motor oil into the oil tank's filler neck to raise the oil level as needed. Reinsert the dip stick and screw the oil filler cap into place.

   Checking the Transmission Fluid

   • 1

     Unscrew the filler cap from the right side of the transmission unit. Wipe the cap's dip stick clean with a towel.

   • 2

     Reinsert the dip stick completely into the transmission and withdraw it. Take note of the oil level in relation to the Add line marked on the dip stick.

   • 3

     Pour Harley-Davidson transmission fluid into the transmission's filler neck to raise the oil level as needed. Reinsert the dip stick and screw the filler cap into place.

   Checking the Primary Fluid

   • 1

     Unscrew the derby cover's bolts, using a Torx-27 screwdriver. Pull the derby cover and its gasket away from the primary cover to access the clutch inspection port.

   • 2

     Look into the primary cover through the clutch inspection port. Take note of the primary fluid level in relation to the bottom of the primary's clutch assembly.

   • 3

     Pour Harley-Davidson primary fluid into the clutch inspection port to raise the fluid level to the bottom of the clutch assembly as needed.

   • 4

     Reinstall the derby cover and its gasket onto the primary cover. Tighten the derby cover bolts, using a Torx-27 screwdriver.

Tips & Warnings

• You do not need to check the primary fluid level on a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Sportster models do not use a separate oil supply to lubricate the primary, relying on the motor oil instead.