Did I screw up?

[admin]

I just changed the oil on my 03 Softail FatBoy and drained the crankcase instead (actually in addition to) the oil bag.
Do I need to do anything special to get oil back in the crankcase before I start the engine?

Posted by: Fat Tony on Nov 15, 05 8:24:01 pm

[admin]

I wasn't aware that the newer Harley's had crankcase drain-plugs...

Unfortunately the oil that was in the crankcase can only be replaced at the factory at great expence, i.e. labor and special Wisconcin oil,,,whoa, if you only knew had difficult it is to get Wisconcin oil, first you gotta catch a wolverine then you gotta ram a stick up, well, let me just say it's not pretty...

Hey, don't start that motor without the correct oil in it, first it will begin to, well, let me just say it's not pretty...

Posted by: frisco-rigid on Nov 16, 05 12:18:17 am

[admin]

LOL - in a word, NO.

You need not do anything to replace the oil in your engine cases other than start it and let it idle for a minute. I am curious though - how did you remove said oil from the engine?

NOw changing the summer air in your tires to winter air -now THAT is a job!

Posted by: steveb on Nov 16, 05 9:04:25 am

[admin]

Hey Fat Tony, steveb is correct. Just remember to check the oil level after running for a few minutes as some will be left in the crankcase. Hope you found the right plug this time. This is pretty basic stuff so maybe you should leave the maintenance stuff to someone else or invest in a service manual.

Posted by: hawgman1 on Nov 16, 05 5:51:40 pm

[admin]

Hey Hawgman,

The saddest thing of all is I had my knee on the HD service manual.
How hard can it be right, go to the lowest point on the engine find a plug, remove it. Oil comes out, replace the oil and whala, oil changed.
Only this time I dumped a quart and a half in the oil bag and it was full and not going anywhere.
Then, and only then, do you ask directions (aka read the book).
I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but I'm not afraid to ask a question.

Steve, I found some winter air on e-bay........

Thanks all, its been an education.

Posted by: Fat Tony on Nov 16, 05 7:22:08 pm

[admin]

heh heh, classic! good story - thanks!

well, i guess the moral of this story is: the manual does make a hell of a knee pad, but not when you are needing the info it has in it.

Generally, in my experience - these are pretty simple machines to maintain an interact with from an owner perspective - you just need to work slowly and methodically and read the book(s) - always look at the parts manual as well as the service manual before you launch into any maintenace.

this way - you know what the parts look like, how they go together and can order any parts (like gaskets for example) you may need to complete the job in "one fell swoop". for the novice - buying the parts at the dealer affords you the opportunity to ask any quesitons you have about replacing or installing the parts in question - assuming the parts moop knows his carb balls from his tranny chain.

just my .02$

Posted by: steveb on Nov 17, 05 8:55:06 am

[admin]

Hey Fat Tony I have a 03 Fatboy and I done the same thing. Whoda-thunk the drain plug would be in the frame?

Posted by: 03HDFATBOY on Nov 28, 05 12:13:57 pm

[admin]

I am glad they put pictures in the manual, so I can figure out which plug drains the tranny, and which plug drains the engine. Now if I could just remember to put the right plug back in, BEFORE I put the oil in. At least I heard the oil running out before I put all the new stuff in.

Posted by: RideSlow2004 on Dec 1, 05 11:33:35 am