Hello From Australia

[Tibb]

Hi to you fellow riders
I am 45 yo melbourne australia ride 03 Heritage Softail, love the ride but I need help I want to do my own service , oil change, etc but not confident, competent yet. can someone please tell me where correct engine oil drain plug is located. I don't want to F&#k up but I am keen to learn and enjoy maintenance side of bikes. Anyway love riding and love Harleys Cheers Tibb

[shovelmike]

Welcome to the forum Tibb, there are many good knowledgeable people here to help guide you through the process of doing maintenance on your bike. As you gain confidence you will find you can do many repairs as well.
The best thing you can do is go to your Harley dealer and purchase a factory shop manual. It will show the location of all drain plugs as well as fluid capacities torque specifications and many, many other pieces of information you need to know.
I don't know the location of your drain plug, someone will join in with the info for you. Buy the manual. They are not cheap, $60 US and no doubt a comparable amount in your currency but shop labor here is $90 per hour, it doesn't take long for it to pay for itself.

[sgtcowboyusmc]

Originally Posted by Tibb

Hi to you fellow riders
I am 45 yo melbourne australia ride 03 Heritage Softail, love the ride but I need help I want to do my own service , oil change, etc but not confident, competent yet. can someone please tell me where correct engine oil drain plug is located. I don't want to F&#k up but I am keen to learn and enjoy maintenance side of bikes. Anyway love riding and love Harleys Cheers Tibb

Welcome to the forum Tibb! I won't get into specifics of where the drain plugs are on a Softtail because I don't know, I own a Dyna but here is my advice. Get a Service Manual and read it. It will show you what you need to do to service your bike. I, like you, wanted to do my own service so I bought a manual. I also bought the DVD Fix my Hog. These are well made DVD's that show the service being done.Most of these guys feel the Fix My Hog DVD's are too simple but for someone starting out it is a great resource. There is a DVD specific for Softtail. I like the visual reference of the DVD but it is not necessary if you have the manual.
As always these guys here are a great resource and have helped me do much more than just servicing the bike.

Good luck with your trek to find Harley wrenching nirvana!

[evoKENevo]

Welcome aboard,Tibb
Shovel and Cowboy just gave you the best advise anyone could give you...as far as learning to do your own service/maintenance and repairs...the RIGHT way.

Meanwhile there should be a hose and plug hanging below the right side of your Softails horse-shoe oil tank to drain it...and the best place to start looking for your trans & primary case drain plugs is always at the lowest point of them when the bike is up-right...usually allen headed.

If your engine case has a drain plug DO NOT try using it. Just drain your tank...because assuming you run your engine to warm up the oil (flows better) there should'nt be enough oil in a "dry sump engine" (like yours) to be concerned with and you really don't want to risk opening a "can--worms" for no reason...as in Rule #1.

[Tibb]

thanks for the welcome and advice guys, I will get a service manual and the dvd sounds like a good idea too cheers
Tibb

[unclepsycho]

Howdee from California....

I know you are gonna get a manual... but feel free to jump in with questions. some of the experience we all have had can fill in between the lines that are on the manuals pages. so when it dont make sence.,.... come by here for a spell.

[Tibb]

thanks uncle, when I have the manual and get started I'm sure I'll take the offer up

[Hammerhead Pat]

Welcome to the forum Ask away, we're glad to help

[Buzz Kanter]

Welcome to the forum family and glad to see you here. The advice already given is solid. Best best is a factory owners manual and a factory repair (maintenance) manual for your specific Harley.

Then get a decent set of high quality hand tools. Don't have to go crazy, but get the good stuff - cheap tools can damage your Harley and break too soon.

[Bald Eagle]

"cead mile failte" fae Bonnie Scotland.