How to check your Primary Fluids | How much fluid to put in my Harley-Davidson primary | Doc Harley

We don’t all have a leveling stand…. I can only do it on the jiffy stand…. It certainly won’t read the same……
And your answer to that question Doc ??

Thanks heaps, from down under!

Just changed mine. Thank You, Doc Harley!

My 06 heritage owners manual calls for only 26

Awesome info keep up the great videos

Thank you for showing in detail where it should be. That picture in the manual is a little miss leading and I did not want to over fill it. I love how you just get right to explain without some long BS intro.

My manual says 32oz.

The best most informative videos.. and most importantly, no ridiculously stupid background music👍👍👍

Doc, I want to change the fluid on my 2001 Electra Glide Classic what do you recommend I should use from (AMSOIL) the V-TWIN PRIMARY FLUID or V-TWIN TRANSMISSION FLUID please advise thanks

Hey Doc where can I find a service manual for 1999 heritage classic. I can not find one

So is it ok to use an oil specific for primary case chain/clutch? Because I've been using 20-50 in my engine, 75-140 in my Tranny and was going to use Belray primary (80 weight) oil. This is in a 2016 Tri Glide.

Love the Videos Doc . I know the Book say to pull the Derby cover , I check my chain with a oil change . I have a cover on my RK I fill it there also with 38 oz that is just below the 2 screw holes for the cover . Lot of the other Models do not have that window , run with a auto adjust . I have had people tell me im over filling lol I say hold up a 2 foot level and you can see the line .

Thanx Doc. You have cleared up in a few simple words and pictures what I could not understand from the manual (drawing was not clear and at an angle) and what other people have said.

Well done sir. Thank you.

Question. Do you have to replace the gasket every time you pull the cover to check level or just when you change the fluid? Obviously, check for tears, etc.. each time you break the seal.

hay Doc. Question on a 06 deluxe, when changing Trany fluid do you check it on the side stand or streight up? Same q, for the primary ?

is that on the kickstand or straight up

PRICELESS INFORMATION!!!

Hello, I have a 2021 Standard Street Glide. I changed the front wheel from the stock 19” to a 21”. How do I properly check my oil fluids levels? Thanks

Great video, clear, succinct, well presented....defo worth a follow

Just did mine and you clarified what I was thing was right. And went with my gut and was right. Thanks doc glad I found you learned just picked up a 07 dyna street bob as my first bike.

I hope you can help. I changed my stator now, and I can't get my clutch back to normal. I've adjusted and some more, but it keeps pulling and wanting to shift into another gear

Hello Doc. It is a pleasure to meet your channel. This is the info I have been searching for, and you seem like a very straightforward guy with a ton of knowledge that your happy to share. So Thank You! I am an old gear head that does not have much Harley repair experience. Other then some old dirt bikes, and Honda's. I have an 2009 Softail Deluxe I have always wanted and I want to keep her in top condition! I will be checking out all of your videos, like and share to help pay it forward. Thank you again Sir.

My CVO manual calls for 32 oz, at 32 oz I can't see any oil in the primary. I visually put the level at the bottom of the clutch. It took 44 oz. and everything works fine. I'd appreciate your take on this matter. After draining the primary in the upright position, I put the bike on the jiffy stand which resulted in more fluid drainage. Thank you Doc

Excellent video! Been fighting with neutral issues for several years although putting in the correct amount per manual. I went with the clutch basket level and what a difference. No more neutral problems. Thanks again Doc.

Top HD tech who gives out great advice in an easily understand manner, add to that he comes over as a nice guy lets appreciate what we have people. Ride safe one and all.

Great video , Thanks , Question for you though , I have a 1997 Evo softail and the primary oil is ( over a period of time ) is getting sucked back into the oil tank , I,ve put a brand new mainshaft seal and spacer in but it,s still doing it , driving me nuts . last time i had it apart for a new stator i noticed that the compensator actually had ground off the bottom screw which holds the 2 wires in place at the back of the stator , I tried with Ezy outs to get it out but it,s like it is welded shut inside and will not budge so i bought a new little plastic cap for the wires to be held in place but could only put the top scew back in , everything ( so i thought ) was going sweet till i noticed a small trickle of oil on the outside of the oil tank , Checked the oil level , it was full to the bloody top , drained the primary and only 250 ml came out . Hope you can help me out . Thanks .

Saw this video just in the nick of time because I’m going to change my fluids soon. Thanks Doc!

Hi Doc - my new 2023 Road Glide Limited had all it’s fluids drained and changed at 600 miles. Only 20oz of oil came out of the primary. Low fill from the factory? Any concerns?

Just adding, bike upright not on stand.

Hi. Regarding the 88, what if you cant loosen the bolt for the clutch plates? Does that mean the clutch is on its way out? Thank you very much for the information. Greatly appreciate it

Doc your a star !!! ive searched for this level in videos and never found a straight answer, iv got my £150 service manual for my 2012 flstn softail and even that doesnt seem to say. Thank you a million !!!!

Thank you for your expertise! Very helpful to have this explained well.

Doc, for all the information & tips, you rock.
Am thinking about
a sidecar for my '98 FXD. Bought it for $3.5k. I'm 72 and want to keep on riding. Have a bad knee so the stability issue. What would it run me approximately to get the complete setup? More than it's worth?

Good video Doc, when the primary cover comes off, should the gasket be replaced on reassembly?

Personally run 40 in my twin cam primary , due to the level dropping while running , have never felt a difference in the clutch after starting a little higher level . 40 thousand miles on 15 street glide . Never any problems with the clutch whatsoever , and have pulled a trailer 4000 miles through the mountains . She is still working as new .

Best video on the web regarding the art of primary oil level .Well done and thanks again Doc you’re a legend 👍🏻

Ha My Primary is swimming. The bike needs to be level. Better than not enough oil.

Hello Doc Harley this is Trike Mike again my Trike is a 2014 Triglide trike as I mentioned earlier the clutch problem the first time it happened I burnt out my clutch I am on my second clutch which is a REKLUSE clutch so I do not know why the heat from the engine if it gets to the point where it overheats and like I said I lose the ability to pull in my clutch so I was stuck in the second gear and could not get out of it and burnt up my clutch

Doc Harley - Harley Jesus Lives!

Thank you for setting the record straight! There are so many opinions out there.

Great video
Thank you once more

What about on jiffy stand which is how most people check it

First off thanks for all your videos, enjoy them all!

I have a early 86 FLST Heritage Softail with the Evo. My manual says to fill the primary to the bottom of the opening of the Darby cover. That seems excessive as it’s way past the bottom of the spring plate?
Should I drain some out so the fluid is at the bottom of the spring plate.

I just changed the primary fluid on my 22' street bob. I had a hard time telling where the oil was until I rocked the bike a bit. Thanks for the video Doc!

I have not changed the oil in my primary on my M8 as of yet but on both an EVO and a Twin Cam I owned for over 20 years, over 100k on the EVO and 85k on the twin cam I just installed a Qt. on the wet services. I never had a problem and both bikes still had the original clutches in them. Looks like that will work on the M8 for me as well.

To add I believe primary and Trans are supposed to be checked when bike is level. Engine oil is checked when leaning on stand. Both trans and engine oil dipsticks are not to be screwed in to check level, but unscrewed, wiped clean then simply reinserted briefly without screwing back in.

Your the best teacher thanks doc

👍

Fixin to change my fluids for the 1st time on my 2001 fatboy with the 88, was aside from the dealer cost of ot all, surprised when he gave me 80 140 gear oil for my primary as well as the tranny, I supose being it says primary on it as well it should be fine for my year bike? Would you say it's better or worse for primary as opposed to oil? Thanks agin great vid there doc

Why don't the reject engineers at Harley get properly trained and simply put an oil level screw in the primary cover of all newer models and have all the fluids checked on the jiffy stand (which normal educated people call the side stand). Like they have had the the other fluids being checked on side stand since 2006 and on. Even stamped on the dip stick. Maybe they could also design a tranny dip stick that you can see the oil level when checking instead of the stupid chrome one on M8 touring. Ever try draining tranny oil on an M8 Touring with bike upright? Leaves about 80cc of old oil in the tranny as compared to draining it all out with bike on sidestand. Then when you pour in the specified 830 cc of oil it barely touches the bottom of the dipstick on the side stand as recommended, but will be between the two marks with bike up right. And what's with the crap of screwing in the dipstick till the o-ring just touches rather than snuggedbup or better still just resting like the good old 5 speed trannies. Seems like the engineers must have had Covid symptoms and couldn't figure out how to make a dipstick the right length and color, They could have politely asked the Honda engineers to make them a dipstick for the tranny instead of getting the China low budget version poorl chromed all the way to the tip. Don't get me wrong I still love riding my Harleys but find servicing them following the service manual pretty awkward at times. Made in America used to mean quality above all else and not let's just make the most profit by farming out engineering and manufacturing to Asia.