primary fluid quanity and assing

fellas im puting some new primary covers on my 2006 ridgeback and realy do not what to expect as in fluid loss. do i lose fluid when i remove the covers? If so, how much? Where do i add the lost fluid? How much does the primary hold?
thanks for any help, i know this forum is the right place to ask this question.

:flag:
 

Bru

Member
I was over at Raywood 's helping him pull his primary to install a new clutch. We lifted the bike under the front end of the frame to allow the front tire to be off the ground and the rear tire still grounded. It's on a slight angle to drain as much oil as possible. Pull the small allen head drain plug located under the aft or right end of the primary as you look at it. It doesn't drain very much a few oz. at best. Then place plastic under the full length of the primary. After you remove all of the screws, it pours out the entire bottom of the case. Ray said the manual says 32 oz., but it is incorrect, it actually takes 20 oz. You'll need Asbestos free #1966 High Temp gasket material and a a Hi-Temp RTV silicone gasket maker (Ultra Black) sealant if you're new primary access cover doesn't have "O" rings. My K9 doesn't have the rings.

Once you've placed the new primary cover on. Fill the primary oil in from the small compartment cover door. Add oil until the oil covers the top inner edge at the bottom of the clutch plates. (Just enough to keep the clutch plate lubricated during operation) You'll need a flash light to see it though the cover door looking aft or right at the clutch plates.

Since I'm the first guy to reply, Ray, please add or correct anything if necessary! He's the Man!
 

jimizee028

TRUE COLORS COLLISION
the round primary covers do not cover anything they are ornamentation and once taken off do not expose anything but the primary cover so you will have no lose of fluid
 

Bru

Member
It was my impression that was common knowledge. Sorry about that, yes, the smaller circular external covers with screws are ornamental and will not loose any oil.
 
thanks a bunch

i remember changing my 95 fatboy covers and hade fluid come out. Ill go spin them on right now.......god bless and ride free!:flag: ohya ":cheers: "
 

Fibersnake

Banjo Playing PsychoBilly
Ray said the manual says 32 oz., but it is incorrect, it actually takes 20 oz. You'll need Asbestos free #1966 High Temp gasket material and a a Hi-Temp RTV silicone gasket maker (Ultra Black) sealant if you're new primary access cover doesn't have "O" rings. My K9 doesn't have the rings.

Once you've placed the new primary cover on. Fill the primary oil in from the small compartment cover door. Add oil until the oil covers the top inner edge at the bottom of the clutch plates. (Just enough to keep the clutch plate lubricated during operation) You'll need a flash light to see it though the cover door looking aft or right at the clutch plates.

Since I'm the first guy to reply, Ray, please add or correct anything if necessary! He's the Man!
Bru
Not sure about that 20 oz amount. To the best of my knowledge that is the amount for the tranny and the primary still takes 32 oz. The original manual for the 05 had it listed at 40 oz, but myself and my dealer have been putting in 32 oz as per the change back in 05. By chance did you get the 20 oz for the tranny mixed up with the primary and if not where did you get the 20 oz from?

Sparker4Life
Would recommend that after you drain the primary, that you pull the cover as mentioned above and then clean out the cover and componets real well, inspect the clutch and all the other componets that you can see including making sure the tranny nut is torque, adjust the primary chain (do not get too tight) and then either with a gasket and sealer or o-ring, reinstall the primary cover and torque to specs with alternating pattern in steps, then fill through the inspection cover to proper amount, install inspection cover to torque and go ride and enjoy.

Personal recommendation for primary is good ole RevTech, do not recommend synthetic for primary and if you do, make sure it is for wet clutches.
 

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Bru, sorry for the mis-communication on my part. When we were having all the problems with the starters leaking I was experimenting with BDM/dealers approval to reduce the amount of oil in the primary to 20 oz's to prevent leakage. Seems they have the fix in hand now so you can run the regular amount of oil as the manual specifies.

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
 

erldawg

Guru
Gray Primary oil ?

got a feeling this thread is going bad
:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

As long as we're talking about primary oil. I drained mine today and came out looking like graphite gray and had a strange aroma like gear oil. I don't ever recall seeing this on the Harley and wonder if there may be issues or it's just the primary oil the dealer put in the last time.

Has anyone else seen this?
 
Last edited:

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
:roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

As long as we're talking about primary oil. I drained mine today and came out looking like graphite gray and had a strange aroma like gear oil. I don't ever recall seeing this on the Harley and wonder if there may be issues or it's just the primary oil the dealer put in the last time.

Has anyone else seen this?
Yes, the oil takes a beating in there with the clutch.
Personally when I do mine I remove the primary cover cause as stated above, the drain doesn't get it all out. As for oil seems there is a lot of choices and everyone here is using something different including regular ATF transmission fluid. I use either the Revtech oil (recommended in the service manual) if I can find it or just us HD Primary fluid available at all HD dealers.
But I would remove the primary to ensure you get a full exchange.

:cheers:
 

erldawg

Guru
Yes, the oil takes a beating in there with the clutch.
Personally when I do mine I remove the primary cover cause as stated above, the drain doesn't get it all out. As for oil seems there is a lot of choices and everyone here is using something different including regular ATF transmission fluid. I use either the Revtech oil (recommended in the service manual) if I can find it or just us HD Primary fluid available at all HD dealers.
But I would remove the primary to ensure you get a full exchange.

:cheers:
Thanks Ray I knew that it takes a beating in there. I did end up taking the primary off to take a look and clean er up a bit. Other than hte color everything looked good. I put in Drag Specialties High Performance Primary Oil. I'll run it for a few hundred miles and change again.... :cheers:
 

Chopper117

Chopper Nutt
Bru
Not sure about that 20 oz amount. To the best of my knowledge that is the amount for the tranny and the primary still takes 32 oz. The original manual for the 05 had it listed at 40 oz, but myself and my dealer have been putting in 32 oz as per the change back in 05. By chance did you get the 20 oz for the tranny mixed up with the primary and if not where did you get the 20 oz from?

Sparker4Life
Would recommend that after you drain the primary, that you pull the cover as mentioned above and then clean out the cover and componets real well, inspect the clutch and all the other componets that you can see including making sure the tranny nut is torque, adjust the primary chain (do not get too tight) and then either with a gasket and sealer or o-ring, reinstall the primary cover and torque to specs with alternating pattern in steps, then fill through the inspection cover to proper amount, install inspection cover to torque and go ride and enjoy.

Personal recommendation for primary is good ole RevTech, do not recommend synthetic for primary and if you do, make sure it is for wet clutches.



Fibersnake you are right.
I just did mine when I put my engine back in and the primary is 32oz and when I did the tranny it took approx. 28oz to where it was perfect on the dipstick. :2thumbs:
 
Top