changing oil

[greyranch]

Hi All, I am changing oil for the first time in my 79 standard.Everything came apart easily.My question is: is it recommended to put oil in the filter housing before reassembly ? I did do a search and did not see anything about this. Thanks for any insight on this,Brad

[trbig]

I thought it was needed... the book says to do it after a REBUILD. Apparently just changing the oil doesn't qualify as this. I still fill mine up @ 3/4 of the way though... figure it can't hurt. Some do and some don't. If your O-ring around the drain plug for the filter housing is good, it won't leak on you.

Tod

[greyranch]

oil change

Thanks Tod. I will try this.There is a new o-ring on the filter bolt.Just hate to see a 30 year engine go without oil for 1 second!

[greyranch]

oil change

Thanks Tod again,Filling the housing 3/4 full did the trick.No noise on start-up.I had a little lower end noise,not sure what it was.PO said he changed oil last year,a friend of mine.Oil looked a bit thin draining out.Filled with Valvoline 20/50 motorcycle oil.Also adjusted the cam chain tensioner while I was at it.Engine is very quiet now,not bad for 37,000 miles.Sent my contribution in today for this great forum.Thanks again. Any suggestions on oil change intervals? Brad

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Brad,

The owner's Manual for my 81SH states every 2,500 miles. Some folks on here have said they do it at 1,000, which seems to me a bit overkill! But it can also depend on what kind of riding you do, like just easy highway miles, or lots of short stop and go trips, and lots of throttle twisting! More stress and heat can break down the oil faster, as well as putting more contaminants into the oil during combustion! YMMV!
T.C.

[DeanR]

I've never prefilled the filter of any vehicle, bike or auto, and have never had an engine problem. Seems like a fine idea, but maybe not particularly necessary? Don't know.... but as Tod says, can't hurt.

[Ken Talbot]

Trying to partially fill the filter housing for an XS could be a bit messy. If you slip up at all, and push the housing towards the block faster than the bolt takes it up, you would open up the bolt hole as the o-ring on the bolt cleared the housing. Wide open hole, can full of oil, that spells messy to me. That, and you'd have to have the filter element seated in the housing, and try to pour the oil over it and around the sides to get any into the housing. Put it together dry, pull the plug wires, and spin it just long enough for the light to go out. Put the wires back on and fire it up.

[TADracer]

I have never done it. I just put the filter cup back up on the engine, pour in the oil then start her up. The oil pump will fill the housing rather quickly.

More important to me is changing the o-rings and making sure you dont forget that washer which will stick to the filter (so you can throw it away) if you are not paying attention.

[skids]

Hell yeah...

Originally posted by TADracer
I have never done it. I just put the filter cup back up on the engine, pour in the oil then start her up. The oil pump will fill the housing rather quickly.

[planedick]

Easy fill

Since I take the opportunity to read the plugs when I change the oil, I just leave them out and crank it with the starter motor until the oil light goes out. Lots less messy than filling the filter case. I then check the level again since I also have an oil cooler and want to make sure there is plenty in there.

[GtrMn]

I'm one of the overkill guys...change the oil every 1k miles. Have however just started changing the filter every other change. Just got a magnetic oil plug too...since I "lost" the dang washer...haha. Figured it couldn't hurt. I've never pre-filled the filter housing. Figure I only have 180 more changes to do! (have 20k on it now)

[STEPPENWOLF]

I just change the oil and filter at 2000 miles. Have run up to 4000 miles. I use about 3/4 of a quart per 1000 miles depending on my riding,grandpa style which is me, or my spirited side and then it varies but I have never pre filled the oil filter holder and I have 72,000 on MY BIKE,original everything on motor.20-50 Castrol.