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Changing oil

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by gcool, Feb 22, 2009.

  1. gcool

    gcool New Member

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    so I changed the oil this weekend on my 07 fatboy. I did all three. Got the tranny, did the primary, and tried to do the main engine oil. Popped the drain plug out, and a little oil came out, waited and tipped the bike around but the oil in the horseshoe oil tank will not drain. I took off the filter and a bit more leaked out, but the majority of the oil is still in the tank. What am I not doing?
    gcool, Feb 22, 2009
    #1
  3. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    the lline from the tank to the drain plug is pluged or crimped.....take a coathanger and see if you can run it up twards the tank to open it up....
    chucktx, Feb 22, 2009
    #2
  4. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    If you have not done this yet, pull the tank fill cap off as sometimes it will build a air lock in it and as soon as you open that the oil will flow. If not then do what Chuck said.
    FLHTbiker, Feb 22, 2009
    #3
  5. gcool

    gcool New Member

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    yes the cap is off and I can see the oil in there. The coathanger thing sounds crazy. Is that to say that before I changed the oil that the oil was not draining back to the block properly? For the coathanger do you mean to fish up through the drain plug hole back towards the tank to try to find a hose blind in there? should I cut the rubber hose coming from the bottom of the tank with those crimp on clamps, drain the oil, and then blow out the lines so hopefully it does not happen again?
    gcool, Feb 23, 2009
    #4
  6. Slimjim

    Slimjim Active Member

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    Isn't there a chance to get on the wrong drain plug? I seem to remember that there is one on the bottom of the motor that you do not want to remove (maybe the sump?). The one you want is at the end of a drain line that is mounted to the frame and extends down from the oil tank. That is the line Chuck was referring to. This make any sense?
    Slimjim, Feb 23, 2009
    #5
  7. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    with the drain line plugged, the oil should still circulate throughout the engine. but, once you get it unplugged and draining, i would remove the other oil lines from the tank to the engine, and clean them also. a factory service manual will help you tremendously!!!!!! as would the factory parts manual....show placement of parts/hoses...ect.....

    you need to know why that drain line is plugged!!
    chucktx, Feb 23, 2009
    #6
  8. Red Rider

    Red Rider Well-Known Member

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    I'm really worried you might have used the wrong plug, as I've seen too many other HD riders pull the friggin' whatchamacallit dowls instead of the real drain plug. Are you 100% certain you got the RIGHT plug?
    Red Rider, Feb 23, 2009
    #7
  9. gcool

    gcool New Member

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    got it. yes I had the wrong plug. I grabbed the one on the lowest point on the crankcase, and some oil came out, so I figured that was it. I just got the one below the oil tank with the boss on the frame by the swingarm. It is draining now.
    I do have the service manual and it told me where to find the primary drain and how to fill and the tranny and how to fill but for the engine it just says to "drain the oil" and change the filter.
    gcool, Feb 23, 2009
    #8
  10. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    the fatboy is in the softtail family....it has an oil bag under the seat...there should be a line from the tank to the lowerframe with a plug in it. it has no crankcase like the touring bikes. hope this helps.......
    chucktx, Feb 23, 2009
    #9
  11. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    cool!!!!!!!!! glad ya found it!!!! have fun!!!
    chucktx, Feb 23, 2009
    #10
  12. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Yep, does help to pull the right plug. When I first got my Springer I was changing the oil in all three holes and when it came to the engine oil I pulled the drain plug and it would just drip. I thought at first I had pulled the wrong plug but it was the correct one. I then pulled the fill cap off and the oil gushed out. I figured that it had a air lock in the line or tank.
    FLHTbiker, Feb 23, 2009
    #11

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