Complete 3-Hole Harley Oil Change

Let's face it, not everyone wants to take their bike to the shop for every little thing. We're just regular guys that want to do as much of our bike maintenance as we can ourselves. Our goal with these maintenance tutorials is to empower every rider to get to know their bike so that they can keep it running strong for as long as possible, and know when something is feeling off. Heck, at the time we filmed this video, Lance had a broken leg and still got it done!

Every time you work on your own bike, you get to learn a little bit more about where things are, and how everything is put together. Every detail counts, and thats how to keep things runnin'!

Different oils can withstand different temperatures for varying amounts of time before they deteriorate, so it is important to know when to change your oil. If an oil change is put off, your engine will reach higher temperatures, and will not run efficiently. Eventually, this will cause components to wear out and potentially break. As oils cycle through high and low temperatures, they break down and become thinner, making them less effective.

Over time as the oil breaks down, metal particles, dirt, and soot cause the fluids to become abrasive which eventually results in sludge. This thick sludge makes it difficult for fluids to lubricate essential parts and protect them from damage. 

BASIC OIL CHANGE STEPS: 

-Warm the bike up to operating temperature to ensure all oil drains 

-Park the bike in a well ventilated area and place the oil drain pan underneath the drain plugs, which are located underneath the bike on the left side (02:31-02:36) 

-Remove drain plugs and let the oil drain for a few minutes 

-Once most of the oil is drained, release any pressure by removing the engine and transmission dipsticks 

-Clean the drain plugs and place them back in their designated holes once all oil is drained -Drain the primary by removing the primary drain plug located on the underside of the primary below the derby cover. 

-Once the primary is drained, use the primary funnel to pour 1 quart of primary oil into the primary 

-Inspect the derby cover gasket, and clean or replace it as needed 

-Re-install the derby cover, tightening bolts in a star pattern to ensure a uniform fit 

-Pour 4 quarts of 20W-50 oil into the engine fill hole and 1 quart of 80W-90 transmission oil into the transmission fill hole (We tend to pour 1/4-1/2 quart into the oil filter as well as coat the oil filter gasket with a thin layer of oil to ensure a good seal upon installation) 

-Screw in both engine and transmission dipsticks, take her for a spin, and add engine oil as needed!

Don't know which oil, oil filters, or gaskets to buy? The V-Twin Oil Change Kits are here to keep things simple. With the complete oil change kits, you have everything you need for a complete 3-hole oil change, all in one  box! Simply find the kit that correlates with your model, and you're good to go!

We hope you found the video and blog informative and encourage you to reach out with any questions!