| Author | Message | ||
     Larryboy |
so the book says "2.5 quarts,which includes the 4 oz you put in the filter." i put the 2.5 quarts in just like they say and checked the oil hot(stupid) just like the book says. i'm at the add line. anybody know what the capacity between the add and full lines is? half a quart? or a full quart like the rest of the world? does it really hold 3.5 quarts? this thing is retarded to work on for a simple oil change. why put the preload knob and helmet lock over the oil filler? stupid. no sight glass for the trans? stupid. no threaded oil filler for the trans? stupid.  (Message edited by larryboy on February 14, 2006) | ||
| Thunderbox |
Just get a small funnel with a little bit of a tube on it. Worth every penny of the $1 it costs. I always thought sight glasses were a pain in the ass. You have to hold the bike upright with one hand and bend down low to read the oil level. That my friend is a recipe for dropping the bike. When the bike gets older the glass is scratched and it can't be read at all. You empty the trans oil and put 32 OZ in. if there is no visible leak you don't need to really check it. Trans filters are okay but you would need an oil pump in the transmission to pump the oil through the filter. Being it doesn't share oil with the engine this would just add cost and complexity for no benefit. I guess Harley goes by the motto "if it ain't broken don't fix it". Sorry I almost forgot to answer your other question. Don't fill the engine oil past 1/2 of the add area or you will find that the bike will use a bit of oil. Don't worry be happy. (Message edited by Thunderbox on February 14, 2006) | ||
| Larryboy |
okay,between the add and full marks is half a quart. total for an oil change including filter is 3 quarts,not 2.5. i had a yamaha with 330,000 miles that had a clear sight glass when i sold it. threaded trans filler,not filter. i should be able to drop the oil and refill it with 32 oz of the super secret harley trans fluid without taking off covers or doing aerobics to put oil back in. i'm not going to be carrying a funnel and a section of tubing on the road. an easy fix for buell would be a threaded extension for the dipstick/oil fill. edit: just for putting oil in,then store it with the handy caps for each end of the tube under the seat. i'll be checking the mail waiting for my oil put-er in-er. i venture long distances away from the shop/funnel...come awn buell. (Message edited by larryboy on February 14, 2006) | ||
| Thunderbox |
Sorry about the Filler-Filter mistake. If the Uly can go 10000kms with the trans oil how far are you from home? I do see your point but taking off a couple of little screws to put oil in is'nt a real big deal as you should adjust the primary chain at the same time as an oil change at any rate. As I live in the great white north my Uly hasn't gotten its second regular oil change yet so I will see when I do it. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Much adoo about nothing if you ask me. Changing the oil is really simple on the Ulysses. The most time consuming part is removing the chin fairing to get to the oil filter. Big deal. As for filling...I don't use a funnel at all. Just fill it using the standard old oil bottle. What does spill on the swingarm, I wipe up with a paper towel. Again...not hard. The primary fluid needs changing every 10,000 miles. I think I can remove and replace four screws every 10,000 miles it's not hard to do. In fact, I've changed my tranny oil twice already because of the way I break my bikes in. It's really easy. I do use a funnel for the tranny fluid. I typically buy the paper kind that come in a three pack for a few cents. That way I get a nice clean funnel each time, and they can be crushed and shaped to fit just about any opening. You can also make a funnel out of some foil if you so desire. I like the dipstick on the Ulysses. Site glasses are all dependent on how steady you are holding the bike and at what angle. A few degrees one way or the other can give you a false reading. Don't worry about it....just ride.  | ||
| Lowflyer |
I figured it's too hard to mess with so I don't worry about the oil at all. If its in there, great. If it runs out, oh well.  | ||
| Gowindward |
I would ship the bike to me and get out while you still can, without a bunch of long lasting emotional scares. Lowflyer, you should be more sensitive to others oil changing needs. | ||
| Bross |
You think the Uly is a pain, buy a BMW F650 and try changing the oil! I just installed the battery so my wife could go for a ride on the weekend, 14 screws just to get to the battery! I agree with chad though, so what? My wife loves her bike so if I have to pull a few screws and it takes me 10 minutes longer than my bike, no big deal. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
I typically buy the paper kind that come in a three pack for a few cents. Griot's garage sells em in stacks of 50 or 100, with a dispenser even. I'm sure they can be found cheaper other places. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
Here is a tip on the trans fill...get a replacement "squirt cap" for your trans. oil bottle. Take the cap off the bottle, put on the "squirt cap" stick in clutch cover and squirt oil in...easy man. | ||
| Larryboy |
laying it over on the roller seat works for home. i like to maximize my time and buell should have done things better. i'm sure they are lurking about. that was my intent on this thread... suggestions ... an oil change away from home isn't out of the question for me...i've ridden over 2,000 miles in the last 3 weeks.  (Message edited by larryboy on February 16, 2006) | ||
| Lowflyer |
You could have a small trailer made to carry the roller seat. | ||
| Brucelee |
Well, try the oil on a VFR. Nuff said, go ride your bike! | ||
| Chadhargis |
"an oil change away from home isn't out of the question for me...i've ridden over 2,000 miles in the last 3 weeks. " This just takes planning. Leaving on a 2000 mile trip with 2500 miles on your current oil....change it early. Going on an 11,000 mile ironbutt ride. Use synthetic and change it before you leave. Enjoy the ride. Can't say that I've ever changed oil on a trip. If I go over by a few hundred miles, it's not a big deal. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
Color me stupid, why do you lean the bike over to the right like that? | ||
| Chadhargis |
That's what I've been trying to figure out. I leave mine on the side stand when I change the oil or primary fluid. I will straighten it up a bit to get the last bit of primary oil out, but other than that, it sit on the sidestand. When I add primary oil, I just use a funnel. Never spill a drop. | ||
| Larryboy |
lowflyer,what's with all the dumba$$ posts? you seem to try and derail every thread in this place. 11,000 mile ride on synthetic? you'd smoke through a case of the stuff and be back to the problem of trying to add oil without slopping it all over the place when dead dawg tired. steven,it was the only way i could get fluids back in this thing without buying funnels or sitting in front of the trans dribbling in a drop at a time. from the complete lack of answers on the question at hand i'm gonna take a guess and say you guys don't know. nobody service your own bike? (Message edited by larryboy on February 16, 2006) | ||
| Roadrailer |
from the complete lack of answers on the question at hand i'm gonna take a guess and say you guys don't know. nobody service your own bike? Maybe it's more an issue of nobody else seeing the fluid change as the complicated task you're making it out to be? I don't get it, what's so hard about buying funnels? | ||
| Gowindward |
Larryboy, Since your post started out with 3 stupids and 1 retarded what do you really expect from us? "this thing is retarded to work on for a simple oil change. why put the preload knob and helmet lock over the oil filler? stupid." Since you are so smart where would you put those three items? Did you not look at these things before you purchases the bike? I find that if you come here with a positive tone, you can ask help for just about anything and you will get a lot of really good ideas. On the other hand if you walk in calling everything stupid and retarded then....you get stupid and retarded back..... Kind of like I tell my daughters "Pretty is, as pretty does" Harvey Penick | ||
| Crusty |
I just changed the oil in my Uly (Both engine and trans). I don't see the difficulty. I would have no problem changing the oil while traveling. Why do you think you need a sight glass for the primary? Pour a quart in and don't worry about it. If you can't hold an oil bottle steady to fill the motor oil, cut the bottom off an empty bottle and you have a funnel that fits in the filler hole and you can fill the oil comfortably. I've traveled all over, and I change my oil frequently. I've changed oil while on the road in Hondas, Moto Guzzis, Harleys and BMWs as well as Buells. I don't consider the Buell "retarded". Larry, you're making a simple (and easy) job much more difficult than it needs to be. I bet you could complicate a peanut butter sandwich. | ||
| Aeholton |
steven,it was the only way i could get fluids back in this thing without buying funnels or sitting in front of the trans dribbling in a drop at a time. I was wondering why you had the bike laying on it's side. I was beginning to think I must have done something wrong when I changed fluids. Why not roll up a piece of printer/typing paper into a funnel? That's almost like one guy holding the lightbulb and three guys lifting and turning the step-ladder. Sorry Larry, but that made me laugh out loud.  | ||
| Chadhargis |
Yes...I work on my own bike. Changed the oil and tranny fluid in the bike 3 times already. Part of working on your bike is having the CORRECT tools to do it. For the Ulysses, that includes a funnel to fill the primary case. That God you don't own a BMW and have to fill the transmission on those bikes. The filler hole is about the size of a quarter (if that big) requiring a really FANCY funnel....one with a hose attached. $1.99 at Wal-Mart. | ||
| Bross |
requiring a really FANCY funnel....one with a hose attached. $1.99 at Wal-Mart. That's funny, I have one of those as well, but it's so I can fill my final drive with gear oil on my MeanStreak. Never considered it much of a problem either. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
That God you don't own a BMW and have to fill the transmission on those bikes. Or the special tool to pull the spark plug boots. Or the weird oil filter wrench. Every vehicle has some quirk. The Uly looks no worse than most. But I must admit, I've not done it yet. | ||
| Gamdh |
so.. keep in mind I'm pretty new to this forum... but I have to put in my $.02. I did my first Uly oil/primary change a couple of weeks ago... really not that hard and I do not consider myself to any kind of mechanic (I never changed my oil on my 950). The only issue I encountered as people have pointed out was trying to fill the primary. I had everything pulled apart and realized a funnel would be nice.... all out and it was 9pm. So...my high tech solution was to take a pair of pliers.... apply them to the opening of the primary bottle. Once it was flattened out a little.. it fit nicely into the opening and I was able to empty all 32oz without spilling a drop. | ||
| Lowflyer |
"lowflyer,what's with all the dumba$$ posts? you seem to try and derail every thread in this place." Larryboy, I thought you were joking. The pic of your bike laying over on the stool so that you can change the oil made me laugh so hard I nearly fell out of my chair. I can't help it if you are serious. As a rule, I take no responsibility for other people's "dumba$$ posts." Also, I never try to derail anything. As for changing the oil; if it takes longer than 20 minutes with or without a funnel, or in anyway requires a stool that you are not sitting on, my advice is to slowly step away from the bike and immediately call for help. | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
Larryboy, I agree with Lowflyer. Step away from the bike and call for help. I think the black paint is getting to you! As far as Lowflyer, the black paint got to him months ago and there is no turning back for him!  | ||
| Guybones |
A funnel is SOP if you are changing your own fluids in a machine. If you are on a road trip, a really long one, MSR makes some great funnels (clean funnels) that have screw tops @ each end. Been there, done that. I like the paper funnel idea too, but the MSR funnel works great in the shop & on the road and is sustainable tech. Oh, the excellent Uly bags make it easy to bring along too. The Uly is easier to do engine & tranny in than either my airhead beemer or XR600, by far. | ||
| Lovematt |
What I do is use the tapered tip from a cap off of a Gear Oil can of oil for auto rear end differential. It turns out it fits a standard oil bottle as well...makes for a perfect funnel. Might have to squeeze the bottle a bit but it works really well for both the primary and motor oil on an XB... | ||
| Lorazepam |
Larryboy, please dont try to change the sparkplugs. I dont think you are capable of it, considering the problems you have doing the oil. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I tried to tell them that..Lovematt..(bottle cap with tapered tip)I is kinda scary that some people are having trouble changing oil on the ULY..how simple can it be...You know it reminds me of some of the people on American Idol that think they are great and are anything but...and these people vote ..super scary.. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Hey guys. Lighten up on Larryboy. He got it half right. He drained the oil OK, he's just using an original unconventional method of refilling the oil levels. Hope I didn't offend anyone. Maybe I'll delete this posting to make sure. Let's see. If I turn the computer on it's side.......no that's not working. Maybe if I turn the computer upside down........no it's still not working. Stupid computer  | ||
| Bross |
Let's see. If I turn the computer on it's side.......no that's not working. Maybe if I turn the computer upside down........no it's still not working. Stupid computer No no, you have to drill a hole in your hard drive, then the message will pour out. Just have a screw ready to plug the hole as soon as the message is gone.  } | ||
| Bomber |
phew -- glad I didn't have the internet when I was learning how to spin wrenches -- you guys woulda had me convinced I didn't deserve to change the oil in my bike ;-} that said, Larry, stop, think about what has to be done, and try to find an easier way to get it finished -- 5 minutes of thinking can saves days of work (don't ask me how I know) |
