| Author | Message | ||
     Paralegalpete |
I'm about to do my first home oil change tranny/engine and wondering if the o ring on the drian plug and gasket on the tranny inspection cover need to be replaced each time? If so what are the HD part numbers? Thanks in advance. (Message edited by paralegalpete on October 01, 2009) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
They say that you need to use a new one each time. I just look mine over and if it's not messed up, I just reuse it. At one point, I broke the swingarm O-ring and took a chance on just using the plug by itself. It didn't leak at all. I replaced the O-ring the next time I changed the oil. ALSO: get your O-rings at home depot ten for $1.35 instead of at the dealership: one for $5.00 | ||
| Frito |
o-ring pn# 11105 Opinions vary, but I've had good luck re-using them. I have 65K miles on my Electra Glide that uses the same o-ring. With an oil change every 2.5K and tranny fluid change every 5K my drain plugs have been in and out a lot. I keep a few o-rings on hand, but can't remember the last time I actually needed to use a new one. I pull the old ones and check for damage. If there is no damage it goes back on. Never had a leak and I don't use any sealer. Don't see the need for it on the Buell either. The o-ring plugs seal up well and don't need massive torque. If you really feel the need to have new ones every time go to your local auto jobber and search the o-ring assortment for the correct size. They'll be cheap there. Same thing on the gaskets. I have new ones in the drawer, but re-use the old ones until they're damaged. JMHO YMMV (Message edited by frito on October 01, 2009) | ||
| Teeps |
VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT OVER TORQUE THE SWING ARM DRAIN BOLT. Check the torque spec in the service manual; if it calls out for 31 Lbs/Ft, that is too much. The swing arm drain bolt only needs about 12 Lbs/Ft. I torque the trans drain to 12 as well. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
Thanks again folks, I've done plenty of changes on my sportster and never needed to change the o ring or gasket. And thanks again for the reminder about the torque | ||
| Froggy |
I only change them if it is damaged. After about 3 or 4 times I change it regardless. | ||
| Missin44 |
Drain plug no unless damaged, Clutch cover yes on each oil change. All this per shop manual. (Message edited by missin44 on October 01, 2009) | ||
| Jphish |
I've had the clutch inspection cover off at least 5 times, reusing original gasket - so far NO leaks. | ||
| Frito |
Clutch cover yes on each oil change. All this per shop manual. Not to point out the obvious, but the people that write the manual sell the parts too. New gaskets = more sales + no shop come backs for leaks. | ||
| Tootal |
18,000 miles, original o-rings and gaskets, no leaks. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I never change those gaskets either, just reuse. Heck, I wash the air cleaner and it's the original with 23,000+ miles on it. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
If the bike doesn't need a clutch adjustment, don't take off the derby cover. Fill via the inspection cover plate, 1qt works every time. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
+1 with what Bienhoabob just wrote. Fact is, you can't see down in there to check the level even with the larger cover removed and you'll drive yourself nuts trying to get the level the same as the book shows. Forget that crap. Now I just drain the old fluid, and then fill a full quart through the primary chain inspection cover hole and call it good just like Bienhoabob. | ||
| Scooter808484 |
I might replace that clutch inspection gasket if it took 2 hours to get on and off. Since it's 5 minutes, if it doesn't leak, don't replace it. Still on the original. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Mine seeped for awhile and then the next time I cleaned the gasket better and it stopped leaking. | ||
| Rwven |
At 16K miles on my '08 XT I have yet to change the clutch or primary inspection gaskets, though I do have spares on the shelf just in case. The "O" ring on the drain plugs only gets changed as needed. The original is still in the primary but I had to put a new one in the swingarm last oil change. The previous change the ring had broken and I didn't have a spare so I wrapped teflon tape on the base of the plug to simulate the "O" ring and used the usual pipe dope. Didn't leak a drop. | ||
| Pso |
whats a few cents worth to you? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Pso, It isn't a few cents if you have to ride or drive quite a ways to buy something that isn't even necessary. Sure, if it was a part that might put my life in jeopardy then that is a whole other matter, but it isn't. For that matter, I probably wouldn't even spring for new bolts that hold the sprocket pulley on if they looked good when I removed them. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I don't think that the clutch inspection cover gasket is as much an issue of keeping oil in as keeping water out. Mark in AZ |
