If I change the cover can I just level the bike w/2x4 and not have to drop oil or will I have to drop oil and be done with it.Thanks

 

Just did mine, level it and you won't drop any oil, took about 10 minutes.

 

Ditto!!! No problem,don't be surprised that oil is gray and smells a bit like rot!

 

That's what I did too...just stuck a piece of 2x4 under the kickstand and pulled the derby cover off. No oil loss at all. No problem.

 

I had to push pretty hard while loosening derby screws...afraid of pushing it over from a 2x4 perch. I rolled it up close to the garage door, put it in 1st, and leaned the right grip into the door on the right. No risk of it going over.

 

Those derby screws can be a bitch to get out. I did not have problems with mine, but some have.

You can take a small drift punch (blunt nose punch), that fits into and bottoms out inside the screw, and give a rap with about a 1.5 to 2lb hammer. Not a 'nail driving' rap, lighter than that... but what you are trying to do is break loose the threadlocker that is on those screws.

Lots of folks have stripped the heads out.... damn torx, be sure to use the T27 bit, and not the T25.

 

easy job tem minutes, just make sure you have the right type of oil seal for the cover - either paper or the rubber gasket

 

You should't even need to level it. I you check your manual you fill it while its on the jiffy stand. I just changed my primary oil and if it only has the 32oz it calls for it will be below the cover.

 

Be sure that you have the correct screws for the cover you are going to. I bought my Fat Bob used and tried to replace a Willie G. derby cover with a wrinkle black one. Problem was the skull cover used shorter screws than were needed for the black. So when I tried to tighten the new cover up the screws did not fully engage and I stripped the threads. Most dealers stock the correct hardware for $5 or less. Be sure to get the correct gasket too, as some covers use different ones.

 

yes, be absolutely sure that you're using the t-27 as the t-25 will almost fit. wrong idea, easy way to shear the head out of the torx screw. glad you got it figured out. the harley ones that are in the catalog us a different gasket than the standard quad ring too.