how much does it cost to do your own oil changes? is it a tough to do? i heard that you need special tools and that it takes 2 people to do it. I just don't like getting ripped off at the dealership.

 

oil changes are as tough as changing the oil on any vehicle. I'm guessing that if you have to ask how to change the oil, then you shouldn't do it.

 

It couldn't get much easier. The only way it would take 2 people is if you like to have someone to talk to when you're working on something Get yourself a service manual and check it out.

 

This rates a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10. As stated above go to your nearest Harley dealership and pick up the service manual. Then if after reading how to do it you still are not sure how, find someone that can show you how to do it. If I have to pay someone to do something I watch so I never have to pay again.

 

Very simple and cheap to do.

The manual will pay for itself many times over if you have never done this kind of stuff before.

 

Are you serious? – Sorry, I am old fashioned. I think everyone should change their own oil. How do you drain the bathtub? Every new vehicle I get, I buy the manual, and it sits next to the throne. Like JimboFXD said, it’s a 1 out of 10 job. And the payoff is you KNOW what you POURED into the bike. I have never paid for an oil change. NEVER!!!!

 

The only special tools you will need is a MANUAL $50-$70, depending which dealer you use. I would suggest Zanottis. A jack $60-$200 they all do the same thing. I would suggest pep boys or sears. Oil filter wrench, I got one of those three finger jobs from pep boys about $10. And last but not least the jack kit for dynas around 20 bucks. These items will pay for themselves many times over. By the way it takes me about an hour to do the oil change.

 

Voice of dissent here.

You don't need all that stuff. All you need is to cut about 4 inches off the bottom of a five gallon bucket, to use for a catch pan, a set of allen wrenches, and an oil filter wrench, and a 3/8 ratchet and long extension to turn the filter wrench with.


No hour needed. More like ten minutes. Start bike and warm up for a couple minutes. Shut off bike. Slide pan under plug. Remove plug. Change oil filter while oil drains. Replace plug. Replace oil. Done.

Wash and shine bike if desired.

 

My guess on cost - $50. For fluids and filter. You don't always need to replace
the o-rings, have some on hand in case.

Special tools?? No, not all that special.
Filter wrench and proper wrenches for drain plugs.

Procedure w/pix is in your service manual.

2 people?? Yeah, since you have never done it,
like the horizontal cha cha, have a friend show you how.
It's so easy, and fun, you'll want to do it every day.
After you do it once, then you will be able to do it alone.

mud

 

I'm on the opposite side of the coin... I've never had the dealer work on my bike. I'm just curious.... How much are they getting for an oil change these days?