My 1986 FLHTC went into the shop recently to have its clutch finger replaced and I noticed my oil level was just a little lower than normal from what I remember. checked it this morning and I remember when I bought it the tech said he liked to put it at about 3/4 of the way up the stick. It is at about half now and I check when the bike i up to temperature and with me sitting veritcle. How much, if any, oil do you use, I have good pressure and I dont see any blue smoke. Is it normal to have a tiny bit of oil loss, I have put about 1800 MI on it since the oil change. I do not know the engine history but someone has been through the engine in the past 75K miles (at least thats what people who have looked at it have said.
Could the little bit of loss be from the clutch finger repair and the tech forgot to top it up?

Thoughts? Opinions?

Jesse

 

I use a quart every 1000 miles or so. Your oil loss sounds negligible. You're worrying too much. Just ride. ;-)

 

Ahhh the broken clutch finger repair!!! Did that as a roadside repair a few years ago. Ya only lose tranny fluid.

As too oil loss, not much, venting oil mist mainly. I only lost 1/2 a qt. at most during 3k oil change, gotta run her hard for that! But I like my level only at half way on the stick (cold)

 

Aren't you supposed to check the oil on dressers while on a sidestand?

 

I use a half a quart or so between 3k changes

 

A quart per 1000 miles is acceptable according to Harley.
Some bikes burn more than others so if your aren't blowing any blue smoke out the tailpipe I wouldn't give it a second thought.
Just ride er.

 

I have always heard that these bikes will burn oil but I haven noticed no loss on my bike or my previous. But that is just me. But if it aint smoking and runs great I would not worry too much.

 

I find my Dyna will burn 1 qt per 1k mi if I'm riding it to and from work.. Thats 80mph on the highway for extended periods.. Around town, country riding <70mph I add little if any between changes.. I've come to accept it as I do the 43-48mpg variation due to the same trip variations..

 

pre top end, i put about a 1/4 quart per tank of fuel in it.

 

When my wife and I visited USA and Canada in 2003 on our bike we did 3,500 miles and used exactly 3 1/2 quarts! My lil S&S 107" is a bit better than that.