I must be missing something. I changed my oil & filter and drained the pri/trans fluid (and adjusted my pri chain, very loose). I went to the stealership to get my trans fluid, telling him what kind of bike I had ('97 1200C) and he sold me one qt.fluid. I filled the thing, once drained, with one qt. and it's not even close to the bottom of the inspection cover. I can tip my finger into the hole to my second knuckle and just touch fluid. I have a Haynes manual (better than nothing) and it says 40 fl. oz. and I put in 32. I don't think 8 more oz. will top this thing off. Where am I missing it (or did I get some rare sporty with and extra chamber to hold large volumes of pri/trans fluid)?

 

The primary holds one quart,thats all.It wont be up near the inspection cover because it doesnt need to be.

 

I don't have my service manual handy but around 40 oz. sounds close. I think your suppose to stand the bike erect too. It's been awhile since I did mine. I'm not sure if the bottom of the hole is your guide either.
Someone else will chide in.

 

I believe that the fluid level should just reach the bottom of the clutch basket and not the inspection cover.

 

service manual for mine says 32 fl oz, but it is a 2001, not a '97

don't know what differences there are between the prim trans between the two

 

My 2004 says 32 oz.....not sure on a 97 but I dont think you are suppose to be able to touch the fluid

wayne

 

Don't you guys have a "remove this plug" thing to tell how high to fill it? Otherwise just put in what the book says.

 

mine has a small phillips screw near the front, that supposedly (I dont have the manual i just read this on XLforums) when left open while filling, it drips when your at the correct level and the bike is vertical.

anyone else know about this? it doesnt seem like that screw does anything else.

 

That plug/screw done away with years ago. I'm not sure what year the change was made to the primary case but I believe it was 1994. The correct fill level nowadays, is to the bottom of the clutch basket.

 

32 oz max. Most guys I know only are able to get about 28-30 back in unless they let it drain overnight. You have the primary chain inspection cover for chain adjustment and the primary cover to adjust the clutch as necessary. Although I've heard that there are people who adjust the clutch every primary oil change. Which if I remember correctly is recommended at 5k. Too much for me. Unless I feel it in the clutch pull or while I am riding I am a firm believe if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Glenn
00 883C