The worst thing about my wife's 2005 883 is checking the oil with that stupid pop-up dip stick. Has anybody found a good replacement for that? Is there a replacement stick or can you put a pre-04 oil tank and cover on a post 04 bike?

 

Get the HD analog temperature gauge dipstick, it's much easier to remove and install.

 

If that is truely the worst thing about her bike, than you have it good!


What exactly is your problem with the dip stick? I have the same thing and find no problem with it.

 

I pop mine up,,
twist It out, wipe and re Insert then twist It In,,
then twist It back out to check Oil level.

I do aim It when I put It back In so I don't have ta "Hunt"
the notch.
Never had a Problem but It could have been made simpler.

 

Maybe hers doesn't fit right or something, but it's so hard to grip we usually have to use a rubber jar-opener to grip it to turn and I have torn the whole top off trying to turn it in the past. Do others turn/screw in/out easier? She is one of those people who won't start her bike without checking ever single thing and having tire pressure within 1 lb. of perfect, etc., but even she won't check the oil because it's just too much work to get the dip stick in and out.

So it's the twist in/twist out step that's the issue.

 

+1 on that.

 

How about just putting on a pre-2004 complete oil tank? Anybody know if it will fit a post-04 XL with the covered tank? A whole tank is cheaper than a temp. dipstick and the old dipsticks were a lot better.

 

I tend to always agree with you, but this time I do not. I have one on the XL50 and half the time it gets stuck inthere and does not want to turn, plus the dip stick is hard to read and does not really tell you where the oil level is at. What I do on that bike is remove the temp gauge and then check the oil with the stock dipstick.

The stock one is not all thatt bad to get out, but if you have a wider seat that would make it harder.

 

Mine twists In and out fairly easy,,two fingers and a decent grip,,
check the seal??
go to the dealer and try another one on a new bike,,then a used bike ??
Like I said I twist out and lift,,check Oil,,then reinsert with It still aligned.
I do twist it down to check oil but not pop the cap down.

And yeah a wide seat,,If Its comming up at an angle It don't work so good.

 

The spring broke on wife's and it stood at attention for her!! $25 later have a new one that has ridges on it for grip vs the smooth one that were on the 04's