Same here.

 

Because of my old school mindset, I can never wait the recommend 5K interval. And since neither me or my wife will ever get 5 thousand miles on the Sportster in one years time, that bike gets changed every Spring.... No matter what.
I was an **** wreck the first 15k with the Road King. Every oil change, every hole. Now, I do the primary and tranny every OTHER oil change.
No complaints or issues.

 

Well OP, you've had 39 responses. Are the mileages given for each hole going to alter when you change your fluids?

 

Motor 3-3500

Primary every other motor oil change

trans 10-12K

I run specialized fluids for each hole.

 

All three holes at 10k miles

 

I just follow the factory service intervals with. Works for me. I tend not to overthink issues.

 

Well...i was changing all 3 holes at about 3K miles....I use Amsoil.....but after getting answers I will change my engine at 4-5K and the other two at 10K...

I have a 2017 SGS ...first oil change was all 3 holes at 1500 miles...now I have just shy of 5500miles....think I will change the oil when I get to my winter home in a few weeks..

Thank you for all of your answers.....great folks on this forum.

 

Does no one else think like me that the unfiltered primary that has wear plates inside and cools the stator, lubes the primary chain and compensator needs a fluid change at least as often as engine oil?

I get little or no particles on the oil pan magnet but always have fine stuff on the primary plug.

For what it's worth, the transmission oil drains as clean as when put in new.

 

Syn3, changed every 5K all three holes for 133,000 miles. Still uses no oil between changes and performs like the day I took out of the dealer’s showroom.

 

I, for one, do not.
Two reasons.
One, my experience with automatic transmissions in autos. Used to be when you changed trans fluid you had to adjust bands. I know that was due to band wear but I always felt the suspended particles helped keep slippage down. Now days the reccomendation for trans fluid change can be as much as 150k miles.
Two, don't you think the people at HD who designed the engine/trans/primary would take the particulate suspension into account in making their reccomendations? The bikes warranty is two year, it says nothing about milage. That means, to me anyway, that they are confident that the bike they sell you will go as many miles as your *** will stand without failure as long as you follow their fluid change reccomendation. If you can put 100k miles per year on it and change fluids to the factory schedule the bike is covered, there is no extra credit, or solid reason, for changing more often.

My 06 Honda Ridgeline has 250k+ miles on it right now. I change all of the fluids per Hondas reccomendation, the Maintenance Minder tells me when to change what and I do. I totally expect to get at least another 100k out of it unless I get restless for something newer but that will be on me, not the truck or fluid change interval.

Sorry, you asked and I got carried away...