www.CVOHARLEY.com

CVO Technical => Twin Cam => Topic started by: dayne66 on May 23, 2020, 10:35:38 PM

Title: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: dayne66 on May 23, 2020, 10:35:38 PM
Last spring, under ESP, had the motor rebuilt....started smoking and using oil.....they got it back this last spring and changed rings and valve guides.....just got 1164 break-in kms on it and dropped the oil. The plug was barely tight and the o-ring was in half (don't know where the other half is)...but.....the chunks on the magnet are my main concern.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: dayne66 on May 23, 2020, 10:36:50 PM
the o-ring
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: dayne66 on May 23, 2020, 10:40:29 PM
another angle
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: J.D. on May 23, 2020, 10:42:35 PM
No idea what those big chunks could be if they are magnetic.  If they're not magnetic it could be some thread sealant paste.

On the oring, sometimes the seating surface on the pan has a burr.  I had one that shredded orings every oil change.  Ended up running a spherical stone on that surface slowly and carefully until I couldn't feel the burr on my fingertip with moderate pressure.  I can go quite a few changes now without replacing the oring.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: dayne66 on May 23, 2020, 10:55:53 PM
Whew.....not magnetic......they are shiny thread sealant.

Engine still does not run or sound that well...esp at idle...but....I am sure 'that's normal'...so drive the piss outta it and hope for the best....or bust!


Why are they using thread sealant paste?.......I have never used it and never had an issue.

The dealer seems to either have a limp-wristed tech tighten them....or steroid junkies taking out their frustrations on them.....neither have heard of a torque wrench!
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: J.D. on May 23, 2020, 11:18:00 PM
I believe the manual calls for thread paste, so that's what they do.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: grc on May 24, 2020, 10:38:57 AM

The drain plug has normal threads, not pipe threads, so sealant is not needed as long as the O-ring is good.  There is no Harley recommendation in my manual to use anything on the oil drain plug threads.  That doesn't stop people working on Harley's from slathering on the old pipe dope however.  Or better yet, if yours is shiny some lamebrain probably used silicone sealant.  Some so-called mechanics seem to think silicone will fix anything, just like duct tape.  I try to avoid those people.

As noted above, those drain plug O-rings are easily torn if the surface on the pan or the plug has any sharp edges.  Clean-up any such surface damage (or if the plug just replace it) and install a new O-ring, then torque the plug (14 - 21 ft-lb).  I did that on my 2005 when I found the O-ring torn on the first oil change, haven't had an O-ring break since.

Jerry
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: dayne66 on May 24, 2020, 11:36:45 AM
After finding that the chunks were not metal and settling down ...I proceed to remove the filter.....wont turn and the Harley wrench jumps over the bumps......once again have to sink a self-tapping screw through the wrench and into the filter.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: OBB on May 24, 2020, 01:47:13 PM
After finding that the chunks were not metal and settling down ...I proceed to remove the filter.....wont turn and the Harley wrench jumps over the bumps......once again have to sink a self-tapping screw through the wrench and into the filter.
Just ran into the same issue on my '12 changing the filter. At some point and time in my life I bought a spring loaded OF clamp style wrench that actually digs into the OF. Managed to get it off with that but your idea seems a whole lot easier.

Sent from my boring Droid phone.

Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: dayne66 on May 24, 2020, 07:19:21 PM
(https://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=102591.0;attach=282103;image)
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: OBB on May 24, 2020, 07:22:08 PM
(https://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=102591.0;attach=282103;image)
:2vrolijk_21: :2vrolijk_21: :2vrolijk_21:
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: deldago on May 26, 2020, 04:22:27 PM
This is why I use K&N, has a nut welded on the end. Simple removal with a box end wrench.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: OBB on May 26, 2020, 07:10:57 PM
This is why I use K&N, has a nut welded on the end. Simple removal with a box end wrench.

Filter was on the bike when I bought mine. Didn't have much choice.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: iski on May 27, 2020, 12:59:40 AM
(https://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=102591.0;attach=282103;image)

Will remember this fix.   :2vrolijk_21:

Beat driving a screwdriver through the filter for turn leverage if the dealer gorillas the filter when installing it.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: Finster101 on May 27, 2020, 08:29:57 AM
Usually the filter sticks not because it was over tightened but because the seal wasn't lubed when installed.  I've been turning wrenches for forty years , that thin film of oil on the seal makes a huge difference.
Title: Re: Look at my drain plug...chunky!
Post by: iski on May 27, 2020, 08:38:05 AM
Usually the filter sticks not because it was over tightened but because the seal wasn't lubed when installed.  I've been turning wrenches for forty years , that thin film of oil on the seal makes a huge difference.

Did not know that.  Have always used a thin film of oil on the filter seal.  Learned this in the mid 1960s to do this on all oil filters.