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[VAZHOG]

I read quite a bit when surfing for the HD oil manufacturer - after I found Sunoco.  Lots of sites put up by lots of Amsoil folks, so I tend to be more than a mite skeptical when somebody selling something trashes their competition.  No need for dissing if their product is truly superior, IMHO.  I know folks using all 3, who are pleased with all 3.  Most important is regular changes and regular maintenance - both dependent upon riding styles and conditions.

Kinda like Coke Vrs Pepsi It's all about what you believe.

[VAZHOG]

$270.00 ? Wowsa!!!  Too rich for my wallet. I'll stick to the 29 cent rag and a catch pan, thank you. JMHO.

It's the Al Gore Filter- Better for you to use it than him

[Midnight Rider]

I read quite a bit when surfing for the HD oil manufacturer - after I found Sunoco.  Lots of sites put up by lots of Amsoil folks, so I tend to be more than a mite skeptical when somebody selling something trashes their competition.  No need for dissing if their product is truly superior, IMHO.  I know folks using all 3, who are pleased with all 3.  Most important is regular changes and regular maintenance - both dependent upon riding styles and conditions.

I'm skeptical too, Mike.  I've not tried Amsoil, simply because it has not been as convenient for me to aquire.  I cannot attest to the lubricating qualities of Mobil 1 vs Syn3, other than what I was told by an Eng friend who works for Mobil (he also praised Amsoil as equally good to his product), but I convey my personal experiences.  Changed over from Ducati's recommended syn product (I think it was made by Shell) to Mobil 1 MTX 10w40...immediately noticed cooler oil temps as indicated on the LED dash...within 50 miles of running, Transmission shifts were drastically improved.  On my SEUC, when changing from Syn3 to Mobil I Vtwin, the top end of the motor definitely got quieter.  I purchased my bike at the beginning of the summer here in Alabama, and the oil temps improved approx 15 degrees as well.  Motor is definitely quieter with the Mobil 1 product.  Syn 3 is no doubt a low bid product.  Many use it without issue, but if I've got a choice, it's not for me.

[Twolanerider]

$270.00 ? Wowsa!!!  Too rich for my wallet. I'll stick to the 29 cent rag and a catch pan, thank you. JMHO.

Had no idea they cost that much.  I won one of the silly things as a door prize at a dealership Saturday party a couple of months or so ago.  Hadn't ever even taken it out of the box yet.  Where oil filters were concerned really was of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" school of thought.  Especially for that much $$$ difference.

Know I'll have to look at it more closely. 

So this thing really keeps you from making a mess on the motor?

Really would like to see a pic of it actually installed.

[VAZHOG]

I'm skeptical too, Mike.  I've not tried Amsoil, simply because it has not been as convenient for me to aquire.  I cannot attest to the lubricating qualities of Mobil 1 vs Syn3, other than what I was told by an Eng friend who works for Mobil (he also praised Amsoil as equally good to his product), but I convey my personal experiences.  Changed over from Ducati's recommended syn product (I think it was made by Shell) to Mobil 1 MTX 10w40...immediately noticed cooler oil temps as indicated on the LED dash...within 50 miles of running, Transmission shifts were drastically improved.  On my SEUC, when changing from Syn3 to Mobil I Vtwin, the top end of the motor definitely got quieter.  I purchased my bike at the beginning of the summer here in Alabama, and the oil temps improved approx 15 degrees as well.  Motor is definitely quieter with the Mobil 1 product.  Syn 3 is no doubt a low bid product.  Many use it without issue, but if I've got a choice, it's not for me.

If you believe it then it's true for you

[Midnight Rider]

If you believe it then it's true for you

This ain't religion, it's science.

Of particular concern to me with Syn3 is I have never been able to locate the API information anywhere on the bottle to determine what spec it meets.  HD wants you to "believe" it's products are superior...that is misplaced faith in many instances.

[mrmagloo]

Sorry guys, been on the road for a couple of days.  I got the Definitive5 for 20% off - Actually for 23% off.  It was still about 2 bills, but I can't tell you what a time saver it is!  On my SED, there is just no way to get anything under the filter. I've tried everything, plastic pop bottles, gizmos from Drag Specialty, aluminum foil and every other tip or trick I've read. All that nonsense at best did marginably better, and at worse made a bigger mess..

On my SED, I had the dealer do the first change. I got it back and althought they did wipe it down, and at first glance it looked clean, when I got it home there was oil all over the place. Took 1/2 a day to remove everything to clean the mess properly. I like to keep my bike detailed to a T.

My first shot, I tried a couple of the 'tips' above, and found the easy way was to simply loosen the filter slowly and mop the oil as it leaks out. Took forever.  I'd eventually get impatient, and once the oil got out of that valley, I'd have to remove the regulator, the spoiler, the frame covers, etc., to clean it up - A real PIA!

As such, while I assume the filtration performance is on par with the stocker, that wasn't my selling point. When I saw how this thing worked, I immediately realized that by having the housing fixed, and you only remove the cap, this totally solves this age - old oil mess problem once and for all, because the oil is now evacuating near the outboard of the block where you can get a funnel.  For do it yourselfers, this turns a messy - potientally time consuming job, into a very quick and absolutely clean 5 minute job.  If your time is important, $200 was money in the bank to me. Frankly, I'd pay twice that after using it so far.

I don't have a pic handy of my bike with it installed, but here's a blow up of the pic from the Harley site.  If you look closely, the end cap of the housing is knerled and it unscrews there.  You simply put a little funnel right below, turn the cap a few turns to get one of the holes flowing, and it empties the housing very nicely. When it stops, remove the cap completely, pop out the filter, throw in a new one, wipe it down, tighten the cap, and you're all done. Very slick.

[Twolanerider]

Is a strap wrench of some kind used to loosen the end cap?  If so how much access is there with shifter and other sundry bits in the way?

[mrmagloo]

They do include a strap wench, but I found it didn't work very well. I put a shop rag over it, and carefully used a large channel lock, and that worked like a champ.

The config of the SED leaves it wide open for a funnel. The entire housing is about 1 to 2" or so longer than a stock filter, so I would suggest simply trying to get a funnel near your stock filter. If you can get it close to the top of the stocker, you should be fine - Might want to try a few different funnels.  Before I did the install, I eyeballed it and could see this would work just fine for me. For the touring bikes you might have to remove the floor board perhaps?

[Twolanerider]

They do include a strap wench, but I found it didn't work very well. I put a shop rag over it, and carefully used a large channel lock, and that worked like a champ.

The config of the SED leaves it wide open for a funnel. The entire housing is about 1 to 2" or so longer than a stock filter, so I would suggest simply trying to get a funnel near your stock filter. If you can get it close to the top of the stocker, you should be fine - Might want to try a few different funnels.  Before I did the install, I eyeballed it and could see this would work just fine for me. For the touring bikes you might have to remove the floor board perhaps?

The floorboard is part of the my concern.  Of course if it only pours out the end then old piece of plastic or other channeling device might be much easier and more effective than they are with the standard oil filter.

[HogDude]

I don't have a pic handy of my bike with it installed, but here's a blow up of the pic from the Harley site.  If you look closely, the end cap of the housing is knerled and it unscrews there.  You simply put a little funnel right below, turn the cap a few turns to get one of the holes flowing, and it empties the housing very nicely. When it stops, remove the cap completely, pop out the filter, throw in a new one, wipe it down, tighten the cap, and you're all done. Very slick.

Thanks for the post and detail of you procedure. I would concur with Twolaner, the fitment on a bagger will be of concern, but it's certainly worth looking into. 

[mrmagloo]

Yes, there are a million different configurations of funnels out there nowadays - just a std old funnel I had laying around worked fine. The big key is, by draining near the outboard end, you finally have the clearance to actually get something under it. If a funnel won't work, the plastic pop bottle will, but the big difference is, you will collect every last drop with zero mess.

Anyway, like I said, your mileage may vary. It is a pricy mod, but for DYI'ers, it's a big, big help. Definitely, scope it out first and decide whether it's worthwhile for you. To me, the thing is worth it's weight in gold.

[spookytooth]

Several years ago at Daytona, HD had a tech presentation about engine oil.
The engineer who gave the talk was very nice an knowledgable. After her
presentation a few of us were asking some follow up questions as other
were filing out. She was reluctant to say at first but finally admitted to working
for Sun Oil. She said that Sunoco and HD had a long working relationship and
that they spend of good deal of time at the HD factory.

As for the mess of draining the oil.  As for the SEUC, I got a device from
"E-Glide Goodies". It is a cheap little plastic p.o.s. that when I opened the
box felt like a real idiot for buying but the bottom line is it works great.
Not a drop to clean up after.

[Smiler]

Smiler,
I was looking at their site last week and was curious if anyone had tried them and what their thoughts were.

I bought the Softail one and found it brilliant. It covers everything the tools you need and step by step instructions of how to maintain your motorcycle.   If your anything like me (I'd f**k up the working parts of a mop) you'll find it invaluble.
There's also another thread, can't remember which one but I had great starter instructions from a couple of the guys.

[HogDude]

I bought the Softail one and found it brilliant. It covers everything the tools you need and step by step instructions of how to maintain your motorcycle.   If your anything like me (I'd f**k up the working parts of a mop) you'll find it invaluble.
There's also another thread, can't remember which one but I had great starter instructions from a couple of the guys.

I understand completely. 
Their DVD is on my wish list now.