Changing the oil on a 1973 Harley 1000 is a simple procedure, and you will save a good deal of money doing it yourself. Harley Davidson recommends changing the oil every 5,000 miles, but it is a better practice to change the oil more frequently than that. The quality and cleanliness of the oil will definitely affect the engines longevity. Always use a motorcycle-grade oil due to the necessary friction modifiers they contain. Regular automotive oil can cause the clutch to slip. Oil with a 20W50 rating is recommended due to the temperature extremes in an air-cooled engine.
Instructions
- 1
Place the oil drain pan under the oil filter on the front of the engine. Remove the oil cap on the reservoir. Place the oil filter wrench on the filter and turn it counterclockwise to remove it. Move the drain pan back under the swing arm.
2Use the screwdriver to loosen the oil drain hose clamp where it attaches to the front of the swing arm. The hose is the one between the rear of the primary cover and the frame. Hold the hose down to allow it to drain faster. Place the hose back on its post and tighten the hose clamp.
3Spread a small amount of oil on the oil filter O-ring. Fill the oil filter about half way with oil and install the filter. Turn it on as far as possible by hand. Do not tighten it with a wrench. Fill the oil tank reservoir with the remainder of the 3 quarts of oil. The level should be just below the lip in the reservoir.
4Loosen the oil drain hose clamp and pull the drain hose off slightly to drain a very small amount of oil. This will eliminate the air bubble in the system allowing the oil pressure to build more rapidly. Tighten the hose clamp on the drain hose.
5Install the oil tank cap. Start the engine and watch for the engine oil pressure light to illuminate and go out. Check for oil leaks.
