Intro and question

[Mark Whitis]

Just received my new 1999 Fat Boy. It's one beautiful bike. It's also my
first Harley. I've had a couple of rice burners in the past, but they
just didn't turn me on.

The new owners manual recommends the first oil change at 1000 miles,
instead of the usual 500. I'm a little hesitant to wait that long to
clean all of the break in crap out. Should I go ahead and change the oil
at 500?
Any comments?

Thanks,
Mark

[Hawgeye]

Mark Whitis wrote ...

The first thing you should do is (other than buy a round) to get a good of
wax on the metal and a conditioner on the leather just in case you get
turned on too much.
I am really surprised that the stealership didn't try to make arrangements
with you to let them do the 500 mile checkup. There are a lot of other
things that should be done at this time.
Call up a few stealerships and ask them what they have to say about the 1000
Vs. 500 mile deal. My manual says 500 miles, but it's a 97.
BTW, I wouldn't wait, do it at 500 miles. Oil & a filter are cheap compared
to a new motor.

Hawgeye:
http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/hawgeye
RMH FAQ:
http://www.execpc.com/~jschwarz/rmhFAQmenu.html

[Wayne Fernandez]

Mark Whitis <mar...@neta.com> wrote in article
<35DDAAEA...@neta.com>...

> Just received my new 1999 Fat Boy. It's one beautiful bike. It's also my
> first Harley. I've had a couple of rice burners in the past, but they
> just didn't turn me on.
>
> The new owners manual recommends the first oil change at 1000 miles,
> instead of the usual 500. I'm a little hesitant to wait that long to
> clean all of the break in crap out. Should I go ahead and change the oil
> at 500?
> Any comments?

To each his own but no way would I (or will I on my new one coming in next
month) wait until a 1000 miles. My normal procedure (which I'll admit may
be a bit much) is to do the first oil & filter change at 100 miles and then
again at 500 and 1,000 miles. I run the used oil through a disposable paint
filter (cheap at Home Depot) and check for excessive metal particles. I
keep the disposable filters (in an old clean paint can) until I hit 5,000
miles just in case the dealer wants to see them (if trouble develops). I
also use H-D oil and filters at least until the bike is out of warranty
just to make sure that there is no bullshit should a serious problem
develop.

My reason for doing this is that the first 100 miles (really the first 25)
is when you are going to get the most fuel leaking past the rings since
they have not expanded and bedded in yet. I want that thinned out oil out
of there so I have the maximum lubrication available while the engine is
still running hot and trying to bed in all the moving parts. The 500 mile
change comes under the heading of "it can't hurt", further gets rid of oil
that is probably thinned out by "blow by", and it makes me feel like I'm
doing the best I can for the motor.

The new oil jets aimed at the underside of the pistons on the 88" motor
will help keep the temperature down. I don't care - I'm doing the oil
changes anyway.
--
MWF
AH52