This howto is about how to change transmission oil on a Sportster. It is almost even easier than changing engine oil.

You will need:

1. A container for the old oil

2. A torx tool that fits your particular model OR an allen wrench, depending on which of the two possible ways you wish to proceed

3. An open-end wrench that fits your particular model

4. A quart of new transmission oil

5. A piece of plank etc of right thickness, which, when placed under your bikes side-stand will make it stand level.

6. New gasket for the clutch inspection cover (if you do it the official manual recommended way)

7. A funnel with narrow long tip

So, here are the instructions:

First, take alook at the picture below. Inside the red circle is the transmission drain plug. You have to open this plug with a suitable open-end wrench. (See the instructions below this image)

1. Let the engine run until it is hot

2. When the engine has gotten hot, switch off the engine and put the bike on the side-stand.

3. Put a suitable container under the transmission drain plug.

4. Open the transmission drain plug with a right sized wrench. Oil will begin to pour out immediately.

5. Put a piece of plank of right thickness under your bikes side-stand so that the bike will stand level. Now the rest of the old oil will pour out.

6. Take a look at the drain plug that you previously detached from the bike. It has a magnet on it. Clean the magnet of all of the metal dust that it has accumulated from inside the engine.

7. Fasten the drain plug back to where you detached it using a suitable wrench.

8.  There are two different ways to do the following step (adding new oil)

8.1. Lets take a look first at the official manual recommended way. The official way (8.1.x) makes sure that you actually see the oil level with your eyes, when pouring new oil in. Look at the picture below this sentence. It has the clutch inspection cover with 6 torx screws inside the red circle.

8.1.2  Unscrew the 6 torx screws, remove the round inspection cover and the round gasket behind it.
Take a look how the gasket is placed before you detach it. You have to put the new gasket at the same groove.

8.1.3 pour the new transmission oil (946 milliliters or 1 quart) to the engine through the hole. A funnel might be in order here, if you cant pour the oil directly.

8.1.4 Put a new gasket to the groove around the clutch inspection hole. Note, it may not stay on the groove and may fell. If so, use tiny bits of vaseline to secure it. Be sure you place the new gasket correctly, it _will_ leak if it is misplaced.

8.1.5 Re-attach the clutch inspection cover with the 6 torx screws. Note: if you misplaced the gasket, there will be a leak and you have to reopen the cover and replace the gasket.

8.1.6. There it is! Now check the cover for any leaks and youre ready to ride.

This is the second method of adding new oil (8.2.x). It is faster and easier than the official way, and many people use it succesfully. However, youre doing it on your own risk. (I cant imagine what could go wrong, really).

8.2.1 Take a look at the picture below. The primary chain inspection cover is inside the red circle. Now if you open this cover (it has 2 allen screws) you can pour new oil to the transmission through this hole. And you dont need to try and get the clutch inspection cover gasket to stay correctly. Only difference to the official method is that you just wont see the level of the oil inside the engine. But if you pour in the recommended amount, I cant see what could really go wrong.

8.2.2 Open the 2 allen screws, remove the cover and pour new oil in to the transmission. You are going to need a funnel with long thin tip to guide the oil.

82.3. Re-attach the cover and allen screws, and youre ready ride!

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