Garage Basics
Oil Change

Oil Change

One oil change per riding season is a good rhythm, so the perfect moment to change your bike's oil (and the filter) is the last ride of the season. Throw out the old gunk and settle the bike well lubricated into hibernation. Waking up your bike in spring is also a good moment to do a lube job.

If you’re ignoring the seasons and ride year round, you’ll have to keep an eye on the oil change intervals given in your bike’s user manual. It also tells you the correct viscosity and amount of oil needed.

By the way: if you noticed the name PanAm frequently popping up in this chapter, that’s because PanAm is W&W's favourite oil brand. It’s been tested on thousands of road miles on a diversity of Milwaukee bikes and we think it’s just great.

We happen to know that changing the oil on a hog can be a messy and dirty job, that’s why we have a few items on offer to make it as convenient and hassle-free as possible, even when using other brands of lubricants ;-) So best take your time to read this through once before opening that drain plug.

1) Order your favourite oil.

There’s great choice, but usually a bike needs a specified viscosity. Use the oil specified in your bike’s manual. If unsure, send our operators at service@wwag.com a quick e-mail or call them at +49 931 250 61 16.

2) While you’re at it, order

a new drain plug gasket (model specific).

3) Order new oil filter.

Refer to your bike’s manual, go to wwag.com or call W&W +49 931 250 61 16, especially if you have a full-on custom. A quick picture of oil tank, drain plug and so on can help.

3a) Don’t forget the useful helpers

that you wish you had ready once the black sludge has covered half of your garage floor :). Make a list of everything you need before you order. Once that parcel hits your door mat, there’s no turning back :)

4) Warm up your bike real good,

to give the hot oil the chance to absorb as much sludge from your oil system as possible. Anything above 50 kilometers is OK. Do a little cruise around the county :)

5) Park your hot bike in your garage,

place an oil absorbing mat 81-000 underneath.

6) Grab your PanAm oil slide

35-400 and form and bend it so that it can be placed under your oil tank drain plug. Angle it so that the spent oil can leisurely slide down to a recipient, ideally the very practical 05-150 (doubles as a canister).

7) Remove drain plug.

Big bunches of steel filings clinging to the magnet (if fitted) are a bad sign. While the hot oil makes its way to the recipient, get a funnel 35-300, and open the first can of fresh oil.

8) Don’t try to flush your oil tank.

If the bike is well warmed through when you change the oil, most of the dirt will be gone. A few drops of remaining spent oil are no problem. Trying to use solvents to clean out the hardened residue in the corners will jeopardize the fresh oil's lubrication properties.

9) Replace the well cleaned drain plug,

using a new gasket, and tighten down snug. Don’t over tighten. 

10) Using the funnel, fill your oil tank

with the correct amount of oil. Refer to your bike's manual or your Clymer repair manual (model specific).

11) Oil filter: Place oil drain pan

05-150 under filter (possibly in combination with PanAm oil slide (35-400). Remove oil filter. If it proves stubborn, this handy self-adjusting oil filter wrench 93-967 will get it off.

12) Apply a little fresh oil

to the filter's rubber seal. Place new filter on thread, screw on and tighten gently, using no tools.

13) Start the bike up and let it idle

a couple of minutes. If a puddle of oil forms under it, you forgot to properly tighten the new filter :)

14) Dispose of the spent oil and the filter responsibly.

Think recycling.

Bingo. You’re clear for another well lubed season of potatering.

PanAm Oil Pads
PanAm Oil Pads
This oil pad soaks up to 2 l of fluid, i.e. oil, gas, etc. A reinforced top and an anti-slip foil on the bottom side make the PanAm oil pad a useful helper in the workshop, garage or living room.
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PanAm Oil Slide
PanAm Oil Slide
Oil change without a mess! This rubberized aluminum alloy sheet allows you to form an individual funnel or trough to direct your waste oil from the hard-to-reach oil tank drain hole or oil filter plate to any suitable container. Of course, you can also use it to fill fresh oil into your tank. Tapered at one end so it can be shaped to reach tight spots. You can reshape and use it a thousand times and on different bikes. With suspension eye so you can hang it up for drip-off. Easy to clean.
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Ernst Drip-Free Oil Funnel
Ernst Drip-Free Oil Funnel
Change the oil in your Harley without the headache of the mess! Works with most Harley-Davidson models with external oil filter. The Ernst Drip-Free funnel featuers a unique and superior U-shaped design for draining and replacing oil filter cartridges but is also great for refilling fluids. Fits perfect in tight places on the transmission and primary. A hangtab allows for dripping and pegboard storage.
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PanAm Oil Drain Pan and Containers
PanAm Oil Drain Pan and Containers
This is a combination of drain pan and waste oil container, which should be basic equipment for every workshop or garage. It will make an oil change as easy as pie and environmentally sound.
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Low-Profile Oil Drain Pan and Containers
Low-Profile Oil Drain Pan and Containers
Reduce the mess and cleanup required when changing the fluids on your motorcycle. This king size drain pan is designed specifically for use with motorcycles. The low-profile design fits easily under lowered motorcycles and slips beneath rigid frame bikes even when on the side stand. The 10-quart capacity will capture 2 engine oil changes or the complete drain fluids (engine oil, primary and transmission) from one motorcycle. This drain pan is large enough to catch the oil from the entire length of the primary and is sized to hold and drain an inverted primary cover. It features a raised hardware corral, a filter drain surface and a pressure vent hole to prevent oil burping. The drained waste oil is sealed safely inside the pan with gasketed caps and plugs. Convenient carrying handle simplifies transport to an approved waste oil facility.
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PanAm Clean-Funnel
PanAm Clean-Funnel
A good funnel is a must have in any workshop when it’s time for an oil change or a refill. The annoying part of these jobs was to stow away the oil dripping funnel into a dark corner where you would find it a few months later contaminated inside-outside with dust, bugs and other debris. The PanAm funnel puts an end to this problem because it features screw-on caps at the top and bottom which can be removed for action and which keep the inside of your funnel perfectly clean during storage. The flexible spout makes it more versatile as it allows to direct the funnel tip in tight spots.
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Self Adjusting Oil Filter Wrenches
Self Adjusting Oil Filter Wrenches
This oil filter wrench allows easy removal and installation of spin-on oil filters. To be used with 3/8”-drive ratchet or 3/4” open-end wrench.
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Oil Filter Wrenches 14-Flutes
Oil Filter Wrenches 14-Flutes
Allows easy removal and installation of oil filter with 3/8”-drive ratchet. Fits all 14-flute spin-on oil filters. For Twin Cam models 1999→, there is a cut-out to get past the crank position sensor.
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Seal Washers for Drain Screws
Seal Washers for Drain Screws
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Stahlbus Oil Drain Valves
Stahlbus Oil Drain Valves
Who hasn't wished for two more hands to change the oil! First there's already hardly any space on the bike, next the hot oil shoots out of the oil tank or the gearbox housing (Dynas!, Tourers!) so fast that you can't rightly a container fast enough, and to complete the mess the drain plug or the sealing ring drop into the black hot oil.
A stahlbus oil drain valve makes changing the oil much easier: the drain plug and sealing ring are replaced with the valve just once. For all further oil changes, simply unscrew the protective cap and push the drain fitting into the bayonet connection. The oil - no matter how hot - then flows out spillfree in a decent manner through the transparent hose into a container - gladly a PanAm oil change canister. Then pull off the drain plug, screw on the protective cap by hand - done. (do not forget to fill up the oiltank again.)
And because the valve itself is never again removed, you save on sealing rings and do not put any strain on the oil tank plug thread again.
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Oils for Engine
Oils for Engine
Oil Filter Cartridges
Oil Filter Cartridges