HarleyTechTalk

Wow, we have gone from cheap oil filters to nickles in exhaust hangers and now to this.  I'm sorry, but I am not putting generic o-rings in my bike and crossing my fingers.  I did recently have to match an o-ring at the hardware store for the oil fill cap on my chain saw, and no it was not an exact match.  Had to buy 2 and use the best fit.  O-rings CAN be critical, remember the space shuttle some 25 years ago?  maybe not so much on your AC backing plate, but what about the one for the inlet to your oil pump or your push rod tubes?  or how bout the bottom of your cylinders?  Gonna put hardware store generics in these places?  They are cheap folks, use the right stuff, especially your oil drain plugs.  stay out of the hardware store for these.  Buy several when you go to the dealer.

Moose....013 7/16" 9/16" 0.426" 0.566" 100 9452K57 2.56
Oil fill is 115 11/16" 7/8" 0.674" 0.880" 100 9452K27 2.83
The above sizes work perfectly on my 2001.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=en7vz2

Quote from: smoserx1 on October 25, 2011, 03:53:54 AM
  They are cheap folks, use the right stuff, especially your oil drain plugs.  stay out of the hardware store for these.  Buy several when you go to the dealer.

It is not necessarily what is cheap, but what is available in a timely manor. The OP needed a couple o-rings for an aftermarket part and did not know the size, or where to get them. Thanks to guys here it got straightened out.

Not everyone has a HD dealership in their back yard and if you need a oil plug o-ring Saturday afternoon are you going to wait until the dealer is open on Monday to drive over to pick one or  two up, or run to Ace Hardware and get one so you can ride. As for o-rings in more critical areas I certainly would get the proper oaring, but for something as simple as an oil drain plug the o-ring from Ace will do just fine. Also some dealers think they should charge $2 for a 25 cent o-ring. If you can get a suitable replacement one thenth the price of the dealer why not?

thanks truck I'll take a look

Quote from: PoorUB on October 25, 2011, 07:48:20 AM

Quote from: smoserx1 on October 25, 2011, 03:53:54 AM
  They are cheap folks, use the right stuff, especially your oil drain plugs.  stay out of the hardware store for these.  Buy several when you go to the dealer.

It is not necessarily what is cheap, but what is available in a timely manor. The OP needed a couple o-rings for an aftermarket part and did not know the size, or where to get them. Thanks to guys here it got straightened out.

Not everyone has a HD dealership in their back yard and if you need a oil plug o-ring Saturday afternoon are you going to wait until the dealer is open on Monday to drive over to pick one or  two up, or run to Ace Hardware and get one so you can ride. As for o-rings in more critical areas I certainly would get the proper oaring, but for something as simple as an oil drain plug the o-ring from Ace will do just fine. Also some dealers think they should charge $2 for a 25 cent o-ring. If you can get a suitable replacement one thenth the price of the dealer why not?

Exactly.  Non-critical things in relative plain view - like the oil plug... I've never had a problem.  A special application or someplace I can't see and / or where it could cause a major failure is a whole other story.  Early-on did an oil change and the dealer wanted a dollar and change for the o-ring.  No thanks. 

Quote from: truck on October 25, 2011, 07:28:21 AM
Moose....013 7/16" 9/16" 0.426" 0.566" 100 9452K57 2.56
Oil fill is 115 11/16" 7/8" 0.674" 0.880" 100 9452K27 2.83
The above sizes work perfectly on my 2001.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=en7vz2

I can't see going to the dealer and spending 3 bucks for 3 O rings, unless I'm lonely and want someone to talk too..    I'd get the Viton ones tho.. They are good up to 400F.. Buna is only good to 250F.. The Bunas will probably work tho if you replace them every time you change the oil..

Max

Good call Max. I change mine almost every oil change because they are usually damaged.