As a member of Harley-Davidson's Touring series, the 2006 FLTR Road Glide was designed to travel long distances with relative ease. Avoiding engine problems on the highway depends largely on keeping the Road Glide's Twin Cam 88 engine thoroughly lubricated through regular oil changes, which should be performed every 2,500 miles. Keep in mind that longer rides, especially through hotter climates, will take its toll on the engine's oil supply; making it necessary to change the oil sooner than normally required.
Instructions
1. Select a level work space and park your Road Glide on its sidestand. Look under the rear of the engine and transmission for the engine oil drain plug, located near the right lower frame rail. Clean the area around the oil drain plug with a grease-cutting cleaning spray, then wipe dry with a shop towel to prevent dirt from entering the engine.
2. Start your Road Glide and let it warm up for a minimum of three minutes. Stop the engine and let it cool for another 10 minutes. Mount the motorcycle onto a motorcycle service stand or lift to support it in a level, upright position.
3. Unscrew the oil filler cap from the right side of the engine, between the engine crankcase and the transmission. Wipe the filler cap's threads with a shop towel, and set the cap aside.
4. Place an oil drain pan below the transmission, then loosen the oil drain plug with a socket wrench and a 5/8-inch socket. Unscrew the drain plug slowly by hand until oil begins to seep out from around the plug's threads. Lift the drain plug's head slightly, then pull it away from the engine to avoid being splashed by engine oil as it drains. Let the oil drain for at least five minutes.
5. Remove the O-ring from the oil drain plug. Wipe the drain plug threads and magnetic tip clean with a shop towel, then slip a new O-ring onto the drain plug.
6. Wipe the engine's oil drain hole with a shop towel once the oil flow has reduced to a light trickle. Screw the oil drain plug into place by hand, then tighten it to 18 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and a 5/8-inch socket.
7. Loosen the oil filter from the oil pump, mounted on the front of the engine, using a cap-type oil filter wrench. Unscrew the oil filter by hand and place it into your oil drain pan. Soak up any oil remaining in the oil pump with a shop towel, then wipe up any spilled oil from the oil pump housing and engine crankcase.
8. Fill the new oil filter to the brim with fresh 20W-50 engine oil, then spread a light coat of oil around the oil filter's gasket. Let the filter set for two to three minutes to allow its filtering media to absorb the oil.
9. Screw the oil filter onto the oil pump by hand until you feel light resistance. Tighten the oil filter an additional half-turn by hand. Wipe away any spilled oil with a shop towel.
10. Place a funnel into the engine oil filler neck. Fill the engine with three quarts of 20W-50 engine oil, then remove the funnel. Screw the oil filler cap into place.
11. Lower your Road Glide onto its sidestand, then start the engine. Let it idle for three minutes to circulate the fresh oil, then stop the engine.
12. Check the oil filter and the oil drain plug for leaks. If leaks are present at either item, tighten the leaking part an additional quarter-turn.
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