Question for Those with DK Customs Oil Filter Relocation Kit on a Milwaukee 8

[OLBLU]

I was wondering how hard it is to get in and install the oil filter adapter and the tighten the hose clamps by the front engine mount?

It looks like a very tight fit.

Also has anyone had trouble with the hose clamps coming loose?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I was wondering how hard it is to get in and install the oil filter adapter and the tighten the hose clamps by the front engine mount.

It looks like a very tight fit.

Also has anyone had trouble with the hose clamps coming loose.

Sorry about my lack of question marks but my keyboard keeps putting up a E when I type a question mark.

Never done the relocation kit, but, I've added an oil cooler and that pretty much the same adapter.

It is a little tight, but, you only would have to do it once and your done (I'd check the mounting bolts occasionally). The hose claps are tough to get to, but, doable.

On my oil cooler, I never had a hose come loose, but, I did check them every oil change just to be sure. I used the clamps with a nut head and checked with a long nut driver.

[DK Custom Products]

I was wondering how hard it is to get in and install the oil filter adapter and the tighten the hose clamps by the front engine mount?

It looks like a very tight fit.

Also has anyone had trouble with the hose clamps coming loose?

We have quite a few M8 Customers that have installed this. Screwing on the adapter is about the same as doing the oil filter...but you only need to do it once. The easiest way to get to the hose clamps is from the front, between the downtubes.

I just did one the other day, took about 15 minutes to do the adapter, hoses and clamps. Never heard of a properly tightened hose clamp coming loose. But it is recommended to regularly check the hoses (every oil change).

That said, just last month a Harley-Davidson Dealership installed one and forgot to tighten one of the hose clamps. EEEEKKK.

The other problem can occur if the hose clamp is Over tightened and cuts thru the hose. We've had a couple of Customers do that.

Kevin

[Tanker]

The job was easy just go slow and think about the next task. Relocation of the filter design was excellent,very easy to install. As Kevin said don't overtighten the clamps, make sure the oil lines from the oil filter adapter are secure with the tie wraps given you will like the look and ease of filter removed and you won't miss the mess of changing the the filter.

[rhino 2]

The job was easy just go slow and think about the next task. Relocation of the filter design was excellent,very easy to install. As Kevin said don't overtighten the clamps, make sure the oil lines from the oil filter adapter are secure with the tie wraps given you will like the look and ease of filter removed and you won't miss the mess of changing the the filter.

Joe ....Welcome to Trike-Talk.........

[RedOregon]

The other problem can occur if the hose clamp is Over tightened and cuts thru the hose. We've had a couple of Customers do that.

Guilty. I'm only outing myself here to once again re-emphasize the incredibly good support I get from D&K when needed. Just snug them hose clamps, no need to torque them!

[OLBLU]

Many thanks to those who replied. The reason I was concerned is I'm having the dealer install the adapter mount and hoses when he does the 1000 mile service. I didn't want him telling me he had to remove the exhaust pipes or something like that.

By the way Kevin , I got your braided stainless hose so I,m not worried about cutting the lines with the clamps.

Can I make a suggestion? Could you start putting pictures on your instruction sheets for dumb asses like me.

I had to keep running in and checking your website pictures when I was mounting the filter mount because I wanted the bolts to look like your installation.

As for your tour pack relocation kit you should have seen the fun I had when I misinterpreted the instructions and unbolted the tour pack from the trunk rack and left the rack attached with the 6 bolts.

Oh well I finally got it together correctly and the wife loves it. Thanks.

[OLBLU]

Well the damn dealer refused to finish installing the filter relocator, claiming it would void my powertrain warranty.

Couldn't give me a reason other than it wasn't a stock part. I'll just wait until the warranty expires.

[Capt.Bob]

Well the damn dealer refused to finish installing the filter relocator, claiming it would void my powertrain warranty.

Couldn,t give me a reason other than it wasn't a stock part. I'll just wait until the warranty expires.

OLBLU, The dealer did you a favor in not wanting to install the filter relocation system if your bike/trike is a 2017 or newer. The reason are twofold: 1. The EPA in the USA has enjoined with Harley in a Consent Decree to not mess with the induction/engine/exhaust systems if they do not meet EPA standards (although this covers USA owners) 2. Harley has had some difficulties with engine oil issues in the M8's and changing any of the lubrication system would void the warranty from Harley if you had any difficulties. They don't want to warranty systems that are not designed by their engineers.

[Teufelhunde]

Well the damn dealer refused to finish installing the filter relocator, claiming it would void my powertrain warranty.

Couldn,t give me a reason other than it wasn't a stock part. I'll just wait until the warranty expires.

He did you a favor. My bike is the one DK was talking about that the dealer didn't tighten the clamp. I am still dealing with getting the engine repaired after running out of oil. I have it at the dealers OTHER location now. The service manager there is extremely knowledgeable about Harley engines including the M8.

He said he had a concern that with the relocation and the design of the m8 pump, that in the long run, he felt that there would likely be some oil starvation problems due to the internal resistance to flow of the hoses and the pump not being able to push enough oil to get to all parts of the motor in sufficient quantity to do its job.

This would be kind of like when you have an electric tool that requires a lot of amperage, they tell you the maximum length of extension cable you can use, because any more and your voltage would begin to drop.

He also spoke to Harley asking if they had any cooling solutions they could offer and they, of course said no. The also told him that putting an oil cooler on would not automatically void warranty, but in the case of an engine issue, that non coverage due to the cooler was still on the table. Needless to say, mine is coming off and I will be removing the dipstick with the gauge because I don't want to know what the oil temp is. If it burns up, they can fix it.......

Once this whole ordeal with my bike is over (and I believe it will be soon), I will be posting the journey and the result.......

Lon

[OLBLU]

Thanks guys.Your explanations are something that makes sense.

[Jack Klarich]

Thanks guys.Your explanations are something that makes sense.

Tony, not to cause problems here but if you are in Canada you may check with Deely or your local dealers. The EPA decree may not affect y'all in Canada

[Freewheeling Ron]

He did you a favor. My bike is the one DK was talking about that the dealer didn't tighten the clamp. I am still dealing with getting the engine repaired after running out of oil. I have it at the dealers OTHER location now. The service manager there is extremely knowledgeable about Harley engines including the M8. He said he had a concern that with the relocation and the design of the m8 pump, that in the long run, he felt that there would likely be some oil starvation problems due to the internal resistance to flow of the hoses and the pump not being able to push enough oil to get to all parts of the motor in sufficient quantity to do its job. This would be kind of like when you have an electric tool that requires a lot of amperage, they tell you the maximum length of extension cable you can use, because any more and your voltage would begin to drop.

He also spoke to Harley asking if they had any cooling solutions they could offer and they, of course said no. The also told him that putting an oil cooler on would not automatically void warranty, but in the case of an engine issue, that non coverage due to the cooler was still on the table. Needless to say, mine is coming off and I will be removing the dipstick with the gauge because I don't want to know what the oil temp is. If it burns up, they can fix it.......

Once this whole ordeal with my bike is over (and I believe it will be soon), I will be posting the journey and the result.......

Lon

I have an oil relocation kit and a supplemental oil cooler on my 2015 Freewheeler. I have wondered about potential problems with proper oil flow. I had the relocation kit and oil cooler installed just before winter and haven't had the trike out of the garage yet this year. So my oil goes through 2 oil coolers, stock and accessory, and the long hoses to the oil filter relocation. I've only put about 10 miles on it since this was done.

Does anyone have any thoughts concerns on if I have too much stuff for the oil pump to properly move the oil for proper engine lubrication? It looks like the oil pump has a lot of lines and distance to get the oil circulating correctly. I'm considering removing the relocation kit and keeping the extra oil cooler.

[Teufelhunde]

I have an oil relocation kit and a supplemental oil cooler on my 2015 Freewheeler. I have wondered about potential problems with proper oil flow. I had the relocation kit and oil cooler installed just before winter and haven't had the trike out of the garage yet this year. So my oil goes through 2 oil coolers, stock and accessory, and the long hoses to the oil filter relocation. I've only put about 10 miles on it since this was done.

Does anyone have any thoughts concerns on if I have too much stuff for the oil pump to properly move the oil for proper engine lubrication?

Yours is a twin cam, and I have never heard of issues with them and their oil pumps....and as far as potential leaks, your oil filter is located on the way back to the pan, so your oil light would come on at the moment your pump didn't see any oil and the engine would have still been getting oil up to that point, so if you hit the kill switch in a reasonable time, should suffer no damage....

Edit: There are thousands of twin cams running oil coolers or coolers/relocations and I have not heard or problems, if there were issues it is likely they would be common knowledge by now.

YMMV

Lon

[OLBLU]

Okay Kevin, hope you're following this. I'm willing to wait until my extended warranty is up in 2020 to finish installing this kit, which shows how much I like it. But in the meantime have you heard of any Milwaukee 8 owners ( who haven't had the hoses come off ) reporting any problems with this kit. I'm not an engineer , but I don't see how adding a few feet of hose length will starve the engine for oil or cause the pump to overwork.

Thank you.

[Capt.Bob]

Okay Kevin, hope you're following this. I'm willing to wait until my extended warranty is up in 2020 to finish installing this kit, which shows how much I like it. But in the meantime have you heard of any Milwaukee 8 owners ( who haven't had the hoses come off ) reporting any problems with this kit. I'm not an engineer , but I don't see how adding a few feet of hose length will starve the engine for oil or cause the pump to overwork.

Thank you.

OLBLU, I did have a sales manager in the past 4 months of a large and active Harley dealership advise me that even the 2018 M8's seem to have inadequate oil pumps to support their factory-approved Stage 3/4 upgrades and reportedly the 2018 oil pumps have a different part number than the 2017's. Apparently, they have had a couple of problem bikes/trikes that have seemed to be oil pump related and that is why he was quietly mentioning his concerns that the M8 oil pumps may need to be beefed up in the future. Of course, he is not an engineer so one has to take this "insight" with a grain of salt. Kevin has extensive experience with the TC103's but may not have much data on the M8 situation as it affects his remote oil cooler mods? I suspect his M8 installed base is rather limited but have been wrong as often as I am right.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I have the oil filter relocation kit on my M8 with over 10,000 miles on it and so far there have been zero issues.My dealer has done warranty work on my trike and never questioned the relocation kit.

[Teufelhunde]

I have the oil filter relocation kit on my M8 with over 10,000 miles on it and so far there have been zero issues.My dealer has done warranty work on my trike and never questioned the relocation kit.

Was the warranty work engine work or something else?

Lon

[Freewheeling Ron]

I have the oil filter relocation kit on my M8 with over 10,000 miles on it and so far there have been zero issues.My dealer has done warranty work on my trike and never questioned the relocation kit.

Good dealer. Taking care of customers. If some M8's have a weak oil pump problem, don't blame it on mods designed to improve things and honor the warranty as opposed to red flagging everything. Not that your warranty work issues had anything to do with oiling, but they didn't red flag you.

[OLBLU]

Thanks Mykneesbehurtin .

Hopefully by the time 2020 arrives we'll having enough information to reach a conclusion.