Harley-Davidson Electra Glide FLH Shovelhead — Example photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Have this bike? Send a photo or the manual's service chart

Harley-Davidson · Harley-Davidson Shovelhead big twin (1966-1984)

Electra Glide FLH Shovelhead

Library entry covers 1970-1984

16 factory 54 guideline

Published source

Harley-Davidson 1970 Owner's Manual, Electra-Glide

Factory owner's handbook. Covers 1970.

Open the source

70 items for a 1972 model, grouped by interval the way a factory chart is laid out.

How this bike is built (what the schedule is based on)

Engine cycle: Four-stroke
Engine lubrication: Dry sump (separate oil tank)
Oil filtration: Replaceable cartridge or spin-on filter
Valve gear: Hydraulic lifters (no routine clearance adjustment)
Ignition: Battery and coil with contact points
Charging: Alternator / stator with rectifier
Battery: Wet cell (flooded lead-acid, needs topping up)
Fuel system: Single carburetor
Cooling: Air / oil cooled
Primary drive: Chain in oil-bath case with its own oil
Gearbox oil: Separate gearbox oil
Clutch control: Hand lever, cable
Final drive: Chain
Front suspension: Telescopic fork
Rear suspension: Swingarm, twin shocks
Front brake: Disc, hydraulic
Rear brake: Disc, hydraulic
Wheels: Spoked, tubed
Sidecar: No sidecar

Maintenance schedule

1972 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide FLH Shovelhead

On the road: every 200 mi

1 item

Check engine oil level

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Each fuel stop on old machines. Dry sump: check the tank hot, engine idling or just stopped, per your manual.

On the road: every 300 mi

3 items

Check lights, horn, brake light switches

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Check tire pressures

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline
Lubricate drive chain

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Lube warm, ideally at the end of the riding day so it soaks in overnight. Sooner after rain.

On the road: every 500 mi

1 item

Walk-around: check nuts and bolts for vibration loosening

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Old machines shake things loose: exhaust nuts, mudguard stays, footrests, tank mounts, battery strap.

On the road: every 1,000 mi

2 items

Check chain slack and rear wheel alignment

Pre-ride / on the road

Factory

Manual: Inspect rear chain adjustment. Factory: rear chain adjustment every 1000 mi
Check road kit: plugs, points file, master link, tube patches, wire, tape

Pre-ride / on the road

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi or 1 month

1 item

Check battery electrolyte, top up with distilled water

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Wet-cell batteries on old machines need regular topping up, more in hot weather.

Every 1,000 mi or 6 months

1 item

Inspect tire tread, sidewalls and date codes

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 1,000 mi

3 items

Check master cylinder fluid level

Engine

Factory

Factory: every 1000 mi (hydraulic brake)
Clean / inspect air filter

Fuel and air

Factory

Manual: Wash air cleaner mesh, re-oil. Factory: at least every 1000 mi, oftener in dust
Clean drive chain thoroughly (remove and soak, re-lube)

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Brush and lubricate rear chain. Factory: every 1000 mi if chain oiler not used

Every 1,500 mi or 12 months

1 item

Adjust clutch free play, lubricate cable and lever pivot

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 2,000 mi or 12 months

2 items

Inspect, clean and gap spark plugs

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate control cables and lever pivots

Controls and cables

Guideline

Every 2,000 mi

6 items

Change engine oil

Engine

Factory

Factory: after first 500 and 1000 mi, then about every 2000 mi
Clean oil strainers / mesh screens

Engine

Factory

Manual: Wash oil filter element. Factory: wash element in gasoline/solvent at least every 2000 mi
Clean and gap contact breaker points, oil cam felt

Ignition and electrics

Factory

Manual: Check circuit breaker points gap and contacts. Factory: at 500 and 1000, then every 2000 mi
Check / adjust primary chain

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Inspect front chain adjustment. Factory: front chain and oiler every 2000 mi
Check chain guard, chain oiler (if fitted), rear chain case

Final drive

Factory

Manual: Inspect rear chain oiler. Factory: every 2000 mi
Grease swingarm pivot

Rear suspension and frame

Factory

Manual: Grease rear fork pivot fitting. Factory: one stroke of grease gun every 2000 mi

Every 3,000 mi or 12 months

14 items

Check engine mounting bolts and plates

Engine

Guideline
Check throttle cable(s) free play and return

Fuel and air

Guideline
Clean fuel tap filter / sediment bowl

Fuel and air

Guideline
Check / set ignition timing

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Adjust clutch pushrod / clutch adjuster

Primary and gearbox

Guideline
Inspect chain and sprockets for wear (measure stretch)

Final drive

Guideline
Check steering damper (friction or hydraulic)

Front end

Guideline
Check steering head bearing adjustment

Front end

Guideline
Inspect fork seals, stanchions and fork boots

Front end

Guideline
Check footrests, pegs, rear brake and gear lever pivots

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Grease and check center / side stand and springs

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Check brake pads and discs

Brakes

Guideline
Check spoke tension and wheel true

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Check wheel bearings for play

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi or 12 months

1 item

Change primary chaincase oil

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Check cylinder head bolt torque

Engine

Guideline

Air-cooled iron and alloy engines can lose head bolt tension; follow your manual's sequence and whether it is done hot or cold.
Flush oil tank and clean tank screen

Engine

Guideline

Every 5,000 mi

4 items

Replace oil filter

Engine

Factory

Manual: Renew oil filter element. Factory: renew element every 5000 mi
Replace spark plugs

Engine

Factory

Manual: Install new spark plugs. Factory: new plugs every 5000 mi
Change gearbox oil

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Drain and refill transmission. Factory: after first 500 mi, then seasonally or every 5000 mi
Lubricate speedometer / tachometer cables, check drive

Controls and cables

Factory

Manual: Grease throttle spiral and speedo/tach cables. Factory: every 5000 mi

Every 6,000 mi or 12 months

4 items

Clean carburetor float bowl(s), check float level and jets

Fuel and air

Guideline

Ethanol fuel varnishes old carbs quickly in storage.
Check charging voltage and regulator / cut-out

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Check swingarm bushes for play

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Inspect rear shocks for leaks and damping

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 6,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Check engine breather and oil return

Engine

Guideline
Lubricate and check automatic advance unit

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 10,000 mi or 2 years

2 items

Compression test (or leak-down)

Engine

Guideline
Change fork oil

Front end

Guideline

Some early telescopic forks are grease filled or use very small oil quantities. Check your manual.

Every 10,000 mi

1 item

Replace chain and sprockets (wear based)

Final drive

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 2 years

1 item

Replace air filter element

Fuel and air

Guideline

Every 12,000 mi or 3 years

1 item

Replace points and condenser

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 15,000 mi or 5 years

1 item

Inspect clutch plates and springs

Primary and gearbox

Guideline

Every 20,000 mi or 4 years

1 item

Repack / replace wheel bearings

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Cup-and-cone and taper roller hubs need periodic repacking and adjustment.

Every 25,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Replace swingarm bushes / bearings

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline

Every 30,000 mi or 6 years

1 item

Rebuild forks: seals, bushes, springs

Front end

Guideline

Every 50,000 mi

1 item

Repack / replace steering head bearings

Front end

Factory

Manual: Pack steering head bearings. Factory: fresh grease at 50,000 mi

Every 1 month

1 item

Check gearbox oil level

Primary and gearbox

Factory

Manual: Check transmission oil level. Factory: monthly; scan text reads 'or every 10 miles' (likely garbled)

Every 6 months

1 item

Clean battery terminals, check charge and strap

Ignition and electrics

Guideline

Every 12 months

1 item

Check speedometer / odometer against a known distance

Controls and cables

Guideline

Old speedos drift with tire size and drive wear. Use phone GPS over a measured 10 miles / km.

Every 2 years

4 items

Inspect fuel tank for rust, sealer failure, leaks

Fuel and air

Guideline
Inspect wiring, bullet connectors and ground points

Ignition and electrics

Guideline
Inspect frame, welds and lugs for cracks

Rear suspension and frame

Guideline
Replace brake fluid

Brakes

Guideline

Every 4 years

3 items

Replace fuel lines

Fuel and air

Guideline

Old rubber and modern ethanol fuel do not mix well.
Inspect brake hoses; replace old rubber

Brakes

Guideline
Rebuild calipers and master cylinders (seals)

Brakes

Guideline

Every 6 years

2 items

Replace inner tubes and rim tape with tires

Wheels and tires

Guideline
Replace tires on age (regardless of tread)

Wheels and tires

Guideline

Guideline lines: Intervals here are general guidelines for the machine's era and layout, compiled for this app. They are not factory manual figures. Check your workshop manual, and edit any interval in the bike's Schedule tab.