can anyone help me with info on how to perform an oil change on a 2001 softail heritage?

Do you have a manual? If not I can send you the relevant pages of the manual

Change engine oil and filter:

At the first scheduled service interval.

At every 5000 mile (8000 km) service interval thereafter.

When storing or removing the motorcycle for the season.
NOTE

If the motorcycle is ridden hard, under dusty conditions,
or in cold weather, the oil and filter should be changed
more often.

All Softails are shipped from the factory with SAE 20W50
Harley-Davidson 360 Motor Oil.

All Softails come equipped from the factory with a premium
10 micron synthetic media oil filter, Part No.
63798-99 (Chrome) or 63731-99 (Black). These are the
only recommended replacement filters.
1. Ride motorcycle until engine is warmed up to normal
operating temperature.
2. See Figure 1-1. Remove the oil filler plug/dipstick by pulling
steadily while moving plug back and forth.
3. See Figure 1-3. Remove the engine oil drain plug with Oring
(2). Allow oil to drain into a suitable container.
CAUTION
See Figure 1-4. Use OIL FILTER WRENCH (Part No. HD-
44067) for filter removal. This tool can prevent damage to
crankshaft position sensor and/or sensor cable.
4. Remove the oil filter using the OIL FILTER WRENCH.
Clean the oil filter mount flange of any old gasket material.
5. See Figure 1-5. Lube the gasket on
new
oil filter with
engine oil and install
new
filter. Hand tighten oil filter 1/2
to 3/4 turn after gasket contacts filter mounting surface.
6. See Figure 1-3. Install oil tank drain plug.
a. Inspect O-ring for tears or damage. Replace if
required. Wipe any foreign material from plug.
b. Install O-ring and drain plug. Tighten to 14-21 ft-lbs
(19.0-28.5 Nm).
7. See Figure 1-1. Fill oil tank with no more than 3.5 quarts
(3.3 liters) of oil. Use the proper grade of oil for the lowest
temperature expected before next oil change. See
Table 1-1.
8. Start engine and carefully check for oil leaks around
drain plug and oil filter.
9. Check engine oil level.
PART NO. SPECIALTY TOOL
HD-44067 Oil filter wrench
Figure 1-3. Oil Tank Drain Plug
Figure 1-4. Oil Filter Wrench (Part No. HD-44067)
Figure 1-5. Lubing New Oil Filter
s0267x3x
1. Frame connection for oil tank drain hose
2. Oil tank drain plug and O-ring
1
2
hd44067
d0384x1x

 no i dont have a manual as i have only recently brought the bike second hand and the lad didnt have the book. any info of assistance would be much appreciated as i am not to familar with harleys .

That should answer your questions. The drain plug is at the right hand side of the frame. 9/16" socket to remove. Check the O'ring for damage. Replace then change the filter. Get yourself some Brake Clean for when you remove the filter as oil goes everywhere. There are other methods that can be done to remove the old oil out of the system but in the end you are not gaining anything.

 AJ56,

thanks heaps for the info provided,i have another question for you. i cant find where or how to drain the oil from the oil tank it self. can you help, i feel a bit stupid about it but as i stated iam not too familiar with harleys yet

Look at the right hand side of the bike where the swing arm meets the main frame. Under there you will see a hole in the frame with a bolt head with an allen key fitting there. That is the drain plug. If you look at the first picture I posted it shows where the drain plug is. You have to get down and look under the bike.

 AJ56, you are a life saver. i have tried extensively to get that info. thank you very much for you fast and accurate info. i have a tip for ya when removing your oil filter. if you get a plastic bag in behind the filter first, and to the best of your ability, make like a funnel with the bag down over the regulator into a container,you can hopefully reduce the amount of spilt oil. hope this helps and thanks again.

http://www.dudeworld.com.au/HOWTO.ENGINE.HTML

OZ it was great, Diane went better that both of us thought. I have to get off my arse and post some pics. Trip home was worse as the roads from Mt Gambier through the Coorong are rough as guts. I would like to do it again without the trailer and missus as the roads in Tas as perfect for bikes.

+1 for AJ 56 post on how to change engine oil. This is a helpful site to explain how to change your engine oil & filter for the inexperienced. Only thing it doesnt show is draining oil from the oil tank. Thanks for the post. Mick