oil change (do i need...)
 

Hey, first off, apologies for the title, I know this has been covered many many times before, but i still (who would've thought it) have a question...

Can you do an oil change (easily) without a paddock stand?

I was almost tempted to take it to the local garage to do it, but they want £70(!!!), so i'm determined to do it myself.

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

yes

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

short and sweet, cheers.

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

im 5ft4

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

And that's just Hovis.


*edit* ********.....beaten to it!

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

How did you just write '********'?

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

I just said it?!!!

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

like this .......********?

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

look - you can't say

t****
w****
****
f****
****
or
****

but you can say

********!

Sommat isn't right here......

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Anyway, I ws trying to get a python thing going on but it died a death!

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

strangely though, when you get emailed about new posts, some of the obscenities are blanked, and some others (tw** especially caught my eye) aren't.

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Its a American censor I believe so only words that are naughty over the pond get removed.Hence you can write wank which means nothing to Americans.

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

anyway, back to motorcycles - i tried to do my first oil change (at 8000 miles) and neither I or my neighbour (a qualified car mechanic) could undo the sump bolt. The dealer did the 4k service, but i thought the bolt should only be about 20Nm?

I have tried a 14mm spanner and a set of mole grips, and it is near impossible to undo (am going to try with a full socket set tomorrow), or should i just take it back to the dealer? The only thing is i've already bought the oil.

Thoughts?

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

mole grips will butcher the nut,

it should not be that tight?

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

That's no basis for a system of censorship :queen:

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

It really is /that/ tight. I take it that's not normal....

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Yeah it is prob American censorship cuz there tw@ means something like twit hear and the meaning of tw@ here over there is with an "o" I know, cuz I'm a ham shank, er'um I mean Yank ;)

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Make sure you're turning it the correct way :)

If they've overtightened it, then take it back to them and complain, if they get it undone, the oil comes out, then ask how are you going to ride it back with no oil in it. = free oil change (possibly :) ).

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

As long as you have a beautiful assistant or just careful yourself, changing oil without a paddock stand is no problem.

Just pop the filter off and sump bolt whilst your assistant sits on the bike same with the top-up (to get the level correct the bike needs to be upright).

If you are assistant-less, then you can daring on the sidestand and then hold it upright yourself for the last few bits ... checking the level needs abit of care that the bike doesn't start to topple toward you ;)

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Get the dealer to sort the sump bolt if it's been overtightened.First ensure that you are undoing the correct bolt,but if you are,then bear in mind that if you strip the threads in the crankcase you may need a total engine out/strip to fix it.

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Im amazed at the intelligence shown by the SV site

A valid thread about changing oil and difficulty removing or shearing the sump bolt.

and then when it all ends in tears the censor understands and allows you to say ********:p

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

don't forget
t***
w****
and
f****

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Although the bolt is not done up that tight I reckon a rachet or breaker bar with the correct socket is what you need. Either buy a reasonable socket set with ther money you saved by doing it yourself or borrow the tools from your neighbour.

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

We couldnt undo the sump bolt on Liz's SV, with my cr*ppy tools.

We went to the local bike shop and bought a decent socket which then after a bit of grunting I got the bolt undo, but it did take a bit of shifting to do so.

Dont mess about with cheap poor quality tools, shell out a bit more and get something of a reasonable standard, the halford pro stuff is pretty good and its not that expensive.

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

Also, something to be aware of when undoing the sump plug, if it's really tight:

1) Are you definately turning it the right way? Sounds silly, but as it's often done "upside down" it's very easy to be turning it the wrong way unless you concentrate hard/think about it. I find that whenever I'm working on things with the back facing towards me, I like to go round the other side (even if this means lying on the floor) to make sure I'm doing it the right way. Alternately, set you ratchet on a bolt you can see the "right way", then there's no danger you'll be turning it the wrong way when upside down.
2. Provided you're doing it the right way, it shouldn't be that tight. If it is, you (or whoever last did it) probably did it up "tight as fook" last time. It should only be 21N/m on a pointy (IIRC).

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

it's definitely the right bolt (picture in haynes is clear), and i'm definitely turning it the right way (have re-checked dozens of times, and it's been going round in my head all night).

I'm off to halfords after work to pick up a decent socket set (i have 3 small sockets sets, all of which go up to 13mm, fat lot of good that is for a 14mm bolt!!)

In other news, i failed to beat the system - I thought i should be able to import helibars from the US cheaper than the UK distributor, but after $95 shipping, £30 duty and £11 "brokerage fee" from UPS, it worked out £4 more :-( (£221 vs £217 from bykebits)

Re: oil change (do i need...)
 

just to close the thread, i bought a socket set (£25 halfords) and the 14mm socket (with a hell of a lot of effort) did the job.

Job done.

Thanks for all your help.

Rich