How hard can it be to do an oil change?

**taff1954** · 6th June 2009, 20:19

K's are getting up on the old GPz, got an hour to spare Saturday afternoon, got oil, got a filter. Last oil change was done in the shop, but I've been changing oil in cars, bikes, all sorts for 30 odd years. Drop the lower fairing, unscrew the oil plug and filter housing, reverse the process, new oil. No sweat. Yeah right. Dropped the fairing. Bugger #1. Aftermarket 4 into 1 blocks access to plug and filter. OK, drop the exhaust, spare gaskets hanging on the wall. Bugger #2. Can't drop the exhaust without removing the oil cooler and radiator. Drain the cooling system, remove cooler, remove radiator, unbolt headers. Bugger#3. Snapped a stud. Find drill, bits, easy-outs, taps. At least I've got a spare set of studs from a donor engine I picked up last year. Bugger #4. No bit the right size. Into the cage, over to sons place, borrow his drill set (revenge at last!!)

Four and a half hours, 2 bruised knuckes, and a hell of a lot of foul language, after I put the bike on the stand, I hit the starter again.

On the plus side, I've got fresh oil, a new filter, new coolant, and the rattle in the fairing has gone - now I've found the 19mm socket that was bouncing around in front of the coolant reservoir.

Sod it, it can go to the shop next time.

**Taz** · 6th June 2009, 20:26

Ah but next time you'll be able to do it quicker......

**taff1954** · 6th June 2009, 20:29

Way quicker, 6 minute ride to the shop, 3 minute walk from there to a bar........ Pick it up the next day.

**Taz** · 6th June 2009, 20:35

But surely you feel a sense of achievement?

**CookMySock** · 6th June 2009, 20:38

none of my bikes are that difficult. What a fucken mission...

Steve

**taff1954** · 6th June 2009, 20:43

Might have been a mission, but worth it, the old beastie runs real well, and fits me, being the short-arse that I am.......

**YellowDog** · 6th June 2009, 20:46

Great story.

I was chatting to a chap on the Tiger forum whom over tightened the sump plug and managed to crack/split the block.

He blames the torque wrench.

Ruined his weekend.

You got there in the end, plus resolved other mysteries.

Well done!

**Max Preload** · 6th June 2009, 20:49

Originally Posted by taff1954

Way quicker, 6 minute ride to the shop, 3 minute walk from there to a bar........ Pick it up the next day.

If you're staying in a bar overnight, you need to call your sponsor & go to a meeting.

**quickbuck** · 6th June 2009, 21:36

Originally Posted by YellowDog

Great story.

I was chatting to a chap on the Tiger forum whom over tightened the sump plug and managed to crack/split the block.

He blames the torque wrench.

Ruined his weekend.

Hmmm,
poor workman always blames his tools..... (as I think you realise)
What was wrong with the torque wrench?

Was it a break-back that had been left wound up for months?
His Fault.

Was it a normal wrench that he set to the wrong torque?
His fault.

Did he forget to reset the pin?

Did he have it set to lefty loosy?
You get the idea....

Should of realised it was tight when he was yanking pretty hard on the wrench....

**Taz** · 6th June 2009, 22:04

Never used a torque wrench for a sump plug.....

**AllanB** · 6th June 2009, 22:48

Man what a pain!

I've seen quite a few aftermarket pipes designed like that - poor design IMO - you should easily be able to get to the sump plug.

I'd be inclined to get some pipe & a few bends and alter the bastard. It will probably cost the same as the 3 hours the shop will spend pissing around on your next oil change!

**Muppet** · 6th June 2009, 22:48

Originally Posted by taff1954

Four and a half hours, 2 bruised knuckes, and a hell of a lot of foul language, after I put the bike on the stand, I hit the starter again.

Sod it, it can go to the shop next time.

Why I'm not a mechanic.

**cowpatz** · 6th June 2009, 22:57

If it was mine it would be on Trade me before the next oil change.

**ducatilover** · 6th June 2009, 23:26

Shit I have to reach all the way under the bike and put a spanner on the sump plug, fuck it's hard work...then I have to hold a funnel and bottle of oil to get it back in. Takes about 3 whole seconds from start to finish [then I do my fly up and do an oil change]