changing oil on my bike myself for first time - any pointers?

[knrhodes]

decided to do it myself vs paying someone else - any pointers??

[Sledge Hammer]

I highly recommend a good 3/8" torque wrench for both the drain plug and the filter. While I never use one for working on my cars with their steel oil pans and oil filter studs, there is just too much chance for stripping out threads on aluminum when it comes to tightening things down. Torque on the drain plug is specified at 25 lbs∙ft.

K&N filters have a nut on the endcap of the filter which allows the use of standard sockets for tightening them to the specified torque (7 lbs∙ft). Personally, I have been using Honda filters but will probably run with K&N next oil change.

The bike drains very well on its sidestand after being brought up to temperature and parked for about an hour. Nothing is still hot enough to give you second-degree burns but the oil drains well both from the drain plug and from the filter opening. Mine takes exactly 3 qts, 10oz (manual calls for 3.3 qts, or 3 qts, 9.6 oz) when I drain it hot when it is parked on level ground.

[Sledge Hammer]

Forgot to mention oil. They aren't kidding when they say not to use energy-conserving oil. The friction modifiers can cause the clutch to slip. The topic of oil comes up regularly in this forum, so you might want to check threads to see what people in your geographic area are using. There's a good chance that 10W-40 might run a little thin at peak summertime temperatures in TX. I use Honda GN4 in 10W-40, but it's a rare thing for the summer temps in Atlanta to get past 103°F (the humidity is another story entirely!). Lots of knowledgable people in this group are using other brands and weights in oil, though, including Valvoline 4-stroke oil, Shell Rotella, various synthetics, etc.

May not be telling you anything you don't already know, but that is what comes to mind.

[Magnum Magna]

I could not find a good filter removing tool so I used very large pliers.

[BA]

I use one of the strap wrenches on my oil filter, and I use the longer Bosch 3323 car filter on my 3rd generation.

[Sledge Hammer]

I could not find a good filter removing tool so I used very large pliers.

Are you using Honda filters, Robert?  That's what I have been using, and I am ready to switch brands. I had to buy two different wrench adapters because they changed the number and size of the flats on the filter so the adapter that fit the first couple of oil changes didn't fit thereafter. They must have switched suppliers again, because I could barely get one of the adapters on the filter when I changed it last week and thought I would tear it up getting it off. I hope they control the other parameters of the filter better than they do the external features. Leave it to Honda to complicate something as basic as changing filters.

[Magnum Magna]

I use: Purolator Pure One PL14612, about $6. or Mobil M1-108, about $12.

About 2.5 inches long.

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/FilterXRef.html

[hootmon]

never had the issue, but make sure the rubber gasket comes off with the old filter and clean the mating surface on the bike for the rubber gasket on the new filter. Put a little oil on the new filters rubber gasket before mounting.
Again, maybe something you knew.. but just covering the bases.

[lragan]

I buy the K&N filters.  They install and remove gracefully, and I presume they filter the oil OK.  It looks clean, anyway...

[hootmon]

I buy the K&N filters.  They install and remove gracefully, and I presume they filter the oil OK.  It looks clean, anyway...

I personally use Budweiser Select Oil filters -




Not really.. I use Amsoil 20w-50 motorcycle oil and I use their filters.. I almost used the Mobil1 filter for the Mazda Miata, but went with the Amsoil filter again.

[Sledge Hammer]

I buy the K&N filters.  They install and remove gracefully, and I presume they filter the oil OK.  It looks clean, anyway...

I personally use Budweiser Select Oil filters -

Not really.. I use Amsoil 20w-50 motorcycle oil and I use their filters.. I almost used the Mobil1 filter for the Mazda Miata, but went with the Amsoil filter again.

Hmmmm, that looks like it violates the open container laws, Hoot...

[hootmon]

I personally use Budweiser Select Oil filters -

Not really.. I use Amsoil 20w-50 motorcycle oil and I use their filters.. I almost used the Mobil1 filter for the Mazda Miata, but went with the Amsoil filter again.

***********
Hmmmm, that looks like it violates the open container laws, Hoot...

Technically the top of the can is still sealed.. It is also out of the reach of the driver, so I think I'm good..

[Curtis_Valk]

I personally use Budweiser Select Oil filters -

Naw ......go chrome baby, chrome!! (front of engine below horn in pic)


These are shock covers for Harley from J&P cycle.  A little more expensive than your beer can but lots cheaper than the aftermarket fileter covers .........and you buy by the pair!!

http://www.jpcycles.com/Search/ProductDetail?sku=54-0154&N=0&Ne=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=shock%20cover&Ns=&results=10&No=

Curtis

[hootmon]

Naw ......go chrome baby, chrome!! (front of engine below horn in pic)
Curtis

1 - Chrome won't get you home...
2 - This idea originated with me getting a Harley Davidson beer can, but I just couldn't get myself to by any HD product..

If I had a Valk, I might go the extra expense, but on my wife's Sabre, the filter is hidden, so what would I do with the second Chrome cover??

[Curtis_Valk]

..........so what would I do with the second Chrome cover??

Buy another Magna, of course! (or the aforementioned Valk, I think you answered your own question) 

Curtis