Oil change blues .... :(

[The Stigenator]

Well I finally got it changed on my suzuki gs500.. but not to my statisfaction.. At first I couldnt get it on the center stand.. 🙁 Finally after trying and trying a neighbour stopped by and gave me a hand to get up on teh center stand (with minimum fuel it was still quite heavy).

THen came taking off the "bolts". I got the underneath one quite easily... it wasnt too bad. The oil filter cover was a differnet story.

I managed to get the bottom bolt off, and then I tried the right one (when facing teh filter cover) and it wouldnt give way. I got the left one off but the right one wouldnt get off. I tried a C spanner and Socket wrench but that didnt work. I ended stripping it..

So I finally gave up and drained the oil out of the engine and just filled her up with 3Qt of goodness. Since i anticipate only riding 1000-1500 miles during the winter I think the oil filter would do the job until then (I had 2000 miles before this oil change with teh old filter so it should be good for 3K).

SO next time for the oil change I will take it to a dealer and have them put some better bolts in there. Something that I can get it out with. Oh yeah I tried a "gator grip".. not enough room to get it in.

Moral of the story: Next time pay that 60 bucks and have them do it for you rather than saving 50 bucks in labor.. I think I spent close to 2 hrs to do this oil change with no filter change.

I am off for a ride.. let you know how it feels when I get back.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: The_good_guyAt first I couldnt get it on the center stand.. 🙁 Finally after trying and trying a neighbour stopped by and gave me a hand to get up on teh center stand (with minimum fuel it was still quite heavy).

A 500? What do you weigh, 98 lbs?
🙂

 

[Ladies Man]

make sure you didn't add to much oil

 

[SWirth86]

Nice Bike🙂

 

[Scarpozzi]

At least you got it done.... 🙂 That's what counts. It's better to do it yourself than to pay a bike shop....😉

 

[HappyPuppy]

Next time you can't get a bolt loose (before rounding the head off) try whacking it with a hammer. If you can't get to it with a hammer then use a punch and hammer. It is amazing what a few good jolts to the head of the bolt can do to break it loose.

Edit: When you have the dealer do your next oil change, tell them to replace all of the bolts with grade 8 bolts. You won't round off the heads of those very easily.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

How'd you strip the bolt?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Getting a bike on a center stand shouldn't be that hard at all. The bike pretty much rocks itself right up on the center stand for me. The trick is that you have to be standing on the center stand while lifting at the back of the bike. The little "feet" on the center stand will act as fulcrums and the bike just kind of pops right up.

ZV

 

[The Stigenator]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Getting a bike on a center stand shouldn't be that hard at all. The bike pretty much rocks itself right up on the center stand for me. The trick is that you have to be standing on the center stand while lifting at the back of the bike. The little "feet" on the center stand will act as fulcrums and the bike just kind of pops right up.

ZV

i wish it was that easy.. I tried it.. I used to be able to put the bikes in India on the center stand. Somehow I cant put this one. It seems when the bike is on teh center stand this bike leans to teh front (meaning front tyre touches teh ground).. on the bikes in India they rear tyres touched the ground.. which would mean why it was easier to do the center stand on those.

As for stripping the bolts.. let me just say that there is not enough clearance and even so if you use a socket driver from the beginning I think it was put on tooo tight. It wouldnt budge (I got the others loose). I tried penetrating stuff but that didnt help too.

Ladies Man: The oil level is just above F.. but it could be that because I didnt take the oil filter out and it holds about .2 quarts.. and technically I need 3.1 qt I put in 3 qt (from 3 bottles) so right now I am at 3.2 qt or so.

Oh well no biggie.. the bike runs fine.. the second gear shift from first is much sharper than what I got used to before.. it feels much more powerful now.. I was doing 60 (in a 25) before even I knew it.

 

[Zenmervolt]

wish it was that easy.. I tried it.. I used to be able to put the bikes in India on the center stand. Somehow I cant put this one. It seems when the bike is on teh center stand this bike leans to teh front (meaning front tyre touches teh ground).. on the bikes in India they rear tyres touched the ground.. which would mean why it was easier to do the center stand on those.

Hmmm, interesting. I've never seen a bike that didn't rest on the front tire when on the center stand. Maybe it's just easier for my bike because I've got that luggage rack on the back of it and I can grab onto that.

ZV