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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Changed the oil today /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1134353989 Message started by Steve530 on 12/11/05 at 18:19:49 |
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Title: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/11/05 at 18:19:49 I thought y'all might enjoy hearing about my first Savage DIY maintenance adventure. I got the Savage Thursday. I didn't ask the previous owner about the what maintenance it needed. So I figured it was time to do the oil change anyway. That never hurts. I don't have a manual yet, so I reviewed Greg_650's excellent thread on changing the oil. I went down to the dealer yesterday and bought a filter, both "O" rings and 3 quarts of oil. I gather the the 17mm wrench, the 5mm allen wrench. I warmed the engine up for about 5 minutes, shut it down and put a pan under it. I got on the ground and started looking for the drain plug. Right off the bat I burned my finger on the hot exhaust. Then I found the 17mm plug, opened it up and about 2 ounces of oil came out. I couldn't imagine how the engine could possibly run with that little oil. The plug was well above the bottom of the crankcase, but oil definitely came out of there. I let it drain while I replaced the oil filter with no problem. Put the drain plug in and added a quart of oil. When I checked the level on the sight glass, it was over full. Hmm, that doesn't seem right. So I get on my back and look at the crankcase again. Then I found the real drain plug. So I drained about 3 quarts of oil, replaced the plug and filled it up. All was good. So i wasted a quart of oil and burned my finger. I guess this makes me an official shade tree motocycle mechanic. :) |
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Title: Re: Chaned the oil today Post by jimbrough on 12/11/05 at 18:30:29 I changed mine for the first time this summer...thought it would help to lay it on its side - my son came out - looked at me and the bike and the pool of oil soaking into the gravel-shook his head and jumped in his jeep. He had strong suspicions i was wacko before and now they are definitely confirmed! Didn't burn myself but got some real fine scraped knuckles every time the wrench slipped off the bolt! Cheers! |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/11/05 at 18:42:18 Layed it over to change oil? i never thought of that. :). Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by SavageDude on 12/11/05 at 19:42:23 Steve530 wrote:
At least this mistake will never happen again. ;) |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Max_Morley on 12/11/05 at 20:09:15 If you are doing the oil change on the sidestand it helps to stand the bike up straight and rock it back and forth over center to get all the oil out. Also the capacity on the engine is more correct than the manuals. Max |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/11/05 at 20:35:50 SavageDude wrote:
Let's hope so. :) |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by kikuchiyo on 12/12/05 at 00:11:20 First oil change! I guess I held the bike not exactly at the 90 degrees angle because after 2.3 quarts the oil still would not show through the oil window. I played with the angle and shortly realized that I had to drain half a quart. I decided to drain excess oil slowly but it was windy that day and during one powerful gust my face got splashed with draining oil. In addition at that very moment the plug escaped my oily fingers and fell into the bucket. By the time I recovered the plug almost all the oil was gone. I had to clean up and drive to the store for another quarts. This time I did everything right and even considered the direction and speed of the wind. The whole debacle took me almost two hours. At the end it got dark and I ended my first oil change with the balancing act of holding the bike in one hand and flashlight in the other while looking for the oil level. Good memories! |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by bentwheel on 12/12/05 at 09:38:03 Steve530 wrote:
Atta boy Steve. Now you enjoy that warm fuzzy feeling you get knowing you did the job yourself, with the added benefit of saving money by not taking it to the stealership and knowing the job is done right. |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Panther on 12/12/05 at 09:58:46 I lightly burned my neck, with the exhaust, looking under the bike for the plug. Everyone thought it was a hicki ::) |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Digger on 12/12/05 at 11:46:04 SavageDude wrote:
That may be true, but rest assured, you'll find some others! |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Ed_L. on 12/12/05 at 15:36:00 Here's a tip that works on my '02, place the kickstand on a piece of 2x4 (1 1/2 inch high) and fill the crankcase till you just see the oil at the bottom of the sight window. When you rock the bike up to level the oil should be close to the middle of the glass. |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by BS37066 on 12/12/05 at 15:44:04 I put two 2x4's under my side stand (stacked flat, height about 3.5") and check the level with a level laid across the starter. Just a slight tweak of the handlebar generally puts the bike perfectly level. I would use one 2x4 tall, but I like the stability of using two flat. Besides, it's easy to find scrap 2x4's. YMMV |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by lancer on 12/12/05 at 17:43:20 Ya'll doin good...real good. Give yourself a hand......... |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by SavageDude on 12/12/05 at 18:42:44 Humm! Whenever I open the drain plug, at least 2 qts of it come out. This shady mechanic must be lucky then ;D |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 07:55:59 Max_Morley wrote:
Thanks, Max. I'll try that next time. Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:00:53 kikuchiyo wrote:
Glas I'm not the only one. |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:06:44 bentwheel wrote:
Yea, this bike is a '97, so it's way out of warranty. That's the only reason I'd ever take one to a dealer. So it won't be seeing the inside of the dealer shop if I can help it. Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:07:39 Panther wrote:
Note to self: Wear a shirt with a collar when changing oil. :) |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:09:42 Digger wrote:
When you're trying to learn, you just have to hope you don't damage more than you fix. :) |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:12:32 Ed_L. wrote:
I thought about using a 2/4, but I was afraid that it would make the bike too vertical and unstable. Thanks for the tip about the level. Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:14:10 BS37066 wrote:
Thanks for the tip. I guess you just needed to straighten the handlebars to level it up then. Steve Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:18:05 lancer wrote:
Thanks. I guess my experience with car engines helps, but I've always been a little confused by smaller engines. Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 08:19:42 SavageDude wrote:
Yea I opened the wrong drain plug at first. It's the one on the right front of the crankcase about 3 or four inches from the top. Maybe it's the overfill drain? Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Reelthing on 12/13/05 at 08:35:59 I can read on the wireing diagram for '86 the nutrl light is labeled a low oil light incorrectly - so that may have been it's original planned use by the way if you folks have only burned yourselves once - your not trying very hard! |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Digger on 12/13/05 at 09:59:40 BS37066 wrote:
I prop the bike up the same way. To make myself feel better, I wrap a tie-down strap around the frame on the left side, just aft of the fuel tank. I then secure the other end of the tie-down to something stable and snug it up a bit. Now, the bike can't tip over if I bump against it. |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 14:23:37 Reelthing wrote:
Hey, give me a break, I'm a newbie. I'm sure I'll figure out some creative ways to burn myself given time.:) Steve |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by jimbrough on 12/13/05 at 14:28:23 Just make sure it's not with the female of the species! |
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Title: Re: Changed the oil today Post by Steve530 on 12/13/05 at 14:31:18 Thanks, Digger. That's a good idea. It wouldnt' rally take much to kee the bike from tipping over. Steve |
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