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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Oil Change Problem
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Message started by Slater on 05/31/07 at 14:17:59

Title: Oil Change Problem
Post by Slater on 05/31/07 at 14:17:59

Hey everyone, I recently purchased a 2003 Savage. It's about time for the oil to be changed so I went to remove the drain plug, and it felt very tight, and moved a small amount, but didn't seem to loosen at all. Does anyone have any tips on how to remove this without damaging the motorcycle? Thanks,

Title: Re: Oil Change Problem
Post by vroom1776 on 05/31/07 at 14:51:36

dude, are you sure you weren't tightening it, or wrenching on the wrong bolt? the bolt should be horizontal, and when it is tightned, it should move towards the right side of the bike. when loosening it, point your thumb towards the left side of the bike (i.e. the way you want the bolt to go; out), and turn the wrench in the same direction as your fingers point. should be 17 mm. older ones were 14mm I believe. okay, that's if you've never tightened a bolt before... sorry, no idea what you tool experience is...

you may also try to tighten in just a hair first, then start loosening it. it also helps if the bike is in gear so that it doesn't roll.

good luck!

Title: Re: Oil Change Problem
Post by justin_o_guy on 05/31/07 at 15:17:32

When you put the wrench on the bolt, the only way to do it & still be able to push on it is to have it poking out toward the front tire. Pushing down is the way to go. Use a box end, it will stay on better & not tend to round off as bad. If it's that tight, smacking down on the wrench with another wrench may help. Or, you can hang another box end wrench in the open end of the wrench on the oil plug. I am sure there will be someone who will holler about that. Yes, you can scrape a knuckle that way. But, if you do that & get a decent amount of torque applied to the plug, then smack it with a wrench( Ohh NO! Hammers for striking, wrenches for twisting) Well, its such a small place to work, I use a wrench if I need more than I can do by hand. laying on my gut & trying to wrestle a bolt out I need help with sometimes.

I suspect you tightened it to start with, so it may be pretty tight. There are the suggestions I have to offer. Guaranteed to work or your money back.

Title: Re: Oil Change Problem
Post by Greg_650 on 05/31/07 at 18:51:44

Is this a case of the upside down "righty tighty, lefty loosy"? That's always different...Course, if it was, now it's really tight.

Justin and Vroom have valid points...

But just to be sure we're turning the right bolt....and I know that if I can get my big ass down this low, that others can do it :P

Good luck.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/Oil_Drain_Plug_1427.jpg

Title: Re: Oil Change Problem
Post by firsts40 on 05/31/07 at 23:07:16

Another trick I use when working bolts upside down, is have a ratchet with you and set it for loosening a bolt, then turn it upside down to see which way to turn your wrench. To tighten...clockwise, to loosen...counter clockwise. Unless it is threaded backwards. This has worked for me when my old timers sets in and I have a brain fart. ??? ???

Title: Re: Oil Change Problem
Post by Kropatchek on 06/01/07 at 01:36:44

Greg_650 wrote:

With your skill of photomanipulating could you install a box-end wrench on the bolt facing to the LH and and an arrow pointing down to undo the bolt?

I leave the bike on the sidestand and reach for the wrench from the RH side. So the wrench faces to the front and I can beat down with the palm of my hand.

Title: Re: Oil Change Problem
Post by forrest on 06/03/07 at 11:46:54

There is an outside, but ok chance, the last oil changer cross threaded the drain plug...........and that ain't good. I've seen oil pans that needed replaced after a nasty cross threading and then they tried to correct it by using a helex coil.