Oil filter change - boo boo

My '82 Seca 550 was well overdue for an oil filter change... probably not been done for a few years since the bike has only done 39K Km. However much to my dismay the little nut head sheared clean off leaving a rather ugly stump. I found a parts diagram on www.xj650.de - great site BTW - that shows the nut was on the end of a shaft. So anyone have any ideas what to do next - I panicked for a moment thinking that I was supposed to turn clockwise to undo - like many oil filters are set up? Weld a new nut on?? there isnt much to grip on to now...

 

Not so bad. If the head came off then the washer part of the head should have come off too. In that case just pull the filter cover straight off. It is only held in place now by the orings. Then pull the spring and oil filter and unscrew the filter shaft. JC Whitney and Mike's XS will have a replacement part.

 

Welcome Simona! Should the sholder still be attached, you can cut a groove across it with a hacksaw and use a regular screwdriver or a longer strip of steel (about the thickness of the cut) to remove it. DON'T use a chisel, you will bugger up the oil filter bowl mating surface! If it is still stuck, use a reverse twist drill bit and power drill to drill it out. Be prepared with a new oil filter bolt assembly, as Max pointed out, they are rather easy to come by (this is because this happens frequently because so many people don't read the torque requirements for this bolt, easy does it!). The bolt incorporates the oil pressure bypass valve used in case the filter gets clogged up (such as from sitting a long time or from lack of changes, shame on you). Have at and let us know how it all worked out!

 

Thanks a great deal guys... sadly the shoulder was still on the shaft so Roberts suggestion is proably the best plan. I was quite surprised at the way the nut sheared off so easily, on examination it is hollow, and only attached inside at the top (think of toothpaste cap) .

BTW I just went through a bit of unpleasentness with the bike, the Crank case was full of a lovely gasoline oil mix, somehow about 2 liters of fuel found its way into the crank case. I popped the carbs off and looked at the float needles (seemed ok) so now I am about to replace the stop cock on the tank. The coolest part was starting the bike and applying some revs this cocktail of fuel and oil sprayed all over the garage, fortunately I had just put out my ciggy.... I am at a bit of a loss to know how it happened, as there shouldnt be a path into the crank case for fuel... The float chambers should cut off the feed.

 

The floats would have to fail as well as the petcock to fill your tank - IMHO...

the petcock has to fail to allow it to flow with no vacuum (which model do you have?) and the floats have to stick for it to overfill into the piston, past the rings and into the oil.

It's not a big deal to fix - just better to do both at the same time. While there check to make sure you have a fuel filter - worth their weight plus some in gold.

 

Just thought I share this bit of information. You can buy Oil filter bolts from shadetreemotorcycle.com for $3. Here is the link http://www.shadetreemotorcycle.com/cgi- ... bolts.html

This is the best price i have seen anywhere.

 

Hey CT;
Great find, I got mine at partsnmore for $9.00.
I like the larger bolt head, I think my original had a much smaller head.