Any tips for a first time oil changer?

Gonna change the oil in my bike today and add a new filter. Any tips on how to do it?

 

Have the right tools handy.
A good drain pan on some newspaper will keep the mess under control.

The only two places to undo and drain are the Main SUMP ... (Drain Plug is on the front, middle of the lower sump ... just above the center two inlets to tthe exhaust collector. 19mm fitting.

Oil filter. There's oil going to leak out of the filter cover. Loosen the Bolt slow and collect the oil. There will still be more in there ... you have to tilt the filter case to get it to drain out.

Clean-off the magnet on the Drain Plug. Wipe-out the filter cover with paper towel and Kleenex.

Some filters have new o-rings that come along in the box with the new filter.

 

Most asked question about oil filter is which way does the indent in the filter go? The indent is toward the front of the bike. It is there to provide room for the spring. Easiest thing to do wrong is to over tighten the filter bolt. Just snug it up.

 

Thanks for the info so far, does anyone have a pic showing what needs to be taken off? I can't seem to find a drain plug and my haynes manual doesn't have jack as far as pics for doing this other than a pic of the magnet, which isn't doing me a lot of good atm

 

I am just in the middle of my first oil change -- it's draining as I write. I would send you a picture of the sump drain plug location, but my battery for my camera is currently being charged.

The manual tells me to also drain the middle gear assembly and tells me that "the plug is situated just to the rear of the sump and slightly to the left of the engine centre line." Can't seem to find it--any suggestions in the next half hour before I fill 'er up again?

Thanks - Carol - 1980 650 Maxim XJ

 

I perosnally don't remove the middle gear plug. Never have and have never regretted it. It is only about a half cup of oil and not enough to worry about in my opinion.

 

Thanks--couldn't do it if I wanted to as I still have no idea of where it is.

 

Trust me, it is not readily accessable without dropping the exhaust. Not worth the trouble as Max pointed out.

 

Think you could tell me what it is I am looking for then? I'm looking for a plug, but maybe I am suppose to take the cover off first on the side where the oil goes in at, or should I be looking on the other side of the bike?

 

You're looking for this Plug.

19mm Hex
Screw Head in Center.
Above Exhaust Collector.
Front; Middle -- between 2 -&- 3.
Main Oil Drain Plug.

 

woot, thanks bud, I was looking on the side of the bike. What do I take off to get to the oil filter?

 

The Dome Housing with the cooling fins, right there, in front of the Drain Plug.

Use a PROPER Fitting 6-Point Wrench or Socket on that Hex.
DON'T Strip it.

Loosen it a bit and let it drip out.
There's still oil in it after the dripping stops.
Tilt it to drain it.

Take it out if there's room.

Don't strip it putting it back together ... either!

 

The filter is in that cylindrical cover with fins and the one bolt in the center of it....it's directly above the drain plug. Take note of the position of the filter, spring & washer when you take it off to put them back right. Just eye the cover in when you bolt it back on so it sits with the fins as vertical as possible...it doesn't have any locating notches and will look funny if it's crooked.

 

Rick got there first while I was posting...sorry!

 

No harm in the effort Scrape, I've been thankful for a backup or two myself!

 

thanks for all the help, got it changed with no problems other than needing to he man the bolts loose after letting them sit with pbblaster.

 

Any time bud, be safe out there!