Oil Change HELP!!
#11
05-27-2009, 01:36 PM
i read it. sounded like he was tightening the plug. also i wasn't trying to sound harsh. just being honest which at times comes across harshly. mechanics are paid well for a reason. not everyone can do their job, or has the knowledge to do it. example. a friend has the same bike as me, and the same education. mechanical engineer. i showed him how to change his oil since he hadn't done it before. it took him two hours to do what I do in about 40 minutes. he still does his own changes, but I don't think he goes any further than that just for fear of messing something up.
#12
05-27-2009, 02:18 PM
No, I think he was trying to take the drain plug out to drain the old oil and the plug/bolt-head started to strip on him. Didn't want to come back harsh, but no need to scare off an innocent noob with an legit question.. 
We're all noobs in the beginning, some of us just have more opportunity to learn early on!
We're all noobs in the beginning, some of us just have more opportunity to learn early on!
#14
05-28-2009, 01:16 AM
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hell, similiar things happen to all of us. I work on bikes pretty often and had a buddy over the other day so we could do some work on his 1k yammie. Long story short after doing all types of work, including replacing his fork seals, straightening out an oil light issue, a brake issue and fixing a rough idle we decide to finish it off with a nice oil change with some good old rotella-t. Sure enoug after all that, I bust the f'ing drain plug off while tightening it. Odd thing was it wasn't even bottomed out when it broke, just kinda snapped the head off, was wierd. Stores were all closed and it took about an hour and a half of scrounging at home and at the shop to find a plug that would fit it (came off a junked snowblower of all places).
I've used the pound on a pointed socket thats just a hair too small method a few times myself, works ok, just don't hammer hard enough to dent your pan and don't use a socket you care about. Also, I don't know how you hold a wrench, but the way I do if I was laying on my side on the right, with that bike and the wrench was pointing down, pulling it would be tightening it. Pretty easy to get that confused when things get upside down, I'd dbl check it. Anyways, good luck.
I've used the pound on a pointed socket thats just a hair too small method a few times myself, works ok, just don't hammer hard enough to dent your pan and don't use a socket you care about. Also, I don't know how you hold a wrench, but the way I do if I was laying on my side on the right, with that bike and the wrench was pointing down, pulling it would be tightening it. Pretty easy to get that confused when things get upside down, I'd dbl check it. Anyways, good luck.
#15
05-28-2009, 03:50 AM
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Carbondale IL
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#16
05-29-2009, 07:15 AM
if you get the plug out Will then remember one thing when putting it back in. you only need to get the plug finger tight. don't take this designation literally though. you need to use a wrench to get the plug snug up against the pan, and then apply little force to lock it in. I also suggest getting the service manual for your bike. I like a hard copy myself, but even a computer file is good.
#17
05-29-2009, 08:53 AM
Yea a service manual is invaluable.
Big emphasis on not over-tightening the plug. That's a theme across all bike maintenance. You might want to go down to Autozone or Pep Boys and pick up a $50 torque wrench and become familiar with it. It will be invaluable to you because, as you're seeing now, there's not many things more frustrating that a stripped or snapped bolt due to over-tightening.
Big emphasis on not over-tightening the plug. That's a theme across all bike maintenance. You might want to go down to Autozone or Pep Boys and pick up a $50 torque wrench and become familiar with it. It will be invaluable to you because, as you're seeing now, there's not many things more frustrating that a stripped or snapped bolt due to over-tightening.
#18
06-16-2009, 07:10 PM
#19
06-17-2009, 10:15 AM
Senior Member
#20
06-17-2009, 10:18 AM
Senior Member
This could be a lot of things; old owner may have put the plug on cockeyed to begin with, and jammed the threads, it could be corroded, could have been using the wrong socket, or yes, could just be turning the wrong way. I've done it. I've been working on cars for neigh-on 20 years, and I STILL do it (though on rare occasion). Sometimes you get all turned around depending on the angle you're coming at the bolt from.