Forums | MacLife

Fried Chicken · 2008-03-29 2:35 pm

Yes! I just completed my first independent motorcycle oil change big_smile

I followed the instructions on this page... it's a great website. The motorcycle was frying hot when I started, but I managed anyway. I Got my filter replaced, and put in the new oil. She runs wonderfully now, shifts beautifully, I'm overall pretty proud of myself smile , although I know it wasn't a particularly difficult procedure.

resedit · 2008-03-29 3:14 pm

I probably don't have to say this, but you did properly dispose of the spent oil, I hope.

test · 2008-03-29 4:00 pm

Yeah, I never really feel connected to a vehicle until I've put wrenches on it. I also did the first oil change on my new car today, engine and transaxle. I also replaced the stock 9005 high beams with Toshiba 9011 HIR bulbs and grounded the throttle body. Now I feel like own it, no matter what Scotia Bank might say.

April 12 is the first household hazardous waste disposal festival at my local dump and I will be there with 3 or 4 gallons of old oil.

matt · 2008-03-29 6:22 pm

Places like Pep Boys will dispose of the oil for free.

Fried Chicken · 2008-03-29 7:30 pm

resedit wrote:
I probably don't have to say this, but you did properly dispose of the spent oil, I hope.

I poured it all over some ant pile, and set it ablaze w/a torch.

wink JK, I used to volunteer at the local car mechanic, so he let me use his tools to do the oil change. I also put the oil in his huge used motor oil container.

resedit · 2008-03-29 8:11 pm

That's too bad - roasted ants are a delicacy.

33specter · 2008-03-30 4:43 am

resedit wrote:
That's too bad - roasted ants are a delicacy.

Raw ants also taste good

kolevich · 2008-03-31 9:38 am

Fried Chicken wrote:
I Got my filter replaced, and put in the new oil. She runs wonderfully now, shifts beautifully, I'm overall pretty proud of myself

My congratulations! wink
And do you have a separate vessel for oil? What motorcycle do you have then? Could you post a pic of it hear?
I remember when I had a motorcycle (small one, not more than 50 cube centimeters engine) I used to mix petrol with oil and pour this mixture into the petrol tank.
I guess you have a major motorcycle that has an oil vessel.. roll

freecat · 2008-03-31 12:04 pm

Wait til you do a valve adjustment, then you'll feel like a real mechanic.

test · 2008-03-31 4:17 pm

freecat wrote:
Wait til you do a valve adjustment, then you'll feel like a real mechanic.

Unless it is an old Ducati, which will make you feel like a blacksmith, filing those little shims to the right size.

Fried Chicken · 2008-03-31 4:25 pm

kolevich wrote:
Fried Chicken wrote:
I Got my filter replaced, and put in the new oil. She runs wonderfully now, shifts beautifully, I'm overall pretty proud of myself
My congratulations!
And do you have a separate vessel for oil? What motorcycle do you have then? Could you post a pic of it hear?
I remember when I had a motorcycle (small one, not more than 50 cube centimeters engine) I used to mix petrol with oil and pour this mixture into the petrol tank.
I guess you have a major motorcycle that has an oil vessel..

My Ninja 250R.
It's a great bike for the city, and easily gets 60+ mpg.

I'll probably perform a valve adjustment over the summer.... whoo fun.

freecat · 2008-04-01 11:40 am

test wrote:
freecat wrote:
Wait til you do a valve adjustment, then you'll feel like a real mechanic.
Unless it is an old Ducati, which will make you feel like a blacksmith, filing those little shims to the right size.

Desmo valves perplex me.

resedit · 2008-04-01 1:15 pm

freecat wrote:
Wait til you do a valve adjustment, then you'll feel like a real mechanic.

If it's anything like a VW beetle (air cooled) - it is fairly trivial.
Just need gap feelers, the right box end, and a screwdriver.

Last edited by resedit (2008-04-01 1:15 pm)

freecat · 2008-04-02 9:30 am

It's fairly trivial on some bikes, not on others. Shim-under-bucket valves are time consuming. And god forbid you don't put the cams back in the right way.

Older designs tend to have threaded adjusters, which is a lot like the older VWs. BUT depending on the bike you still may have to remove bodywork, gas tank, carb(s), airbox(es), etc. just to get at the valves. And, annoyingly, a screwdriver may not be enough, for several brands you need the "special tool."

My guess is that on the Ninja 250, once you get some of the bodywork and tank off, you're home free. Still way more than most people ever do on their own.

doc-robc · 2008-04-02 12:56 pm

Congrats. When I did my first back in college on my old NightHawk 450, it was hot too. Unfortunately I wasn't paying proper attention and got a nice burn on my arm.

test · 2008-04-02 6:18 pm

Of course all this valve nonsense is someone else's problem if you have proper two-stroke motorcycle. I gotta find another Water Buffalo. . .

Orion · 2008-04-02 7:44 pm

This thread makes me want to get the Vulcan out of the shed and prepped for summer. Damned cold weather! Grr. hmm

Fried Chicken · 2008-04-02 9:38 pm

Orion wrote:
This thread makes me want to get the Vulcan out of the shed and prepped for summer. Damned cold weather! Grr.

Living in texas does have its perks big_smile

The full year riding season is great... until summer, where it gets sucky ass.

FutureDreamz · 2008-04-02 10:13 pm

Fried Chicken wrote:
Orion wrote:
This thread makes me want to get the Vulcan out of the shed and prepped for summer. Damned cold weather! Grr.
Living in texas does have its perks

::notes the local motorcycle "gang" (actually very nice people) were sill riding through December::

Orion · 2008-04-02 11:34 pm

They trade the motorcycles for snowmobiles around these parts. In summer you have tons of bikes around the bars. In winter you have tons of snowmobiles around the bars. Glare ice on the roads makes for interesting driving with a motorcycle.

Fried Chicken · 2008-04-02 11:54 pm

Orion wrote:
They trade the motorcycles for snowmobiles around these parts. In summer you have tons of bikes around the bars. In winter you have tons of snowmobiles around the bars. Glare ice on the roads makes for interesting driving with a motorcycle.

I actually really wish we would get snow here sad I hate the heat, I prefer the bitter cold.
Man can always put on more clothes/make fire,
but there is a limit to the amount of clothes you can remove from your body, and man cannot simply build an air conditioner.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2008-03-29 2:35 pm

Motorcycle oil change

#2 2008-03-29 3:14 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#3 2008-03-29 4:00 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#4 2008-03-29 6:22 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#5 2008-03-29 7:30 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

resedit wrote:

#6 2008-03-29 8:11 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#7 2008-03-30 4:43 am

Re: Motorcycle oil change

resedit wrote:

#8 2008-03-31 9:38 am

Re: Motorcycle oil change

Fried Chicken wrote:

#9 2008-03-31 12:04 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#10 2008-03-31 4:17 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

freecat wrote:

#11 2008-03-31 4:25 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

kolevich wrote:

Fried Chicken wrote:

#12 2008-04-01 11:40 am

Re: Motorcycle oil change

test wrote:

freecat wrote:

#13 2008-04-01 1:15 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

freecat wrote:

#14 2008-04-02 9:30 am

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#15 2008-04-02 12:56 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#16 2008-04-02 6:18 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#17 2008-04-02 7:44 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#18 2008-04-02 9:38 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

Orion wrote:

#19 2008-04-02 10:13 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

Fried Chicken wrote:

Orion wrote:

#20 2008-04-02 11:34 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

#21 2008-04-02 11:54 pm

Re: Motorcycle oil change

Orion wrote:

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