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Re: [ST] for Brett - competent mechanics



Donny

I find it complicates things further if you pour the oil from the drain
pan into the narrow-necked pot the new oil came in, to take to the
re-cycling (or try at least).  Someone usually picks that moment to ask
you the meaning of life.

This is the missing 16a.

Bet you can't wait to try the new expanded procedure!

Chris Harwood
00 RS

>>> donnydogood@xxxxxxx 22/07/2005 20:17:45 >>>
 >>> I'm still looking for a mechanic around Sydney who can actually do

something other than an oil change (competently). <<<

Some things even I can do: Donny's Oil Changing Tips (adaptable to all

makes)

These are the steps I follow,... hopefully they may be of some help:

1) start early Sunday morning, so you don't feel pressured and will
be sure to finish in time to go riding with friends

2) search for your Owner's Manual; make a note to buy one later

3) warm engine (not hot) and park bike over a big piece of cardboard
(newspaper can substitute, you won't have time to read it anyway)

4) position oil pan beneath crankcase of motorcycle

5) remove oil filler cap and place on floor where it can't fall off
and roll under a cabinet

6) try to loosen oil drain plug with the wrench which is closest to
the correct size

7) if your last service was done at a Triumph shop with a young,
strong, apprentice mechanic, get a piece of pipe to put over the
wrench handle for more leverage to break the plug loose

8) borrow large vice-grips (locking pliers), apply to the now
stripped oil drain plug and loosen until it can be turned by hand

9) turn plug out slowly by hand until oil starts to seep out,...
then turn it out as fast as you can to remove it before the hot oil
becomes unbearable

10) as quickly as possible, re-position oil pan under crankcase so
the oil is no longer pouring out onto the floor

11) try not to drip too much oil on floor walking to corner of garage
to get rags and newspapers;... wipe oil off hands

12).... if necessary find some of your wife's old towels (more on
this later) to mop up excess oil from the garage floor
13) Using an ordinary hammer and the minimum force necessary,
pound your longest screwdriver through the oil filter to obtain the
leverage required to break loose the overtightened filter threads
(see reference to young, strong technician, Step 7).

14) remove oil filter, which will then remind you to re-position pan
to receive the remainder of the oil; ... /IMPORTANT/: check to make
sure you didn't drive the screwdriver through the crankcase

15) crank starter to scavenge the last little bit of oil, trying
not to knock the bike over - again - in your haste to shut the
engine off before permanent damage occurs

16) remove your drain pan, clean and install the cover,... and
clean up the oil on the floor with wife's old towels (more later)

17) find where you put your new filter and go buy replacement
oil, dumping your drain pan at a recycling facility on the way

18) returning home, place a little oil on the filter gasket and
install filter,... do /NOT/ overtighten

19) place funnel in oil filler hole and pour oil in carefully,
this will serve to remind you to re-install the oil drain plug.

20) clean up mess on the floor with wife's old towels (more on
this later), while looking for oil drain plug, remember that you
dropped it in the drain pan due to the /WARM/ oil on your hand

21) look in oil drain pan and shake vigorously until assured it
does not contain the oil drain plug

22) go to recycle center to be assured the plug is not retrievable
and buy another quart of oil while you're out

23) call friends and inform them of your child's illness which
prevents you from going riding with them today

24) after work on Monday (Tuesday if your Triumph shop is
closed on Monday) go to bike shop and buy new oil drain plug,
they always have an adequate supply stocked for just this reason

25) while there, surreptitiously practice with a torque wrench
to see what 18 ft.lbs. (24NM) feels like

26) arriving home, install oil drain plug and tighten to
approximately the feeling you remember from 25) above

27) pour in 4 quarts of oil, plus a little left-over in the can you
had started to put in on Sunday

28) take a short ride to warm the oil and make sure there are no leaks

29) at the first stop light, notice that your right foot is extremely
slippery on the road, look down at oil covered shoe, little white
puffs
of smoke emitting from oil filler hole and oil mist covering side of
bike
from front fender to rear tire; return home forthwith,... gingerly

30) park in driveway; throw shoes in trash, pants in dirty clothes and
look for oil filler cap

31) after searching thoroughly in the garage, go out to trash can to
search through oily papers and wife's old towels (more on this later),
remember that trash was picked up this morning

32) rush back to Triumph shop hoping someone will still be there

33) Tuesday (or Wednesday, as the case may be), go to Triumph shop
after work - again - and buy new oil filler cap,... they always have
an
adequate variety stocked for just this reason

34) go home, install oil filler cap, add oil, wash bike and start
engine;
ride bike for short distance and feel confidence returning

35) pull into garage and check under bike for leaks, tighten oil
filter
and oil drain plug until seepage stops; /DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN/

36) call friends and explain you can't go riding Sunday because you
will be taking your wife on a cruise,... attempting to appease her for
trashing her precious family heirloom towels

Performance improves with practice; after 50+ years of experience
I can now complete this work in as little as a dozen steps. Good luck!

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