1st at home oil change

[ballast]

I just did my first at home oil change. And there is a fair chance I didn't screw it up.
The wallyworld filter was a little longer than the one I took off so I couldn't use the same little end cap wrench adapter thing that I used to get the filter off. I had an oil filter wrench and I think I got it back on tight enough.
I didn't take off and clean the little screen because we have a ride this Sunday and I won't have time to get a new o-ring for that since I didn't think ahead. But I will pick some up so they are at the ready next time.
This will get me through the rest of this riding season.
Over the winter I'll find out how well I can follow instructions as I hope to take her apart and get her painted. And if that goes to crap I may be looking for a volunteer to fly out and put Humpty Nomady back together again.

[Cajunrider]

Charlie, It's good to have an O-ring on hand just in case, but I've drained my oil several times from the screen and have never replaced it. Just a bit of advice, put your filter on hand tight. Don't tighten it up with a wrench because you may have a hell of a time removing it at the next change. After my filter gasket makes contact I tighten it about 1/2 to 3/4 of a round and it never leaks. It seems like I tightened it much more than that when I remove it at the next oil change.

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

Charlie, It's good to have an O-ring on hand just in case, but I've drained my oil several times from the screen and have never replaced it. Just a bit of advice, put your filter on hand tight. Don't tighten it up with a wrench because you may have a hell of a time removing it at the next change. After my filter gasket makes contact I tighten it about 1/2 to 3/4 of a round and it never leaks. It seems like I tightened it much more than that when I remove it at the next oil change.

what he said. 1+

[ballast]

[quote=Idaho (High Plains Drifter)]

Originally Posted by "Cajunrider ":jq6y1vmg

Charlie, It's good to have an O-ring on hand just in case, but I've drained my oil several times from the screen and have never replaced it. Just a bit of advice, put your filter on hand tight. Don't tighten it up with a wrench because you may have a hell of a time removing it at the next change. After my filter gasket makes contact I tighten it about 1/2 to 3/4 of a round and it never leaks. It seems like I tightened it much more than that when I remove it at the next oil change.

what he said. 1+[/quote:jq6y1vmg]

Well I did ok then because the filter isn't much more than hand tight cause the wrench did not work very well. I will do the screen next time and each time in the future.

[blowndodge]

Charlie, the filter should be just tight enough so that it doesn't leak. That doesn' take much. Using a wrench and giving her a big o' tug will cause you grief when you try to remove it next time!

[ryancooksey]

When changing the filter I always dip my finger in the old oil and run a small bead around the filter gasket to keep the seal soft inbetween oil changes. Helps taking the filter off when changing also not so hard and stiff and theres only two things that I like that are hard and stiff and thats my drinks and you know the other.

[schoeney]

Charlie..I had the same issue with the wrench so I bought a $9 pair of oil filter pliers....works great and helped me get to another hard to reach filter (my daughter's 2000 4 Runner). I can't remember where I bought them but I think it was Wally World or Auto Zone.

Here is what they look like
http://www.amazon.com/OEM-25320-Oil-.../dp/B000CMDPDA

Honda does make a metal end cap wrench that works well with the SuperTech filter...it is shorter than others and strong metal w/square drive for rachet ...I borrowed one from my buddy Dan (the guy you met in Missoula). I assume you can buy it at a Honda dealer but don't know cost.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I was going to tell you what Cajun and some others said, just sort of hand tighten. When you go to take it off it seems like someone got under your bike and tighten it with an oil filter wrench or glued it on. Best thing to do is to hand tighten then run your bike and check for leaks. It doesn't take much to tighten the filter.

[soverton]

the tool that schoeney talks about can be found at Harbor Freight for sure or maybe even Northern Tool . I got mine at Harbor with a coupon for $4.99 as I remember.

[cactusjack]

Here we go again... you shouldn't need any tool to either tighten or remove an oil filter. Hand tighten it on and then remove it with your hand.

[chainsaw]

Charlie, where have you been hiding? Good to see you back.

[toophun]

Patience O' elder statesman! Lol! I remember a few short months ago having to pay a "stealer" in Denver $40 to loosen mine while on my road trip. Lesson learned!

[ballast]

[quote author=chainsaw board=nomad thread=13626 post=217648 time=1253897564]Charlie, where have you been hiding? Good to see you back.[/quote

With the rally in the rearview mirror I've been just working at the PO and trying to get the honeydo list a bit shorter. Am actually making progress on that. Doing a little Salmon fishing on the local river and finally landed my first fish .

You'll be hearing more as winter comes on and I start putting on parts and seeing about a paint job.

And the wrench did not do much good. The filter is basically hand tight and should come off easily.

[fish]

last time I just hand tighten it, tomorrow morning I see how hard it is to get off ven I change the earl

[metalman]

Congratulations on changing the oil for the first time. I remember my first few times, 46 years ago. The bike I had back then didn't have a filter. I have been changing oil in all of my vehicles since then and will continue to as long as I can crawl under them and still get up. I liken changing the oil in my vehicles to changing the blood in my body. I want to know that it's done right...so I do it myself. But basically, I'm a cheap Yankee and know how to squeeze the copper out of pennies.