How not do an oil change...

jok · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Karma :

My CG needed an oil change (it was a little overdue), and I decided to read up on it and do it myself. It seemed easy enough, so off I went:

Place a bowl under the drain plug, unscrew it, pick out the filter, wait for oil to drain... "No problem, this is easy.", me thinks. Reassembled the filter and the spring, put the oil drain plug back on, and screwed it tight (with a torque wrench, no less). At this point I'm not sure if I'd just breathed too much of the oil fumes, but for some reason I was convinced that it was too tight, and proceeded to unscrew it again with another wrench to re-tighten it. Or rather, I thought I was unscrewing it.

No points for guessing what I actually did: screw it in even tighter, to the point where the rim around the plug that holds the rubber seal in place just sheared off. Doh!

Now, I left the drain plug in place (after loosening it slightly (really, this time)) and filled it up with oil again to the correct level. It's not leaking, as far as I can tell, and the o-ring is staying in place. I started her up very briefly and gave her some gentle revs, rechecked the oil level and it still looks OK.

I was tempted to risk riding it to the nearest garage to get a new plug, but in the end I decided to cut my losses and walk there tomorrow (and hope and pray that it's open Confused

).

The lesson learned: Counter-clockwise loosens. Always*. Not just the first time you unscrew it Embarassed

.

I'll think I'll have a cup of tea now until I've calmed down a bit (and stopped swearing at myself Smile

).

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* Yes, I know there are some screws that can go the other way, but as a general rule...
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CG125 (stolen->recovered!) || Wars do not decide who's right, only who's left.

0ddball · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

Put down the tools and step away from the motorcycle. We're ready to listen to your demands [/common sense police] Wink

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

Righty tighty, lefty loosey Wink

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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

thx1138 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Karma :

I did once overtighten.... Rolling Eyes

This was almost 16 years ago...

My friends helped me out. Someone actually bodged a cork washer, and I rode home.

Next day, another mate, re-threaded, BY HAND! with some weird star shaped chisel thing and a hammer. Shocked

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

I've overtightened nuts before causing them to snap and break off, I've still not learnt that it does'nt need one more turn Rolling Eyes

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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

jok · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Karma :

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

jok · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Karma :

TOM M · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

jok · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Karma :

The dealer I was hoping to get a new plug from is shut today, as seems to be ever other place I tried so far (no surprise on May Day, I guess). At this rate I'll be stuck until next weekend, all for lack of a £3 part Sad

.

At least this way I'll have a whole week to contemplate the importance of being paying attention...
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CG125 (stolen->recovered!) || Wars do not decide who's right, only who's left.

MRX Steve · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Karma :

I did some thing similar before on my quad, ended up destroying the thread on the oil tank. Had to retap it Embarassed

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Rieju MRX 50 Castrol Edition

Phil_G · Traffic Copper Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Karma :

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

CG125 drain plug threads are massive though.

Redd · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Managed to snap a rocker cover bolt the other week on my XJ600. Did it up carefully with my fingers then just gave it 'a wee nip'. Shouted over to my mate "It's not tightening, it just went loose". I'd snapped the bolt Embarassed

Fortunately we managed to take the cover back off, tap a small slotted screwdriver into the remains of the bolt and turned it back out the thread. Whew. Then Yamaha charged me £14 for a new bolt and another £5 for a rubber washer to go with it Evil or Very Mad

We'd managed to get what was left of the bolt to bite on another thread, but it fell out along with the washer one night and covered my boots and trousers in oil Rolling Eyes

Lesson learned: if you don't know what you're doing, either get someone else to do/show you it or buy a torque wrench Thumbs Up

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Professional Uberslacker
2006 Kawasaki Z1000 - Black at the front, airbrushed fade to red at the back.
1998 Kawasaki KDX 200 Enduro project bike