First oil change disaster! | GTAMotorcycle.com

First oil change disaster!

nanobots

nanobots

Well-known member
Drain plug came out, oil drained into a dish. Now to change the filter! The bolt seems stuck, so i tried with the tools that came with my bike. I then tried with a ratchet. Would not turn at all. Seems the previous owner tightened it wayy too much.

I now have an extremely stripped filter bolt, and a bike sitting in my underground with no oil.

Im going to try vice grips, or my friends torq wrench next. Any other helpfull tips ?

Any advice on where to buy a replacement bolt in the downsview/north york area ?
 
What kind of bike? Post pics of the bolt and you can always put the drain plug back and take it to a shop.

Replacement bolts...can be found at a dealer or any hardware store--depending on the type of bolt.
 
what kind of bike? why would you need to replace the bolt for the filter? is the filter not the threaded type? can you get another filter without a bolt at the end of it?
 
Oh sorry, its a kawasaki 250zzr.

Also is it common for a stripped filter bolt to be leaking ? I notice some oily stuff around it...might be from the drain thats why im not sure.

Also can I filter my old oil, and use that temporarily (5-10km) to get my supplies ?
 
Screw driver through the filter with a hammer, turn filter until off, replace filter.

and no you can not reuse your filtered oil, jesssss man
 
Last edited:
do you mean something like this?
6120000_knn_hp1001_pri_larg.jpg


If so then don't worry about it. Just get the proper oil filter tool
6840185.jpg



or slam a screwdriver into it and use it as leverage.
 
you can pick up the filter bolt from any motorcycle store, the 250's bolt is compatible with many other brands of bikes. as for getting it off. good luck! i was close to stripping mine last time but I managed it get it off and replaced it before it was too stripped to be reused.

For those of you who don't know he's talking about the cartridge type filter. the bolt looks like this: http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee91/jhcrash/Oil Change DIY/bike016.jpg
 
For those not familiar with the ZZR250, it uses a cartridge type oil filter and not a spin-on type. The bolt the OP is talking about is the union bolt that has the ball valve inside of it.

OP, that bolt is normally torqued on. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's in the ballpark of 15 ft-lbs. If you used the open ended wrench in the kit, then unfortunately that is probably the cause of it being rounded off. You need to use box end wrench or a socket on that in the future. You can get a replacement from Kahuna Powersports, that's still technically in North York I think - they might even stock it as they sell a lot of 250s.
 
Though I am not familiar with your particular bike I think most of those type of filters (cartridge) are located at the bottom of the engine and I have seen several guys try to turn the bolt the wrong way because it is upside down? Just make sure.
 
His oil filter doesn't look like the one pictured above. You can see what it looks like here: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Oil_Change_Procedure

It's probably the 17mm bolt that holds the oil filter assembly in place that is stripped. The last shop I brought my bike to over torqued the bolt and I nearly stripped it trying to get it off as well. It's in a very difficult spot to get leverage, so it's easy for the socket to pop off. Not sure what the answer is to fix a stripped/stuck bolt though.

First things first: go get a replacement bolt if you do get it off. You don't want that part of your engine case exposed if they're back ordered for weeks.
 
TwistedKestrel said:
For those not familiar with the ZZR250, it uses a cartridge type oil filter and not a spin-on type. The bolt the OP is talking about is the union bolt that has the ball valve inside of it.

OP, that bolt is normally torqued on. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's in the ballpark of 15 ft-lbs. If you used the open ended wrench in the kit, then unfortunately that is probably the cause of it being rounded off. You need to use box end wrench or a socket on that in the future. You can get a replacement from Kahuna Powersports, that's still technically in North York I think - they might even stock it as they sell a lot of 250s.
Click to expand...

I hope op did not use an open ended wrench. Thats one good way to destroy a bolt.
I use sockets all d time
 
TwistedKestrel said:
For those not familiar with the ZZR250, it uses a cartridge type oil filter and not a spin-on type. The bolt the OP is talking about is the union bolt that has the ball valve inside of it.

OP, that bolt is normally torqued on. I can't remember exactly, but I think it's in the ballpark of 15 ft-lbs. If you used the open ended wrench in the kit, then unfortunately that is probably the cause of it being rounded off. You need to use box end wrench or a socket on that in the future. You can get a replacement from Kahuna Powersports, that's still technically in North York I think - they might even stock it as they sell a lot of 250s.
Click to expand...
Ahh got yaa, like the Suzuki 500.
 
Now that its stripped you'll need a new bolt anyway and its a dealer item.
You can put the old oil back in and ride it to the dealer and get it fixed, if you do this be sure you have no leaks around the filter from your attempts to get it off.

Not being a wiseguy but be sure your turning it the right direction, you'll be amazed how many guys that dont do this stuff all the time get turned around when working upside down.

now the tool lesson, it will come off with visegrips, its already wrecked so go to it. All visegrips are not equal, the cheap import brands are crap and will leave you frustrated, get real visegrip pliers.
When putting the new bolt in you have dissimilar metals, the engine case is alum and the bolt is steel. Its really easy to over tighten this fitting and have it go badly. You should have but dont need a torque wrench, but you do need a good quality socket/wrench. There is small amounts of tolerance in tooling and cheap tools dont "fit" well. when you need them they strip out. This is a big problem on 12 pt sockets vs 6pt sockets, you just get less contact tool to fitting.
 
Get a set of Grip Tite sockets from Canadian Tire, (about $30). I needed to use them to remove a seized oil drain plug from my truck that I rounded off trying to remove after some gorilla over-torqued it at the dealership. These things are great to remove rounded off bolts!

Be sure to pick up a new bolt at your dealer before you start because once it comes off you don't want to use it again.

If you are going to continue to do your own oil changes you should also pick up a torque wrench while you're at Canadian Tire; even a cheap one is better than guessing if the bolt is on too tight or too loose.
 
crankcall said:
Now that its stripped you'll need a new bolt anyway and its a dealer item.
You can put the old oil back in and ride it to the dealer and get it fixed, if you do this be sure you have no leaks around the filter from your attempts to get it off.

Not being a wiseguy but be sure your turning it the right direction, you'll be amazed how many guys that dont do this stuff all the time get turned around when working upside down.

now the tool lesson, it will come off with visegrips, its already wrecked so go to it. All visegrips are not equal, the cheap import brands are crap and will leave you frustrated, get real visegrip pliers.
When putting the new bolt in you have dissimilar metals, the engine case is alum and the bolt is steel. Its really easy to over tighten this fitting and have it go badly. You should have but dont need a torque wrench, but you do need a good quality socket/wrench. There is small amounts of tolerance in tooling and cheap tools dont "fit" well. when you need them they strip out. This is a big problem on 12 pt sockets vs 6pt sockets, you just get less contact tool to fitting.
Click to expand...

He can also try using an angle grinder to re-shape d head of the bolt, then use a smaller socker. I never had luck using vise grips.
When bolt is off, take it to rona and find a nut that will fit the threads. Us that nut to find a corresponding bolt that is of similar lenght and fitment. I would use a stainless bolt.

G'luck
 
RockerGuy said:
He can also try using an angle grinder to re-shape d head of the bolt, then use a smaller socker. I never had luck using vise grips.
When bolt is off, take it to rona and find a nut that will fit the threads. Us that nut to find a corresponding bolt that is of similar lenght and fitment. I would use a stainless bolt.

G'luck
Click to expand...

I doubt Rona has the bolt he needs. He needs one that has a hollow centre, and some cross drilled holes in it. It is dealer specific.
 
RockerGuy said:
When bolt is off, take it to rona and find a nut that will fit the threads. Us that nut to find a corresponding bolt that is of similar lenght and fitment. I would use a stainless bolt.
Click to expand...

NO do not do this! The center "bolt" for the oil filter is also the oil passage into the oil filter and it is also the bypass/relief valve. Has to be replaced with the correct original-equipment part.
 
bear22099 said:
I doubt Rona has the bolt he needs. He needs one that has a hollow centre, and some cross drilled holes in it. It is dealer specific.
Click to expand...

Didn't know it was a hollow bolt, only use to think the drain bolts were hollowed out.

Anyway carry along...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom