Longest oil change in history

About a week ago I went to do an oil change but ran into some difficulty. Problem: the bolt was really stuck and I could not get it to budge. After trying with sockets and breaker bars, heat, etc. nothing was working. Add insult to injusy, the bolt head stripped on me. Nothing to do at the point until I got a new oil drain bolt. So I went and ordered one before I attempted it again. In the mean time, I went riding.

Fast forward to last night.....I received the new bolts (ordered a couple) and a few crush washers and attempted to remove it again. After hours and hours of trying everything I could think of, I gave up and felt completely defeated. By a bolt no less. I was planning on doing a SM track day on Friday and because I couldn't get the oil changed I decided to cancel it.

Then this morning I tried again. This time I decided to grind the shit out of the bolt until there was hardly anything left against the engine case. This presented a few problems. I didn't want to grind it and mess up the case and I needed to work at an angle that would allow me to do so.

First step...lay the bike down and use my Dremel.


That didn't work plus the lower frame was in my way. Next step, flip it over and swing the lower frame away.


With that angle I was able to grind away and finally got the damn thing! The grinder tapped a couple of small spots on the case but no real damage. Everything is smooth and there are no leaks whatsoever.


I was able to get the everything buttoned back up and completed my track day prep. Now I'm good to go!

What my bike normally looks like


Track mode.


All in all, it took me a week to change the oil.

What track? Summit? NJMP?

Nice job by the way.

I was very relieved when I finally got the f'ing thing out.

Yeah I'm going to Summit tomorrow.

trav72 wrote:

I nominate this picture for the next header shot!!!!!!!!!!

motokid wrote:

I nominate this picture for the next header shot!!!!!!!!!!

I second this motion.

The representative from Texas votes "Yea" to header picture.

a single vote from Az votes 'Yea'.

Cool to see the bike on the seat & bars like a bicycle! Makes it look small & light.

Only problem is the wrong owner... It's Trav's bike!

rydnseek wrote:

Only problem is the wrong owner... It's Trav's bike!

PM sent....

And I posted up in header shot thread too.

Damn , I don't even get credit for my pic.

Sorry Trav...brain is kinda wonky. Had a death here so I'm not firing on all 8.

trav72 wrote:

That didn't work plus the lower frame was in my way. Next step, flip it over and swing the lower frame away.

She wolf is bound to jump in on this one, but this is where I usually start. ...and that is just to check the oil.

SheWolf wrote:

Sorry Trav...brain is kinda wonky. Had a death here so I'm not firing on all 8.

No worries. Thanks for fixing it. I'm sorry about your loss.

TRAV72
That always happens to me when I'm rushing to do something and Murphy's Law shows it's ugly head......EVERY TIME. Glad to hear you were successful.

josh wrote:

That always happens to me when I'm rushing to do something and Murphy's Law shows it's ugly head......EVERY TIME.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Did you have any problems getting the oil level correct on the sight glass that way round !!!

I just made sure it was between to the 2 lines.

Lots of slippery stuff then