Oil Change made easy!!!

[Raywood]

Earlier I posted that I stopped at the HD dealer and picked up an oil filter drain pan.
Thought I would do a "How To" on changing my oil using this new thing. The oil drain pan cost $20 and looks pretty convienient from the outside.

But lets see how good it really works. Kinda like the Discovery Channel does those shows!!!

Here is a pic of the oil filter drain pan:




First thing I did was pull the oil tank drain plug. Here you can see some debrie on the magnet but not much considering the old motor and recent top-end job.



Draining out all that old thick dino oil I had in it from my recent top-end re-build. Of course I just came in from a ride so the oil was hot.



Got a good size batch of old oil here. I can dump this on my gravel drive to cut down on the dust in the summer time. (oh boy, here comes the "green" police)!



After it all drained out I cleaned the plug real good and then put a layer of teflon tape on the treads and made it ready for replacement. Some on here use "goop" or some other kind of sealer, I've had no issues with plain old teflon tape.




Next is to fit this new HD oil filter "catch" pan under the filter housing and then un-screw the filter and supposedly the catch pan should catch all that oil that drains and direct it to the bucket I have stationed under the drain line of the catch pan.



It didn't work very well. Oil ran down the upside part of the catch pan and dripped to the floor. The other side worked ok and drained to the bucket I had standing by.



The catch tray has a modification for some bike models where you cut part of the tray out so that is slides under the filter housing more so it can lock in place better.



I cut this out but it removes the "lip" to prevent oil from draining out the upper end of it so I modified it a bit. I used some vacuum tubing and slit it and then using some rubber cement glued it to the cut end to hopefully contain the oil from dripping out of that end of the pan.



It still required me placing a rag under the bottom of the drain pan to hold it up to the filter housing. This placed it with a down angle so the oil would drain to the bucket I had under the drain hose.

This would work well if all you was doing was pulling the filter and replacing it.

But because I run the motor without the filter to flush the motor of old oil it was overwhelmed with the flow of the Hi-out put pump and it drained all over the frame and onto the floor.
Here is a video I did of it:


05 Big Dog Chopper :: Oilchange1.flv video by Raywood59 - Photobucket

Here is a better picture of the new oil flushing out the old oil.



I replaced the old dino oil with my favorite Amsoil and in the primary I used Spectro. Everyone has their favorites so use whats you like.



One thing I did notice is my K&P oil filter that I've had for 5 yrs now has the chrome peeling off of it. Not an issue with me though!



Here is the filter exposed before I put it back together and on the bike



Here I put some oil on the seal and of the filter housing before installing it.



Last thing to do was top off the oil tank and then take it out for a ride.



After I topped off the tank I had about this much oil left in the Gallon.



After I got back from my ride I checked the oil and it was right where it was supposed to be so all is good.

So the conclusion for me is that I should have saved my $20 bucks and just used a piece of cardboard as I have in the past or as some on here use just a cut out 2 liter coke bottle.


So when it came time to do the primary what do you think I used????

My old favorite..... A piece of old cardboard, works wonders and doesn't cost much, is easy clean up and readily available.

[BubbleHead]

The video is the icing on the cake.

Thanks for the tech tip, thought about getting one similar to that pan. Now I realize I'm fine without it.

[BorgerBigDog]

WOW Ray that was cool.You just saved me from buying something like that.Looks like cardboard or if a Coke bottle is around thats the route i will go...ThanksI didnt ride much last season for health reasons but it has same fluids from the year before.I will feel better to see clean oil in the thing...

[Dakotabos]

And with that you saved me 20 bucks so thats 2 drinks whenever I see you again

[chihuasbigdog]

Originally Posted by Raywood

After I topped off the tank I had about this much oil left in the Gallon.

mmmmh.....some oil in the gallon and some...... Beam in the glass!!!
thanks for preventing us about this stuff and the way to do it.

[bigsugar359]

I am new to the big dog world just bought my first 2006 k9. Could you just use some clear tubing and push it over the threads on the oil filter housing? Let it drain out that way.

[kiwi]

Thanks Ray
great info and money saving .

[lee]

thanks Ray - that wil save me a couple of quid. As for the oil filter I haven't had mine nearly as long as you and my chrome peeling is far worse than yours - not that I care too much about that.

[erldawg]

Originally Posted by bigsugar359

I am new to the big dog world just bought my first 2006 k9. Could you just use some clear tubing and push it over the threads on the oil filter housing? Let it drain out that way.

With respect to the forum members your first post should be an introduction bigsugar359....Click on link

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/introductions/

[erldawg]

Excellent post Ray you saved me from tossing my cut up milk carton that cost nothing!!

Hmmm now I see oil changes must be performed while having a beverage of choice..

[kickstart]

When I first saw your post about the new tool I was hoping it might work but we still need a better mouse trap. Thanks for taking point on this one.

BTW, I use peice of vinyl facing material, works pretty good but I still have a three foot pan under the bike.

[Can-Dog1]

Nice post Ray.

[Mad Dog]

Great post Ray. Yes the old pop bottle wins out again. I'll put the $20 in my tank and take a longer ride.

[Raywood]

Originally Posted by bigsugar359

I am new to the big dog world just bought my first 2006 k9. Could you just use some clear tubing and push it over the threads on the oil filter housing? Let it drain out that way.

That won't work as the treaded part you are talking about is the return. The oil comes out from under that threaded tube.
Search "Rogue" on here and you'll find lots of threads on a kit you can use for this.

Welcome to the site

[O-man]

Thanks Ray for taking the time for another great how-to thread.