r. blinkers

[Jim & Shannon Morehead]

I just changed the Honda 20W-50 out of my A13 this morning, installed a new filter with Kawasaki 10W-40 oil. I noted that the Honda oil, only in the engine about 10 or 20 miles, was not very black after draining. It is subjective, but the transmission seems to shift better and neutral is easy to find. We'll see if the engine rattles when started cold. I'll bet it doesn't. I'm glad to report there were no new shavings in the filter housing. Jim

[aches@deltech.net]

Bruce, I change mine in accordance with the kind of riding I've been doing. Lot's of time in the dirt with lots of dust., 2000. Normal 3000. But if, say I was gonna take a long trip that would do about 6K miles and it was mainly hiway where the oil temp would stay up far long periods of time, then I may be inclined to run 6K on it. I'm of the old school of changing the oil with the filter. If you're gonna change one and not the other, it would be the filter. -- Best Regards & Happy Trails Andy Chesley @ 57 and ticking Y2KLR650 @ 6.4K sMiles 97 R11RA (Amiga) @ 16K Miles So Many Roads, So Little Time http://members.deltech.net/aches/

[martig117@aol.com]

Did my first oil change at 720 miles. Couldn't resist riding until I could get a filter. Is there a way to change the filter without having oil run down the side of the bike (and make a nice puddle in the engine guard)when you take the oil filter cover off? The oil didn't drain from the area outside the filter. I had the bike on the stand; would it have made a difference if the bike was straight up? When I used a shop towel to soak up the excess, I noticed quite a few metal shavings. Looked like aluminum. Hope that's normal for the 1st oil change. What do you think about a 43-year-old buying his 1st MC? Mid-life crisis? Thanks Gary A15

[tebklr@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/29/00 7:34:54 AM Central Standard Time, martig117@... writes: >>

[Mark]

At 1:34 PM +0000 10/29/00, martig117@... wrote:

>What do you think about a 43-year-old buying his 1st MC? Mid-life >crisis?

That depends.... did you get it for riding or for posing? Mark B2 A2

[Mark Wilson]

> When I used a shop towel to soak up the excess, I noticed quite a few > metal shavings. Looked like aluminum. Hope that's normal for the > 1st oil change.

Buy a magnetic drain plug from Fred.

> What do you think about a 43-year-old buying his 1st MC? Mid-life > crisis? > > Thanks > Gary > A15

Better late than never!! ride safe, MotorMark http://www.geocities.com/motormark64/ http://www.angelfire.com/mo/motormark/ KLR-650 A-13 "warthogg" XR250R "superfly" Stone Mountain, Ga ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Harry Thames]

Harry Thames South Carolina

> > > When I used a shop towel to soak up the excess, I noticed quite a few > > metal shavings. Looked like aluminum. Hope that's normal for the > > 1st oil change. > > Buy a magnetic drain plug from Fred. >

Even Fred's magnetic drain plug won't attract the aluminum.

[Mark Wilson]

> > > When I used a shop towel to soak up the excess, I noticed quite a few > > > metal shavings. Looked like aluminum. Hope that's normal for the > > > 1st oil change. > > > > Buy a magnetic drain plug from Fred. > > > Even Fred's magnetic drain plug won't attract the aluminum. >

After the first, or maybe second oil change, you shouldnt see any more aluminum stuff in the oil. It is normal break in stuff. MotorMark

[D.J. Rogers]

Yeah, you can change the filter without worrying about losing a lot of oil. Just leave it on the side stand for a while to allow the oil to drain out of the filter. FWIW, there is always a bit of oil left on the filter chamber and I usually just wipe it out with a rag. The metal in the filter and surrounding area is scary, but normal I think (anyone?). The worst part about doing an oil change (especially the first one)is seeing all that stuff in the filter. I've got 10K km's on my bike and still see some (and it's had 5 oil changes). Don't sweat it unless it seems excessive. Cheers, D. GBG eh14

[aches@deltech.net]

hey guy, I have to go with the Professor on the NOT running the engine for a bit with ZERO oil pressure. Not good for the plain bears none. Needles and ball bearings don't to much care as long as there are wet. If you ran too long without Oil pressure on these the heat would become a factor sooner or later and hence bearing discoloration and failure. Seen this too much on the , too many to want to remember, engine teardowns I've done when making a living as a drill rig mechanic for 20 years. Lots of industrial engines start with the governor in the wide open position and activate as soon as the gov get op (oil pressure) to get it working. But this full throttle start shows up during teardowns as opposed to the guys whom forceably hold back on the throttle and not let the engine haul butt till the gov takes over. What I do and have forever is just drain what comes out, put the recommended amount of oil, GO RIDE. People really get entirely too serious about this oil thing anyway. Go do your maintenance, don't make yourself more trouble than necessary by trying to over emphasize the stuff. and go enjoy that scooter. -- Best Regards & Happy Trails Andy Chesley @ 57 and ticking in Jennings in SW Louisiana Y2KLR650 @ 7+K sMiles 97 R11RA (Amiga) @ 16+K sMiles So Many Roads, So Little Time http://members.deltech.net/aches/