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Oil change... check :)

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:30 pm
by rick
Yup... oil has been changed... all-in-all it was relatively straightforward :smt002

I began by running the bike for 20mins or so and the draining the oil via the sump plug. I then removed the magnetic drain plug on the side of the engine (I can see why people say Aprilia hired Gorillas to tighten these bolts!) and also removed the tube and fitted 13-15mm jubilee clips for future... not convinced those clips can withstand multiple removals :smt009

I also fitted the longer filer and new cap... I had to bend the clip for the three hoses but its all good now. I replaced everything, tightened everything up (although not too tight!) and fed the bike 3.5ltrs of oil, ran her for a bit, and then added another 0.4lts.

The gear changes when the bike was on the paddock stand were a lot sweeter... and neutral was easily achievable going up from first, whereas previous to the change I had to go down from 2nd... so I am a happy man!

Tomorrow are all spark plugs and then she'll be good for the weekend if Wifey allows me to go out and play (and similarly, mother nature!).

Next on the list - new tail tidy, indicators, belly pan, screen and a bloody good clean... which reminds me... I must book that session with nooj and sort out attending the aprilia meet (I'm on A/L during the meet, starting my new job June 1st :))

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:36 pm
by Aladinsaneuk
right - plug change

have you got an old vacuum cleaner? - those front plugs can get a lot shite around them..... get rid of the crap before removing the plug...

be careful with the plug leads.....

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:57 pm
by rick
I've got a 100 year old dirt devil thing I use for sucking up crap from plug recesses so it'll come in handy :smt003

Re: plug leads... are they fragile or someit?

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:14 pm
by Aladinsaneuk
no - but get a firm grip of the plug cap when you take them off - not the lead....

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:41 pm
by joecrx
what oil did you use rick ? for those slick gear changes

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 4:51 pm
by rick
15W/50 Semi Synthetic Putoline... never used branded motorcycle oil before so its a first on me!

I'm religious with my oil changes and have changed oil every 2,500-3,000 miles on all my previous bikes... so thats every two months for me when I used to commute! I used to use Hein Gericke own brand then and never had an issue.