ooops, givi engine guard blocks oil drain nut

[fazer.rider]

so i was so happy when i found out the givi engine guard doesn't block the oil filter so i went and bought it. even during installation i never realized it blocks the drain nut. i went to do oil change and just discovered this today lol. it's a mild annoyance but since the givi has saved my engine once already it's paid for itself.

so now i can't use socket wrench but i think regular wrench should do it. but i don't have the right size so the oil change needs to wait. just wondering, anyone with sw-motech engine guard want to comment on whether it blocks the filter and/or drain nut? thanks.

 

[dean owens]

not sure if i could fit a socket on it. i just used the toolkit wrench. but i had no problem with the drain plug. the oil filter on the other hand is a smidg of a pain. i can't use any oil filter wrenches. my first oil chance required a screwdriver and multiple holes in the filter. but when i put the new filter on i put it on hand tight. so hopefully it won't be so hard to get off next time.

about your drain plug... i read somewhere on here that someone who had a givi guard shortened the plug by cutting some of the threads off to make it easier to get out.

 

[D-Mac]

I have the SW-Motech engine guard.

I've done 5 oil changes since I got it and it does not block the drain plug in any way.

It doesn't block the filter either, although it's a tight fit if you want to use a longer filter than stock (I've done it). With a standard-length filter there's plenty of room to fit a filter wrench or strap wrench over it.

 

[RJ2112]

I have the SW-Motech engine guard.

I've done 5 oil changes since I got it and it does not block the drain plug in any way.

It doesn't block the filter either, although it's a tight fit if you want to use a longer filter than stock (I've done it). With a standard-length filter there's plenty of room to fit a filter wrench or strap wrench over it.

Good to know, DMac... where did you buy the guards from, how much with shipping, and how hard was the install?

 

[D-Mac]

Good to know, DMac... where did you buy the guards from, how much with shipping, and how hard was the install?

I got them from TwistedThrottle.com I can't remember the price since it was a year ago, but you can get a current price with shipping from their website.

You can also buy highway pegs that attach to the guard (sold separately - you also need to buy the right clamps - I got all that stuff from twistedthrottle).

 

[fazer.rider]

I have the SW-Motech engine guard.

I've done 5 oil changes since I got it and it does not block the drain plug in any way.

do u use the cap style socket filter wrench? from the pic on twistedthrottle it looks like the guard blocks the filter a little. could just be the angle of the pic though.

 

[D-Mac]

I do use a filter wrench, but it's an open-face type that fits over the end and then grabs the sides of the filter on the ridges (not a cap style). The guard might interfere with a cap-style wrench a bit - especially if you using a socket-type wrench with an extra long filter. You should still have enough room to make it work though.

If the filter is really stuck, most filter wrenches can slip, so then I get out a strap wrench. Any size will fit over a standard filter, but a smaller strap wrench works better if you have an extra long filter on there. When I first put the guard on, I had an extra long filter that was on REALLY tight (if you do a search you can find some pics of my guards with that filter). I ended up using a strap wrench and crushing the filter before I could get it loose.

When changing the filter, I'd suggest the following:
-wipe the grime off the outside of the filter before attempting to use a wrench to remove it.
-a strap wrench is the absolute best filter wrench out there. It's never failed me yet.
-don't forget to lube the rubber seal on the new filter with some clean oil.
-hand tighten the new filter, or if you feel it's absolutely necessary do no more than about 1/8 of a turn with a wrench after it's hand tight. It's ALWAYS on there tighter than it seems because the oil forms a seal. It will NOT come loose.

Now to start a controversy.....I now use the Walmart Supertech ST6607 filter. It's standard length, highly rated, and costs under $3. It's an oil filter, not a rocket. With regular oil/filter changes, your engine will last far longer than you'll ever keep the bike.

You knew this would turn into a oil change thread. All threads do :spank:

 

[FuriousGeorge]

I use a cap style wrench with my Motech guard, although it's a pretty tight fit. If I remember correctly I need to put the cap on the filter first, then put a ratchet on the cap. Probably wouldn't work if you're using a longer filter than stock.

I'm with D-Mac. Love those $2.50 ST6607 filters. I know it's a religious thing, but for me it's cheap filters and oil changed frequently.

 

[fazil]

At last, i grinded outer side of the oil plug nut. Around 2-3 mm i guess.
Now i don't need to untighten engine guards from the frame every oil change.