Working on my motorcycle!
Well I did some work on my motorcycle Wednesday. What fun!
So my main goal was to change the oil, its been far too long. In fact I have no idea when it was last done since I've never done it before nor ever asked a mechanic to do it. (I've had the bike since April '97.)
So anyways, I try jacking the bike up a bit so I can see the oil drain screw so I can see how I need to it and what tools I might need. Unfortunately the bike fell off and landed on its side. However, the only damage was some scratches to the windshield. The rest of the bike landed on the footpeg and the very rear part landed on a random paint can that was on the floor and kept it from falling over more. It was still also partially supported by the jack which helped as well. So I lifted it back up, fiddled w/the windshield attachments since they'd been knocked out of alignment and all was happy.
But now I know what I need. a 17mm wrench, a funnel, some oil, something to catch the oil in, a new oil filter, and something to help remove the scratches from the windshield! So I ride up to the Arlington cycle store to get my new oil filter and some motorcycle oil. Nothing exciting there. Though I was reminded how fun a 'cycle is, I've not really used it in a month or so.
Go back home, drop off what I bought, head back out to the pepboys in Everett to get the other things I need, lots of traffic on Rt 16 as expected (this is like 5pm), but getting my stuff wasn't a big deal.
Get back, try to figure out how to loosen the oil drain screw, end up putting it on the jack and using some foot power to loosen it. Finally got it unscrewed and out shoots oil, much further than I was expecting some of it getting on the garage floor and the outside part of my oil catcher.
So put the drain screw back in, put the new oil filter in (and was amazed that I didn't spill any when opening the oil filter housing.) Put the new oil in, checked the level and all was happy.
Anyways it wasn't all that hard and I'm sure my motorcycle will be happier for it!
Now all I have to try to fix now are my rear directionals, do a tune up and just go through all the systems and get everything up to spec again. Its been a few years since its had a full round of maintenance and its nice knowing that I can probably do it myself.
So my main goal was to change the oil, its been far too long. In fact I have no idea when it was last done since I've never done it before nor ever asked a mechanic to do it. (I've had the bike since April '97.)
So anyways, I try jacking the bike up a bit so I can see the oil drain screw so I can see how I need to it and what tools I might need. Unfortunately the bike fell off and landed on its side. However, the only damage was some scratches to the windshield. The rest of the bike landed on the footpeg and the very rear part landed on a random paint can that was on the floor and kept it from falling over more. It was still also partially supported by the jack which helped as well. So I lifted it back up, fiddled w/the windshield attachments since they'd been knocked out of alignment and all was happy.
But now I know what I need. a 17mm wrench, a funnel, some oil, something to catch the oil in, a new oil filter, and something to help remove the scratches from the windshield! So I ride up to the Arlington cycle store to get my new oil filter and some motorcycle oil. Nothing exciting there. Though I was reminded how fun a 'cycle is, I've not really used it in a month or so.
Go back home, drop off what I bought, head back out to the pepboys in Everett to get the other things I need, lots of traffic on Rt 16 as expected (this is like 5pm), but getting my stuff wasn't a big deal.
Get back, try to figure out how to loosen the oil drain screw, end up putting it on the jack and using some foot power to loosen it. Finally got it unscrewed and out shoots oil, much further than I was expecting some of it getting on the garage floor and the outside part of my oil catcher.
So put the drain screw back in, put the new oil filter in (and was amazed that I didn't spill any when opening the oil filter housing.) Put the new oil in, checked the level and all was happy.
Anyways it wasn't all that hard and I'm sure my motorcycle will be happier for it!
Now all I have to try to fix now are my rear directionals, do a tune up and just go through all the systems and get everything up to spec again. Its been a few years since its had a full round of maintenance and its nice knowing that I can probably do it myself.