To: wist@magpie.com
Subject: oil changes
Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2001 19:38:40 -0500
From: gayathri <gayathri>


I just had to do my second  oil change on my T5 (well, its had a
couple, but this is the second time I've actually done MYSELF.) 

You see, Motorcycle Boy raised his price on doing the changes
to: You have to at least show me you can do it yourself if you had
to...

Now, what no one had told me was that if _all_ you are doing is an oil
change, no filter, this is the _easiest_ thing in the world. It would
take longer to clean up the oil pan... 

But I hadda do a filter too.

First, I had to find all the tools. (the manual doesnt tell you what,
so I kinda had to guess... *stacks up tools on a rug on the floor)

Next, find the nitrile gloves. Blue hands. :)

Then I had to get the bike on the rear stand.

Now, I can get it OFF the stand, but I still havent mastered getting
the T5 ON the stand. *Push.* *Steps on stand* *bounces on stand*
*gets scared of dropping bike and makes big sad eyes at MB*

	He of course, holds the rear of the bike in one hand and does
	something with the stand and the other hand and the bike is
	up... damn it.
	
Next,  push the oil pan under the bike. Find the oil plug drain bolt
and make sure the oil pan is UNDER that... 

Get the correct socket on and try to remember "Lefty loosie, righty
tighty" which always gets confusing when one is on one's back on the
ground and under the bike kinda. *Stick hand out from under bike and
do the Right Hand Rule as taught in RPI's freshman year physics class*

	*have Motorcycle Boy LAUGH at you sticking your hand out from
under bike. Glare at him and forget which way you had to turn the
socket. Do Right Hand Rule again.*

As you are loosening the drain plug bolt and warm oil is dribbling on
your hands, hear MB say, "Dont drop the bolt" as it slips out of your
hand and falls into the oil pan with a BLOOP that gets stuff on your
hands and on the floor. Good thing you are wearing gloves.

Fish out bolt and clean it. these blue paper towels rock. Clean up
bloop on floor and set the bolt and crush washer aside. Clean Chain
while waiting for oil to finish dribbling out. (WD-40 smells nasty.)
Make  Motorcycle Boy go upstairs and get you IceWater since he's not
doing anything useful like Laundry.

Next, get the oil filter wrench and put it on. Of course you cant see
the filter, but you can do it by feel. I manage not to drop the filter
wrench in the oil. I get it onto the filter, and again, have to do the
Right Hand Rule while on my back. Filter comes off, more oil
gooshes. And some bloops. *darn it.*

ok, now the new oil filter has to be installed. First, clean off the
boss and the place that the filter fits with one of those neato blue
rags. Then, fill the filter about 2/3 full of new oil. and smear oil
on the gasket edge. (Dont over fill it, causing more oil to bloop and
covering the outside of the filter with.) Then, you dont drop it into
the oil pan and fit it onto the boss sticking out, but of course, its
slippery with all the oil you spilled on the outside, so you REALLY
have to be careful, and then you tighten it on... 

Then -- reinstall the copper crush washer and the oil drain bolt. 

Now, try and remember how much OIL is supposed to go into the
bike. *la la lalalala*  Go look it up. Tear house apart for stupid
little Triumph booklet. Add appropriate amount of oil. Close oil
plug. 

Drain used oil into the old oil containers. try not to spill it
all. clean up everything with cool blue towels. 

Moment of truth!

	Start the bike. Make sure nothing leaks. Go for a short
ride. Check again. All seems ok. 

Check oil level, dead on!

Whoohoo! 

I might be able to repeat that in 3K miles.

Gayathri
>--------------------------------------------------------------
 gayathri@world.std.com          Calamari Club #002, WSMC #158
'88 FZR400 ('gurlzbike')        '98 T595 Daytona, "huckleberry"

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