Too Easy???

[Bill W.]

Took the big plunge today - changed the oil and the oil and transmission filters. I have been using this site to try to figure out how hard it was going to be, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Took about three hours start to finish! I don't want to brag, but I didn't think it was really all that hard. Maybe I thought it would be harder because I had never done it before. The 6mm drain plug was tighter than it needed to be, I about broke my arm when it finally broke loose. Thanks to BajaRon for both filters and Orings, everything worked like it was made for it. I did make a little mess removing the trans filter, next time I'll put a few paper towels under the filter(Duh!!) to keep the oil from running all into the area under the filter, and then dripping on the driveway.

Anyway, with the oil and filters now changed, the weather can now officially get colder, but only if it wants to. I have been perfectly happy to ride to work every day with the temps in the morning in the 20s, and 40s or 50s in the afternoon. I will continue to ride to work until it snows (possibly Wed!)or until I get tired of my fingertips being frozen on the morning ride. I really like my Spyder!!

[pegasus1300]

The hardest thing about doing regular maintenance on a Spyder (other then valves on a 998) ,is getting the panels off and on to be able to get to the work area.

[Chupaca]

Well done.. now it will be a breeze the next time. Your not alone as one faces the task. Many before you have doubted being able to...

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Took the big plunge today - changed the oil and the oil and transmission filters. I have been using this site to try to figure out how hard it was going to be, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Took about three hours start to finish! I don't want to brag, but I didn't think it was really all that hard. Maybe I thought it would be harder because I had never done it before. The 6mm drain plug was tighter than it needed to be, I about broke my arm when it finally broke loose. Thanks to BajaRon for both filters and Orings, everything worked like it was made for it. I did make a little mess removing the trans filter, next time I'll put a few paper towels under the filter(Duh!!) to keep the oil from running all into the area under the filter, and then dripping on the driveway.

Anyway, with the oil and filters now changed, the weather can now officially get colder, but only if it wants to. I have been perfectly happy to ride to work every day with the temps in the morning in the 20s, and 40s or 50s in the afternoon. I will continue to ride to work until it snows (possibly Wed!)or until I get tired of my fingertips being frozen on the morning ride. I really like my Spyder!!

.... I lovvvvvvvvvve DIY'ers ... The next time you do this, after putting the Torx or Hex socket in the plugs give it a sharp Tap ( or two )with a Hammer .....this should brake the Varnish coating ( that forms with hot oil ) .....and to make sure you aren't tightening the Plug , set your ratchet to loosen mode before you put it in the plug .... Mike

[youngers]

[QUOTE=BLUEKNIGHT911;1320072] .... I lovvvvvvvvvve DIY'ers ... The next time you do this, after putting the Torx or Hex socket in the plugs give it a sharp Tap ( or two )with a Hammer .....this should brake the Varnish coating ( that forms with hot oil ) .... -------> .and to make sure you aren't tightening the Plug , set your ratchet to loosen mode before you put it in the plug .... Mike <----- are you talking about a torque wrench ?

[mcalva]

Happy to ear that. I'm waiting for the oil, the kit from Bajaron with spark plugs and wires and air filter.

If the only problem is to disassembly the latheral panels I don't wait for problems.

[robhowen]

Good for you! I'm not a mechanic, but I no look forward to doing work on my bike and with add-ons and other tasks. I'm finding my RT to be one of the most enjoyable bikes I've ever had to work on.

Rob

Took the big plunge today - changed the oil and the oil and transmission filters. I have been using this site to try to figure out how hard it was going to be, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Took about three hours start to finish! I don't want to brag, but I didn't think it was really all that hard.

[UtahPete]

The OP has a 2014RT. Same as mine. Good to know it's a simple D-I-Y job.

[Lew L]

The OP has a 2014RT. Same as mine. Good to know it's a simple D-I-Y job.

It really is pretty easy. I just don't see how the dealers charge so much $$ for this job when the hardest thing is removing the right side mirror.

Lew L

[UtahPete]

It really is pretty easy. I just don't see how the dealers charge so much $$ for this job when the hardest thing is removing the right side mirror. Lew L

They have to buy liability insurance for when their tech overlooks a few things...

[GOZFST]

The hardest part for me is getting the d**n mirrors of my 2012 RT.

[BrianO]

Took the big plunge today - changed the oil and the oil and transmission filters. I have been using this site to try to figure out how hard it was going to be, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Took about three hours start to finish! I don't want to brag, but I didn't think it was really all that hard. Maybe I thought it would be harder because I had never done it before. The 6mm drain plug was tighter than it needed to be, I about broke my arm when it finally broke loose. Thanks to BajaRon for both filters and Orings, everything worked like it was made for it. I did make a little mess removing the trans filter, next time I'll put a few paper towels under the filter(Duh!!) to keep the oil from running all into the area under the filter, and then dripping on the driveway.

Anyway, with the oil and filters now changed, the weather can now officially get colder, but only if it wants to. I have been perfectly happy to ride to work every day with the temps in the morning in the 20s, and 40s or 50s in the afternoon. I will continue to ride to work until it snows (possibly Wed!)or until I get tired of my fingertips being frozen on the morning ride. I really like my Spyder!!

Thanks for sharing Bill. I’d like to do my own oil change on our 16 RT. I’m not very mechanically inclined, but I used to change the oil on my car many years ago.
i think I’ll do the next change myself.

[Bill W.]

Like a lot of people have said, the hardest part is removing the proper panels to get to what you want to do. It all starts with one or both of the mirrors. Now that I am a seasoned veteran of Spyder maintenance(HA!!), the mirrors come off in a couple of seconds. For me, the second hardest part was getting the Spyder in the air high enough so that I could get under it to actually see the two drain plugs. I'm a visual learner, I have to see something being done in order to do it myself. Thank Goodness for YouTube and SpyderLovers!! Now that I know where everything is at, the next oil change will be cake.

To those out there who are on the fence about oil and filter changes, I look at it this way - you can pay the local dealer the $200-300 to do what you are perfectly capable of doing yourself, with the proper tools and equipment, of course. Or, you can get the job done yourself, with all of the satisfaction and pride and whatever else I can't think of right now. You'll learn about your Spyder, and be more involved in the maintenance aspect of ownership. I'm all about saving money if I can do it myself, and this last weekend was a huge boost to my self-esteem!

[CelticCross]

Like a lot of people have said, the hardest part is removing the proper panels to get to what you want to do. It all starts with one or both of the mirrors. Now that I am a seasoned veteran of Spyder maintenance(HA!!), the mirrors come off in a couple of seconds. For me, the second hardest part was getting the Spyder in the air high enough so that I could get under it to actually see the two drain plugs. I'm a visual learner, I have to see something being done in order to do it myself. Thank Goodness for YouTube and SpyderLovers!! Now that I know where everything is at, the next oil change will be cake.

To those out there who are on the fence about oil and filter changes, I look at it this way - you can pay the local dealer the $200-300 to do what you are perfectly capable of doing yourself, with the proper tools and equipment, of course. Or, you can get the job done yourself, with all of the satisfaction and pride and whatever else I can't think of right now. You'll learn about your Spyder, and be more involved in the maintenance aspect of ownership. I'm all about saving money if I can do it myself, and this last weekend was a huge boost to my self-esteem!

Just out of curiosity, what is high enough? I suspect that the height can vary based on how big the person is and their limberness so looking for a ballpark figure.

Thx

[Bill W.]

Just out of curiosity, what is high enough? I suspect that the height can vary based on how big the person is and their limberness so looking for a ballpark figure.

Thx

My driveway is sloped just enough that when I drive the front wheels onto 8.5" high ramps, the Spyder is still pretty level. That's high enough for me to stick my head underneath to see what the heck I'm doing. Plus it gets everything up off the ground a little higher so it's easier to remove panels, etc. I don't bend at the waist like I used to!!