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Oil Change with belly panel removal

agedbikeman

New member
Can someone point me in the direction, Yesterday I was reading on this site about 1330 RT oil change, when removing one of the under panels it's best to break off a piece of one of the panels, needless to say I can't find it today, a dealer also told me the same thing but at my age you think I can remember?, the way I see it looking under the bike, the oil will never drain straight out of the hole in the belly pan and you'll end up with oil everywhere dripping for eternity, can anyone help this ageing old soul?
Thanks for any input
Alex
 
I recently changed the oil in my wife's 2014 RTS and did not remove any of the pans underneath. I raised the bike at all three points and the oil drained just fine with no mess. Try it, you'll like it.
 
Can someone point me in the direction, Yesterday I was reading on this site about 1330 RT oil change, when removing one of the under panels it's best to break off a piece of one of the panels, needless to say I can't find it today, a dealer also told me the same thing but at my age you think I can remember?, the way I see it looking under the bike, the oil will never drain straight out of the hole in the belly pan and you'll end up with oil everywhere dripping for eternity, can anyone help this ageing old soul?
Thanks for any input
Alex

I removed the panels when I did my oil change, and I didn't break off anything:dontknow:.
Just needed to tap out the bolt that holds on the "deflector", there is a retaining washer on the bolt.

Neil
 
I just stuff a shop towel in the channel to catch any runaway oil. After doing two oil changes, I've never had a mess. I learned this trick from Shawn Smoak in his 1330 oil change video.

Pam
 
Good Video, But...


Wow ... That Shawn Smoak fellow has got a huge home tool chest - one of the largest I've ever seen - with every sized socket, wrench, and tool imaginable and he STILL had problems changing his oil at home without making a mess, and getting it inside the bottom pan. THEN he had to take the bike half apart to change the filter. :shocked:

I realize that for some folks, it brings a sense of accomplishment to do all this themselves. More power to you - and I mean that sincerely. For others of us (like me) however, it would only cause extreme aggravation to have to go through everything I just watched in that video, just to change the oil and filter. :banghead: In days gone by, I used to change the oil and filter in my cars, but after watching that video I am even more committed than ever to letting my friendly Spyder shop folks do my Spyder oil changes. nojoke
 
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Belly pans

I don't break off anything. On the left side, remove the side cover, then splash guard. You find the black panel held by a push pin. remove that, you will see a 10mm nut. Remove that nut, and lift the first layer of plastic away from the speednut. remove speednut (looks like a spring steel flat washer) and discard. remove bolt. Remove the push pins that secure the belly pan to the frame backbone. remove belly pan. I like to relocate them to a shelf in the garage. Engine drain plug is now in plain sight. Move to the right side. same trick, but black plastic has 2 push pins. now you can see the other drain. If you remove and leave off, future oil changes are much easier. Yes, you do have to remove the right mirror and wind deflector, side panel and acoustic panel to get at the filter, but you can do that while it drains below. all in, 30 minutes. spread plastic or cardboard - this motor likes to splash as it drains. hot oil is no fun. Joe
 
I recently changed the oil in my wife's 2014 RTS and did not remove any of the pans underneath. I raised the bike at all three points and the oil drained just fine with no mess. Try it, you'll like it.

:agree:, I changed my oil on Sunday (4th oil change) and as always never removed any lower splash guards and no mess to clean up...
 
Oil Change

:agree:, I changed my oil on Sunday (4th oil change) and as always never removed any lower splash guards and no mess to clean up...

You were ALL right, changed my oil today, no belly pan removal, no mess, just jacked up the front so I could get my head under to see the drain plugs

Thanks for everyones input.
 
A Contradiction Here?

I recently changed the oil in my wife's 2014 RTS and did not remove any of the pans underneath. I raised the bike at all three points and the oil drained just fine with no mess. Try it, you'll like it.

:agree:, I changed my oil on Sunday (4th oil change) and as always never removed any lower splash guards and no mess to clean up...
:hun: So how are you guys doing that when Joe has said (twice in this thread) that there are two drain plugs that must be removed, one of which is under the belly pan?
 
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