Oil Change.

[alanp]

Has anyone got any good ideas for draining the oil tank without removing the tank from the frame and without getting oil all over the floor? I seem to get oil rushing out in a dam burst effect which overwhelms anything I put below the tank as soon as I unscrew the front filter plug. I did notice that Triumphs conveniently have a small drain plug at the bottom of their oil tanks (however that's the only positive I can see!). I tried draining through the oil pipe at the bottom connection with the engine casing but the flow was desperately slow.
Yours faithfully covered in oil,
Alan.

[MG]

This is handy:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/proxxon-proxxon-ap-12-universal-oil-pump-12v-dc-prod818506/

Cheers, Markus

[alanp]

Thanks Markus. On the suction theme you suggested I then checked out both electric and hand pump types. The buyer comments feed back on the hand suction type (Sealey and other brand names etc, all looking the same, probably the same Far East maker) was decidedly 'don't buy' and I eventually found the type you suggested on ebay for £28 delivered from Germany. Problem solved, thanks again. I'm rather looking forward to changing the oil the next time now.
Alan

[Triton Thrasher]

Has anyone got any good ideas for draining the oil tank without removing the tank from the frame and without getting oil all over the floor?

Don't do it over a floor.

[chaterlea25]

Hi Alan,
Here is the "Cure" I adopted  on my SR,
I brazed on a stainless steel stub, which is drilled and tapped to take a stainless drain plug with a magnet
the stainless stup isolates the magnet from the oiltank!!
On mere mortal "A's and B's,
To catch the oil into a draintray I use either a piece of plastic shaped, or an old silicone tube (gun size) cut lengthways
If you cut the side out of a plastic 5lit container, fold the cutout piece into a U shape keep it in shape with some insulating tape, and it will fit in around the oiltank and prevent oil going everywhere

Cheers
John O R

[alanp]

This an update on oil changing with the 12V suction pump I bought to avoid having to unscrew the tank drain filter thingy while its full of oil.
I carried out an oil change today and the pump worked but it took maybe 1/2 hour to get down to the bottom of the tank, However, I had ignored the advice they gave which was to take it for a run to get the oil warm which speeds things up due to the thinner oil. I sat reading the MCN while it was sucking away (Love the new Ducatis, the Diavel cruiser and Monster 1100 EVO). You can get right down into the 'orrible stuff' at the bottom of the tank as well. I might try it with a larger bore suction tube the next time, if I remember. It's quite a small bore suction pipe, as supplied, to get into car dipstick holes which doesn't apply to us.
With the tank empty it was almost a pleasure to unscrew the tank filter to check it was clear.
No oil on the garage floor, result.
Alan 

[MG]

Alan,
I've used the pump just last weekend on the A7, and with the oil being still warm after a short ride and the thin suction pipe removed, it took about 20 seconds to empty the tank. I'm only using the thin pipe for the very last residues at the bottom of the tank.

Cheers, Markus

[NickSR]

Hi John
I like the modifcation to the oil tanks.
Regards
Nick

[A10Boy]

I lean the R/H side handlebar against the garage wall on full L/H lock. The bike leans at about 30 degrees and gives me room to remove the filter plug and drain the oil. None spilt, none on the exhaust or floor.

[alanp]

Makes you weep really that the BSA designers didn't do anything about this problem. Maybe they did with the unit engined bikes, I don't know those bikes very well.