My First Attempt At An Oil Change And Lube Job

[juice]

www.liquivac.com/

[MrKymco]

woo hoo!

i'm gonna get me some of that. as long as its safe. i've read where things like this can be bad for engine seals and what not, but have no idea about those on scooters. i mean its an oil pan, right? at the bottom of the engine, and it only takes seconds!

and while i am skeptical about it getting ALL the oil out from the floor of the pan, i figure the new oil will recondition whatever drops are left, and then all that oil will be sucked out next change

good deal

[Agent Bob]

You mentioned it wasn't the drain plug, but the oil plug/screen/spring thingy. Use care when re-installing. If it's the same as on my S200, you have to compress the spring while you start the threads, and if you're not lined up right, you could strip the threads if you force it on.

[spr0k3t]

I've learned you should turn the spring plug backwards until it seats in, then screw it in finger tight, followed by a 1/4 turn snug using a 17mm 6 sided socket.  At least, that's how it is on my s200.

[Whisper]

  Good News - That drain plug looks like common cast metal.  Not particulary strong, and any impurity,bubble, etc can make it quite weak. 

  I can pretty much assure you that it would take MUCH more force to rip the threads out of the engine case.  There is a lot of surface area on a bolt hole that large, a lot of surface to distribute the force.  And even milled aluminum would be stronger than die cast metal. 

  Just chalk it up to experience - The rubber O-ring will help keep the plug from vibrating loose.  Get is just a bit over snug, remember it isn't holding your scoot together.  (>.0 )

[Yager E]

When I first started working on my bikes, many years ago, my first oil change resulted in me stripping the oil filter cover bolts on a Suzuki 650. I immediately bought a 3/8 inch drive, click type torque wrench. Never stripped another bolt....the internet or a good service manual has the torque settings.

Did you ask about putting loctite on the cover? Nope sure wouldn't do that unless a manual recommended it. If you aren't an experience wrench turner, a torque wrench is a great investment!

[MrKymco]

woo hoo!  

thanks for all the posts, advice, tips, and words of wisdom on everything from tools to how to screw in the plug and everything else. it has been a GREAT learning experience!

i got the part and completed the oil change, and i BROKE the dipstick!  man oh man when it rains it pours. but no worries i made a makeshift dipstick and all is well in that department. i mean it still screws in and all, but the thin part that measures the oil broke from it's base.

i wonder if this ever happens to Vespa's  

anyway, i will tackle my gear oil in a couple or a few days, but for now i am just basking in the glow of my success. i can swear the scoot even has more oomph in the top end, too. probably just my imagination, but it got up to around 55mph today smoothly and in no time at all. i used Mobil 1 10W40 fully synthetic "High Mileage" motor oil designed for car engines with 75,000+ miles on them. it's supposed to have special lube and conditioners in there to help further reduce wear and condition seals and gaskets. i figure a new(er) small engine is similar to a higher mileage big one when wear is concerned, so its all good. and no LEAKS

oh, and my dealer had a Stebal Magnum TM80 horn for $15 like the one user Cortez put in his Agility, so i snatched that puppy up and am going to install it now. i am so excited! what a deal, and now i have a truck horn for my scoot. woo hoo it's gonna blow cagers right off the road!

so, off i go to view Cortez's tuturiol on installing, and i will post back with pics to say how it all went. hopefully i don't break anything else!

thanks again....everyone!  

[scosgt]

That plug is a STANDARD GY6 plug. Same as on the Chinese bikes, it even says GY6 on it, look at your photo.

Buy a few, they break all the time. Make sure to buy a bunch of the rubber O Rings, they leak all the time.

you can get the rings at any Ace hardware store, they have sizes that will fit just fine. I think the size officially is 38X30

[Whisper]

  When it rains it pours for you, Mr Kymco!  Did you fish the broken bit out?

  There isn't a dire need for the high milage oil - Your seals are fresh and pliable, and all the bearings should be perfect!  But there really isn't much difference anyway, between different types of oil - So you can't really go wrong!  Any synthetic in the recommended range will be great.  I'm a big fan of "Whatever-is-on-sale" brand

  Just make sure you are out of the next lane when you use Horn-asauraus Rex!  When you startle cagers on their cellphone, they tend to weave .  Always fun to watch, and I consider it a public service.  HA!

[jprestonian]

There's really no friendly way to honk a Stebel, either. It's literally sh!t-your-pants loud.
.

[MrKymco]

thanks for that info, scosgt. i'll keep some extras and some seals on hand. certainly is some soft metal, or so it seems

haha thanks, Whispers. yeah that darned dipstick. it didn't break off in the engine, but when i was wiping it! i mean, i didn't bend it really, or try to break it. just barely tweaked it one way, maybe. totally inadvertently. next thing i knew....snap! i stood there thinking 'WTF!!!'  so i made a makeshift one to measure my oil level out of a popsicle stick

Horn-asauraus Rex lolol

 i shall also keep that in mind about the cheaper oil

and yes jprestonian, i was dying to use my horn tonight. i was certain i would have the chance, as i had a 30 mile round trip through fast, Friday night rush hour traffic. cars zooming this way and that, myself dodging in and out and around things. it was good fun

but alas, not even once did i need to use the horn

also, i will post those pics of the swap, but as i was working i accidentally left the camera on and the batteries drained! the camera shuts off automatically after 10 min, but the batteries are old, i guess. and my stupid card reader doesn't work on my dumb computer.

no wait, i love my computer. i just hate the broken card reader!

the swap went well, however. and i got more shots then Cortez. i had to shave the inner part of the bolt hole of the new mounting bracket with a screwdriver so the bolt would fit through, as i haven't any tools that do that sort of thing, and it turned out well. got a good shot of that, too.

one thing that puzzled me (although i am sure it is easily explained) is that before the horn was mounted solid, it would not honk. just the sound of air came out. then once mounted securely it worked fine

i stood there thinking 'how the hell does the horn know if its mounted solidly or not?'

so far as i know, Stebal horns are not intelligent!

anyway, i will post those pics when i get them, and maybe even make a "how to" thread to go with. wouldn't hurt to have a fresh thread with instructions and pics, and potential problems laid out

i still have my gear oil to change, though. so this thread isn't dead yet!

thanks a million once more, guys. i am off and running with my Kymco!

[jprestonian]

one thing that puzzled me (although i am sure it is easily explained) is that before the horn was mounted solid, it would not honk. just the sound of air came out. then once mounted securely it worked fine

i stood there thinking 'how the hell does the horn know if its mounted solidly or not?'

My guess is that the body of the horn is a ground.
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