changing transmission fluid

[wildwood]

Hello, all -- I've been riding motorcycles and scooters for several years; I've even owned two Kymcos before my new 2009 XC250.

The bike I bought was a dealer demo/auction purchase -- it had 250 miles on it.  I've put another 250 on, and since I'm nearing the 600 mile service mark, I want to do the oil change/transmission fluid change in my garage.

Oil change is no problem, but I'm trying to figure out the service manual instructions for changing the tranny fluid -- it says to remove the bolt, drain the fluid (turning the wheel) --- and then to replace the bolt and new washer (?) and THEN refill with fresh SAE90 fluid.  Is there another place to add the fluid, or am I supposed to use the exposed bolt-hole before replacing the bolt. 

Thanks for your help.

[de-dee]

you should have a bolt at the rear of tranny for filling,. and only put the right amount in, or it will end up in your air filter ,   it happend to me with my 300i downtown,. 

[CosmoKorny]

One for draining, one for filling.  .18 liter.

[CosmoKorny]

Hello, all -- I've been riding motorcycles and scooters for several years; I've even owned two Kymcos before my new 2009 XC250.

The bike I bought was a dealer demo/auction purchase -- it had 250 miles on it.  I've put another 250 on, and since I'm nearing the 600 mile service mark, I want to do the oil change/transmission fluid change in my garage.

Oil change is no problem, but I'm trying to figure out the service manual instructions for changing the tranny fluid -- it says to remove the bolt, drain the fluid (turning the wheel) --- and then to replace the bolt and new washer (?) and THEN refill with fresh SAE90 fluid.  Is there another place to add the fluid, or am I supposed to use the exposed bolt-hole before replacing the bolt. 

Thanks for your help.

And welcome, it's great to have another xc250 owner on board!

[wildwood]

Thanks - I appreciate the pictures, as well.  When I changed the oil, I used a simple measuring cup from the local Wally World -- it had the mL markings, making it easy to measure .9 L of motor oil.  How did you measure .18 L of transmission fluid?  Did you must eyeball the .2 mark?  Also, it appears one needs a special tube or super-skinny funnel to fill at that bolt location....?

[MaryK]

Many get a Vet. syringe or turkey baster to add oil to the rear gearbox.
The syringe has cc (mL) measurements on it and a big needle or tubing makes the job easy.

Some use a ketchup dispenser.

Maybe these conversions will help

180 mL = 6 oz.
0.9 L = 30 oz ,which is close enough to 1 qt.

There is a plastic tapered measurement cup, used for making oil:gas dilutions for 2-cycle engines.
It is pretty good for the smaller measurements. 

scoot safely,
 

[wildwood]

Thanks for the help.   Any ideas on reinstalling the bolts with "new sealing washers?"  Are these washers available at the local Home Depot?

[MaryK]

If you do not over-tighten them, the washers are good for about 3 uses.  Try to keep the same side towards the bolt.
Measure or take it to an auto parts store for replacement.... about $2 for 2 or 3.
Be sure to get the same composition.  Plastic & rubber ones tend to vibrate loose.

Scoot safely,

[CosmoKorny]

All these years, changing oil and doing it wrong every time... and I have yet to replace a drain plug washer.  I wonder how many oil changes my Honda Odyssey with 301,000 miles has been through.  Of course now that I've jinxed myself I'd better schedule a trip to the auto parts store.   

[MaryK]

The metal for an automobile oil pan tends to be stronger (and heavier) than the scooter/motorcycle counterpart,
so it is best to err on the safe side, especially when giving advice.
 If I said "Reuse the seal and just keep tightening it until it doesn't leak",
 I wouldn't go to scooter heaven.

scoot safely,

[CosmoKorny]

The metal for an automobile oil pan tends to be stronger (and heavier) than the scooter/motorcycle counterpart,
so it is best to err on the safe side, especially when giving advice.
 If I said "Reuse the seal and just keep tightening it until it doesn't leak",  I wouldn't go to scooter heaven.

scoot safely,

I stand corrected.   

[wildwood]

Well, I did it -- and I gotta say, changing the tranny fluid is a huge p.i.t.a.  I'm going to look into the vet syringe method and see if that works better.  Thanks again for the help; I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon.   

[CosmoKorny]

Well, I did it -- and I gotta say, changing the tranny fluid is a huge p.i.t.a.  I'm going to look into the vet syringe method and see if that works better.  Thanks again for the help; I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon.   

Glad you were successful.     But a huge pita, really?  Taking it to a dealer, dropping it off, getting a ride to work, waiting for the service to be completed, getting a ride back to the dealer, now THAT is a pita.

[wildwood]

Good point, Cosmo -- I am a do-it-yourselfer at heart; I always prefer to wrench on my toys in my own garage, if at all possible.  The p.i.t.a. is getting the oil into that tiny opening -- a lot of trial and error, using an oil squeeze bottle.  My initial expectation was that it would be as easy as changing the engine oil...but you live and learn. 

[CosmoKorny]

OK, well here's what I did.  Marked "full" on oil bottle, poured .18 liters into a cheap measuring cup, marked new oil level on bottle, poured oil back into bottle, squeezed oil into fill hole until oil reached new mark.  Now you know for next time. 

Oh, and I see I put decimal point in the wrong place when I wrote on the bottle.