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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Did my first oil change today on the Vision, and what a pain in the ass. I have done many changes on my Vegas, but this thing made me want to scream.
I have used the same drain pan for years, but it just wouldn't fit under the Vision without the help of someone else leaning the bike to the right side. After it drained the pan got stuck, and luckily it was plastic. I had to compress it in order to get it out.
It would seem that if you do not do it just right it will get stuck, and you need a second person.
Yes I have a lift, but putting the bike on the lift just doubled the time it used to take me on my Vegas.
Then I grabbed the funnel I have used for years on all my bikes, cars, and ATVs, and guess what? It would not reach down in between the pipes and the brake lever, and again I was lucky it was a nylon plastic. It needed to be deformed to a point that it made it very difficult and slow to get the oil into the motor.
I've done many oil changes in my life, and have gotten to a point I could do it in a tux and walk away without a drop of oil on me. Not the case today, I made a nice mess of myself.
Am I missing something here? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 118
Capitol Region of NH | I just changed mine today as well. I have done it several times. I use an old metal roasting pan to drain the oil into and have a long transmission type funnel to replace the oil. Takes ma about 15 minutes total. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Sorry to hear all the grief you had. My experience has been just the opposite with the Vision. I have a pan that holds about 7 quarts. It is what I use when I change the oil on my car. It fits perfect under the bike on the kick stand. I slide it under and remove the filter by hand. Soon as it stops dripping I put the new on one. Then the drain plug. It took me a minute to figure out the easiest way to do it without getting oil all over me. I loosen the plug before I put the pan under. Than with a couple of threads left I slide the pan under. I have just enough room to use my fingers to remove it the rest of the way.
I did have the same issue filling it back up. I use one of the long funnels that you would use to put tranny fluid in a car.
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | You gotta have a long neck transmission funnel, that's a must.............. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | Jack Stands. One under each rear tip over. Bike stands up, no problem. |
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | The jack stand method i have heard before and no negative comments as long as your careful. The preferred of course is a front wheel chock for a bike similar to the CONDOR stands. If your purchasing the oil change kit, then you are getting the accordion funnel that screws onto the end of the bottle. Take one of the empty bottle and cut the very bottom out of it. Screw the funnel piece on to the bottle. The smaller end is threaded and will just lightly screw into the engine case. Don't force it or you will tear the threads out easily and have to hold the funnel in place by hand. Which is ok, but now if you have opened all the bottles you need, you can dump them in as fast as you can with your free hand. It will never back up or overflow. You get a minor amount of oil out of the end of the funnel when your done and taking it out of the engine case. Been doing it this way for the last 3 years on every oil change at the shop. Remember, only 4.5 quarts. lol |
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | Jesus Christ Steve, i just realized who you were when i looked at the last name. lol. Did not realize that you finally broke down and got a Vision. Good luck on your next oil change. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I wish I could put a photo here I was at wal mart and found a long neck red funnel for a $1.00 harley sells the same one but orange for $ 4.99 |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ...the Vision changes everything about what you do, and how you do it.... |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| dwhite28 - 2010-09-05 7:06 PM
Jesus Christ Steve, i just realized who you were when i looked at the last name. lol. Did not realize that you finally broke down and got a Vision. Good luck on your next oil change.
I didn't break down, I just jumped on an opportunity. We always wanted one, but just couldn't afford it. All Out was selling thier demo tour premium for $16.5k, and thought. When would this happen again, and the wife agreed.
When are you going to come back to All Out and wrench again? Heard you were going to be out of the area for a while. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Thanks folks. I did not get the kit, and I'm not going to turn this into another oil thread. I will say, I picked up a six pack of Fram filters online for dirt cheap.
Long neck funnel is a given, and next time I will use the jack stands on the tip overs - nice one.
I just hope I remember the advice since I only put about 12k a year on a bike. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | 12K is at least 3 oil changes. 5 if you stick to the interval in the manual. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| cw1115 - 2010-09-05 9:30 PM
12K is at least 3 oil changes. 5 if you stick to the interval in the manual.
If you stick to the manual, the filter will never get a chance to get the real fine stuff. Just as long as I'm not cooking the oil, I will run it out to 4k-5k. |
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Tourer
Posts: 353
| sgiacci - 2010-09-05 2:29 PM
I have used the same drain pan for years, but it just wouldn't fit under the Vision without the help of someone else leaning the bike to the right side. After it drained the pan got stuck, and luckily it was plastic. I had to compress it in order to get it out.
It would seem that if you do not do it just right it will get stuck, and you need a second person.
Am I missing something here?
I had similar issues with my Vision and my '05 8-Ball so I got me some 2 x 12's about a 1 1/2' long nailed 3 together for the front and back tire, did the same with 3 short 2 x 4 pieces for the kickstand, use my jack to raise it high enough to slide the blocks underneath, the pan I use (12 qt reservoir pan) now fits with enough room to remove the drain plug......... small 3 minute inconvenience. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | I'd rather ride. My dealer loans me a Vision so I can ride DURING oil changes. And I'm TOO OLD to crawl under ANYTHING to get covered in oil to save a buck. Same attitude about CAMPING. Rather stay in a 4-Star Hotel. With a Hot Wife - which I have. Life's TOO short for anything else.... |
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New user
Posts: 1
| All you need to do in order to really enjoy how easy it is to change the oil in the vision, is to change the oil in a can am spyder. Once you take an hour to remove plastic and all manner of pannels to access the engine compartment, you can finnaly get to work changing the oil. Witch is an endevor to get the orings and access to the filters. Remove the skid plates, The point is, the vision is a joy to work on, take your time and make a few changes in your tools. 15 mins and your back on the road. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 77
Virginia Beach, Virginia | Btw, if you bought the black premium, I almost bought that bike, too. David was pissed when I walked away from it, and so was I! Great bike and a very good deal. |
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Tourer
Posts: 576
, IA | 2 2x12 45 deg cut on end 1small piece under kick stand done as for camping just back from 2 month road trip even camped in BC no motels for us great time |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I don't pay close attention to the miles between oil changes. Somewhere around 4K with full synthetic the clutch will start to shudder a bit when released. Just not a smooth engagement. I know it's time. I was getting that same clutch feel around 2300 with the stock oil. |
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Tourer
Posts: 404
San Antonio, TX United States | donetracey - 2010-09-06 1:49 AM I'd rather ride. My dealer loans me a Vision so I can ride DURING oil changes. And I'm TOO OLD to crawl under ANYTHING to get covered in oil to save a buck. Same attitude about CAMPING. Rather stay in a 4-Star Hotel. With a Hot Wife - which I have. Life's TOO short for anything else.... A man of the same faith as me when it comes to the hotel and hot wife, or girlfriend in my case. Well done donetracey. And just so some know, Giacci has a spider and last i knew of he does his own oil change unless it just happens to be at the shop when i am there and he lets us do it. lol. But the Spyder really is an easy one to change oil on. Or so in my opinion. I have had vehicles that really are a pain now and then to change oil on, so in comparison, when i only spend about 20-25 min total for a quick down and dirty oil change on spyder, thats a good day. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| I was compairing it to the Spyder. The only difference between them is that the Spyder will bite you if you're not careful.
Next round should be easier than the Spyder, now I have been shown the error of my ways. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| Birdneckrider - 2010-09-06 4:13 AM
Btw, if you bought the black premium, I almost bought that bike, too. David was pissed when I walked away from it, and so was I! Great bike and a very good deal.
Thank you very much for not using your head that day, and I doubt David got PO'd. He is used to rejection. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| Hmm, I have a table lift thatdoubles as a bench in my garage, I usually spend more time cleaning it off for use than the time it takes to put the bike on it, remove the drain screw, remove the filter, and then put the new filter on, reinstall the drain bolt with a new crush washer and then put in 4.75 quarts of oil, total time other than cleaning off the lift is usually around 20 minutes, longer if I have time to fully allow the last little drip to drain out. |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | I bought a "Condor" at the Seattle bike show last winter so I could run the front wheel into it and hold the bike up. It sits right on the garage floor and makes it a snap to change the oil. The only bad part I found was the allen screw that's the drain plug, so I bought a spare and keep it in the side bag in case I strip this one.
The Condor was $260, delivered from Chicago. I thought it was a great deal until I got home and found, in my mailbox a week later, that Harbor Freight has something that looks the same for $39. Figures. First liar ain't got a chance! Still, from what I've read about the new '08 center stands for $300, I guess I'm still ahead of the game, 'cause my VV still turns and doesn't drag anything.
Anyway, I then sold my dually pickup and bought a 5X8 foot trailer with a tilt bed, and a 2X8" wood floor, and the Condor mounts right up to that with a bracket that was included. Now, I tilt the bed, drive the VV right up and into the Condor, and as the trailer bed goes over center, it flops down, I stick the pin in it, and throw on a few straps, and now I'm all set for towing behind the motorhome. So now I'm really ahead of the game, since it won't take long to break even on the oil changes I no longer have to do on a 7 mpg pigup, not to mention insurance, etc.
And the trailer has a 3500lb axle, good enough to haul a yard of dirt 4-5 miles behind the Jeep. And I freed up a parking space, too. Best of both worlds! |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | rainryder - 2010-09-07 7:03 PM I bought a "Condor" at the Seattle bike show last winter so I could run the front wheel into it and hold the bike up. It sits right on the garage floor and makes it a snap to change the oil. The only bad part I found was the allen screw that's the drain plug, so I bought a spare and keep it in the side bag in case I strip this one. The Condor was $260, delivered from Chicago. I thought it was a great deal until I got home and found, in my mailbox a week later, that Harbor Freight has something that looks the same for $39. Figures. First liar ain't got a chance! Still, from what I've read about the new '08 center stands for $300, I guess I'm still ahead of the game, 'cause my VV still turns and doesn't drag anything. Anyway, I then sold my dually pickup and bought a 5X8 foot trailer with a tilt bed, and a 2X8" wood floor, and the Condor mounts right up to that with a bracket that was included. Now, I tilt the bed, drive the VV right up and into the Condor, and as the trailer bed goes over center, it flops down, I stick the pin in it, and throw on a few straps, and now I'm all set for towing behind the motorhome. So now I'm really ahead of the game, since it won't take long to break even on the oil changes I no longer have to do on a 7 mpg pigup, not to mention insurance, etc. And the trailer has a 3500lb axle, good enough to haul a yard of dirt 4-5 miles behind the Jeep. And I freed up a parking space, too. Best of both worlds! Sounds like an exercise in efficiency. Well done!!  I like the condor wheel chocks. I don't own one yet but see them at every motorcycle show I go to. I think you are better off with the American made product rather than the $39 chinese knock off sold at harbor freight. I'd like to get a Condor and also a good motorcycle lift for the bike soon. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 77
Virginia Beach, Virginia | Not gonna touch that one-he is still better looking and better employed than me! Yep, regretted that one for a while but did ok with my SSG. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 77
Virginia Beach, Virginia | Not gonna touch that one-he is still better looking and better employed than me! Yep, regretted that one for a while but did ok with my SSG. |
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Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | Yeah, the Condor is aluminum, I don't know about the Harbor Freight one. The Condor also has really great decals, too. Which must be worth at least $175.00! LOL
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oil change stupidity