[Skippii]

A while ago, I decided to hit up some of the off-road trails in the woods on my DL1K.
I was riding hard, fast, and having so much fun.
Definately a great bike, even if it is a bit heavy for some of the stuff I was doing.
Ground clearence isn't the best, though, and a few times I had a rock scrape the belly of the beast, miles from anywhere. Still, no hard done, not even cracked plastic on the bottom.


Or so I thought.
...until I gave it an oil change.

Needless to say, I'll be breaking out the welder to fabricate a bash plate soon.

I'm really impressed, though. Not a drop of leaked oil, nothing loose. That oil filter mount is really strong, even if it is in a horrible place.

 

[Gravehunter]

Yah you got lucky there that the filter didn't puncture!! Time for a skid plate!

 

[Scubadvr]

Yeah, the OEM oil filters are a lot more robust than aftermarket. Even so, after a similar experience to yours, I bought a bash plate. Glad you weren't stranded - that's an adventure most of us can do without!

 

[Warhammer]

Yikes! Glad you didn't get stranded. I'm looking at bash plate options myself and I figure I'll end up making my own, too.

 

[Stromin'Nroman]

Wow, those filters are tougher than I thought.
I guess the filter mount has got to be pretty stout.

Did you buy a Lotto ticket when you got back to civilisation.

 

[Toto]

That will teach you for taking a street bike onto the trail!

 

[Skippii]

That will teach you for taking a street bike onto the trail!

Okay, I know I shouldn't feed the troll, but clearly
you don't know me very well.

I'll add that you don't know your bike very well if you don't think it will handle trails.

 

[Jimding]

Maybe

Maybe that's why the OEM filter has an o-ring gasket, and requires 2 turns past contact (usually not attainable without the assistance of either King Kong or a filter wrench). Maybe Suzuki figured it was gonna get bashed, and decided a whole bunch of gasket compression would head off leaks in all but the worst impacts, as well as heavily preload the mounting to prevent damage to that. Seems the trick to bash protection is not a heavy plate (exclusively), but strong mounting points.

 

[Stromin'Nroman]

Maybe that's why the OEM filter has an o-ring gasket, and requires 2 turns past contact (usually not attainable without the assistance of either King Kong or a filter wrench). Maybe Suzuki figured it was gonna get bashed, and decided a whole bunch of gasket compression would head off leaks in all but the worst impacts, as well as heavily preload the mounting to prevent damage to that. Seems the trick to bash protection is not a heavy plate (exclusively), but strong mounting points.

Good observation, I'll remember that as I try not to splotcher when I replace the filter.

 

[Toto]

Okay, I know I shouldn't feed the troll, but clearly
you don't know me very well.

I'll add that you don't know your bike very well if you don't think it will handle trails.

Just having fun Skip...no offence intended.:var_39:
Good thing you didn't rip the tin on that filter!

 

[rjsurfer]

On my next oil filter change I'm saving the old filter, clean it out and cut out the exterior shell.

I'm thinking that if I slide the old shell over the the new one it might act as a way to strengthen the filter housing. Might have to make slit in it though so it can go over the new one.


Ron W.

 

[Skippii]

Interesting idea there. I might look into that, as the Fram I've got doesn't look as durable as the Suzuki OEM did.

 

[Skippii]

Just having fun Skip...no offence intended.:var_39:
Good thing you didn't rip the tin on that filter!

No worries, mate I just get a little defensive sometimes when people tell me what I do isn't possible.

 

[Jon_PDX]

you don't know me very well.

Totally off topic but your ride report "Ride To Reddish Knob" was great

Hope you do not mind but I shared the link with a local list or riders.

Back on topic.......... it's good to know what I've read about the factory oil filter is true.

Glad it did it's job and you were not stranded.

Jon...

 

[Skippii]

Totally off topic but your ride report "Ride To Reddish Knob" was great

Hope you do not mind but I shared the link with a local list or riders.
Jon...

Not at all. Glad you enjoyed it.

 

[jonl]

Maybe that's why the OEM filter has an o-ring gasket, and requires 2 turns past contact (usually not attainable without the assistance of either King Kong or a filter wrench). Maybe Suzuki figured it was gonna get bashed, and decided a whole bunch of gasket compression would head off leaks in all but the worst impacts, as well as heavily preload the mounting to prevent damage to that. Seems the trick to bash protection is not a heavy plate (exclusively), but strong mounting points.

I am a new owner of a used '06 DL650, and changed the oil just once, before putting it away for the winter in mid-November. I tightened the aftermarket filter as I normally do - oil the gasket, hand-tighten, idle the engine for a couple minutes, shut-off, check for leaks, and replace the bash-plate.

Is it only OEM filters that require extra tightening, or does this apply to all filters? I assumed it is only the OEM that requires extra tightening.

I am careful about keeping an eye out for leaks and monitoring the oil level.

Does anyone actually buy the "Special Tool" the manual indicates is req'd for changing the filter?

 

[Jon_PDX]

As far as I know it's just the factory filter that requires the 2 turns.

I did not buy the special tool. Just went to the local motorcycle shop and got one that fits the filter. It's a 68mm filter cup wrench, fits over the end of the filter and has a 3/8" hole in the end for a ratchet or torque wrench.

Cost was $9.99 us

Looks like this.....
http://www.stridetool.com/tools/autospecialty/oilwrenches_02.html

Mine is metal, not plastic.

Jon...

 

[Skippii]

There's a special tool?

Huh...I'm turning into one of those guys I hate...those guys that have both the owner's and Shop manual, and don't bother to read either.

 

[tmcgee]

Wow, those filters are tougher than I thought.

Skippii was lucky. I did get a puncture on my filter and I was on the interstate in Providence, RI.

 

[Skippii]

Looks like this.....
http://www.stridetool.com/tools/autospecialty/oilwrenches_02.html

Mine is metal, not plastic.

Jon...

I use to have one of those, but always lost it.
Now I just have one of these. No idea where it came from...I know I didn't buy it, but it showed up in my garage. One of my former college roommates, I guess. Anyway, it works great.