[Longpath]

Hey everyone, new here, but I have been lurking for a long time. I have an 05 Sprint and did my 18k oil change yesterday myself.

Everything was going fine until I got to the filter. At first I tried with my wrap-around type wrench, but of course there's barely any room for that. Still, had the filter not been on super tight, it would have worked. I struggled and struggled, but to no avail. I finally gave up and drove the .5 miles to a car parts shop and got the socket-type wrench.

Upon returning I was sure I would be done with all of this in 5 minutes. Not true. Though the wrench went onto the filter perfectly it seemed, every time I applied torque the shape of the filter would squirt the wrench right off. Add to this that it was on REALLY tight, requiring a lot of torque. I kept struggling. I began to wonder whether my last dealer (a group I'm not too fond of) had somehow glued the filter in place. I mean it wouldn't budge. I wound up using a couple of strips of cardboard in the wrench to add friction and then HAMMERING the wrench onto the filter, then tapping it as I applied torque. GREATGOOGLYMOOGLYTHISTHINGSONTIGHT! I said. Eventually after SEVERAL hammering and turning sessions, I got it and I then installed a clean filter HAND TIGHT.

Good luck out there folks, they're putting filters on with impact wrenches it seems.

[ This message was edited by: Longpath on 2006-12-01 10:41 ]

 

[vdlcinc]

On 2006-12-01 10:38, Longpath wrote:
Good luck out there folks, they're putting filters on with impact wrenches it seems.

You mean we're NOT supposed to use an impact wrench to put on filters :???: :???: :???:

 

[okcommuter]

I'm wondering if this isn't caused by the mistake in the user's manual...it says that the torque on the oil filter should be 30Nm...which is crazy tight for an oil filter...should be more along the lines of 12-15Nm.

 

[rodneybrown]

Never used a torque spec on an oil filter till my ST. Did it once and never again. I used a K&N filter which has a 17mm nut on it but K&N never learned to cut threads right. Yeh, I put the right torque on but spewed oil all over the floor. No more K&N and no more torque wrenches on the filter either.

 

[wills]

Get yourself a large size of channel locks, works every time. There is no need to over tighten the filter.

 

[airrider03]

When the filter spits off the socket wrench, drill a small hole in the hex of the wrench and use a short sheet metal screw to secure the wrench to the filter...sort of like "pinning" it to the filter.
Worked for me after my dealer overtorqued the filter.
If done correctly, it will not damage the engine internals.

 

[Aske]

I once owned a car that had been oil-serviced by an independent place. I went to do my next oil change myself and discovered that the oil filter was torqued very tightly. Very, very tightly. I increased my efforts more and more, until the metal body of the filter canister actually TORE itself off the base plate.

TAHT is a too-tight filter.

 

[DaveM]

Longpath,
I know just how you feel. The same thing happened to me when I did my last oild and filter change.

YES Stlakid I do my own oil and Filter changes :-D :-D :-D

Anyhow mine was on also ridiculously tight. My dealer does all the normal servicing and I change out my filter and oil every 5000kms as I have done for 30 years on all my bikes.

I don't normally have any trouble with the dealer as they all know me and we get along fine but I did call the service dept manager and asked him to boot some tech up the backside. It felt like someone forgot the smear of oil on the seal or just got carried away.

I did the same I went down the road and boaght exactly the saem socket type wrench......... no go. I borrowed my sons super dooper oil filter wrench it has three arms that close as you turn and that got the***** off!

Very annoying and so easy to avoid. I usually buy an aftermarket filter that is about 20mm longer and much easier to get off.

Davem

 

[omaz]

"I usually buy an aftermarket filter that is about 20mm longer and much easier to get off."

That's the ticket Dave! More filtering medium and easier to remove.

Incidentally old fellow, judging from your spelling I'd say that you were a bit overindulged when you posted your reply :-D :-D

 

[Yimm]

On 2006-12-01 10:38, Longpath wrote:

Upon returning I was sure I would be done with all of this in 5 minutes. Not true. Though the wrench went onto the filter perfectly it seemed, every time I applied torque the shape of the filter would squirt the wrench right off. Add to this that it was on REALLY tight, requiring a lot of torque. I kept struggling. I began to wonder whether my last dealer (a group I'm not too fond of) had somehow glued the filter in place. I mean it wouldn't budge. I wound up using a couple of strips of cardboard in the wrench to add friction and then HAMMERING the wrench onto the filter, then tapping it as I applied torque. GREATGOOGLYMOOGLYTHISTHINGSONTIGHT! I said. Eventually after SEVERAL hammering and turning sessions, I got it and I then installed a clean filter HAND TIGHT.

Good luck out there folks, they're putting filters on with impact wrenches it seems.

There are two filter wrench sizes that are only 1 or 2 mm apart. I figured this out when I rode a Honda. I couldn't understand why the filter wrench, that seemed a perfect fit, slipped on the filter when even a modest amount of torque was applied.

I bought the correct size. It is a tight slip fit and works perfectly evey time, tight filter or no.

 

[azicat]

Everyone, just save yourselves a lot of stuffing around and order Triumph Part # T3880312 (genuine oil filter wrench)

It only cost me AUD$29

 

[DaveM]

Thank you Omaz! :razz:

I'm only 47 by the way Well I will be on Monday.

Davem

 

[Longpath]

Well, with Yimm's advice (two wrenches 1mm apart), the fact that I chose the longer size, and the fact that I put it on with proper "torque" I don't think I need to buy Triumph's wrench, but thanks.

Maybe that's the punchline of their joke though...they put it on so tight they usually get people coming in begging for the wrench. A-ha.

 

[rodneybrown]

Longpath,
I think you use the same filter that the 955 does, and if so you can get a really good Purolator that is a bit longer. For the anal types you get a bit more filter area and a bit more oil capacity, but you can also grab onto it a lot better. Down side is, one guy said his got hit by a rock and spewed oil. I just think he had a bad karma day.
Gotta change my oil today or tomorrow and I'm going to hope for good karma.
Rod

 

[rodneybrown]

[ This message was edited by: rodneybrown on 2006-12-02 09:05 ]

 

[azicat]

It's always boggled me why people are happy to spend hundreds (if not thousands) on touring screens, grips, luggage, seats, exhausts, custom painted mirrors etc etc, then try to save $10 on a cheaper oil filter & generic wrench and stuff around wasting so much time...

 

[Pcdabbler]

Yes, but it is a genuine issue, the 05 onwards ST does have a slightly smaller filter diameter than the older sprints. Here in the UK an aftermarket filter remover, designed for bikes, was around £8 ($14) Well worth the investment !

 

[smartin108]

According to the 05/06 factory shop manual (not the owner's manual), the proper torque on the filter is 10 NM. That's where I have been setting mine with no leaks and no problem removing.

Steve

[ This message was edited by: smartin108 on 2006-12-04 15:27 ]

 

[jellero]

i had to use a screwdriver driven thru the filter to get the thing off the first time. i went to an after market filter that actually fits in a socket so it is easily removed. a light coat of oil on the gasket doesn't hurt when installing. j

 

[LoVel]

I will not let the dealer change my oil. It's too simple of a job if you don't over tighten the filter the last time you did it. All you need to do is tighten by hand and the next time it comes right of.

I wouldn't go to the dealer unless you have to. You never know who will be messing with your bike. The knew summer intern may be back there trying out the impact wrench. They may be letting the owners son see if he can do an oil change by himself. It's my bike they will not love her like I do.