[Hot01]

can I not turn a wrench on my bike without losing blood?

I did my first oil change since the new top end on Sunday. Every time I try to remove the oil filter, the wrench slips off and a slam my hand into the cylinder. This time was particularly rough because I was in my temporary garage and didn't have any of the comforts of home other than 10 boxes of quilt fabric and my new loveseat and chair covered in bubble wrap. Everything I own is in the garage next door, but I didn't bother to label any boxes. The only thing I could find was my basket full of gloves and hats and stuff. I already had one do-rag ready to soak up the oil that was going to spill from the oil filter, so after I put the inch-long gash on the side of the knuckle on my middle finger, I had to go digging in the basket until I found a nice, well broken-in pink bandanna. My intention was to keep the pink bandana for blood and the do-rag for oil.

Of course the do-rag was quickly spent. Fortunately I found another one. However, even though I had the bandanna wrapped around my finger a few times, the ends were dangling down and soon the bandanna was soaked in blood and used motor oil.

I couldn't figure out why it hurt so much until I pulled the bandage off this morning. My knuckle is green and swollen, and has a huge gash in the side.

Makes me wonder if paying someone to do it isn't such a bad idea.

Does anyone have a non-slip oil filter wrench?

[CD]

I gave up on the fancy crap and use a $5.00 strap wrench from Checkers. Has a square end for a 1/2 ratchet and a 1" black strap. Works on about everything from EVO to Twinkie as you can wiggle it right by the crank sensor.

[chucktx]

i got one as a gift.....it fits the end of the filter, has a 3/8 square hole for a 3/8 extension and is cut out for the sensor. it is also made from billet alum. dont know who built it but i now have all my other oil filter wrenches hanging....and there are 6 of them up there.......collecting dust!

[Art_NJr]

Does anyone have a non-slip oil filter wrench?

Yes. Go to a local auto parts store & get a "one size fits all" filter wrench which is similar to a large set of Channel-Lock pliers. Has "grabber" teeth on it & although you may have to use both hands on a large filter, will grip darn near any filter there is. Just have to know which direction to turn.

I got one @ some chain-store like Pep Boys or AutoZone years ago & have used it on everything from the little filter on a small car to the big ones on a semi. Snatch a filter on a Sportster or a Dyna off in a heartbeat.

[chucktx]

maybe another tip on oil changing..........i use a piece of sheet lead. it is about 1/16 thick, and about 12" long. it bends real easy, and will slip under the filter all the way to the mount. i can form it to hit the pan between the board and frame without spilling a drop. i have used all sorts of contraptions and this seems to work best for me. a plumbing store should have it. it also trims real easy with normal sissors. i lucked out as i cast my own round balls for blackpowder shooting and ended up with about 400 lbs of the stuff. i would sell it but i think shipping would be a bit high.........

[Hot01]

There's a Checkers across the street from where I'm staying now. I'll give that strap thing a try. I'll also be looking for some sort of sheet metal to channel the oil. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks!

[chucktx]

be carefull with the sheetmetal......it will be sharp!!!!!!!! that is why i use the lead............

[ironhorse]

i use one if those one size fits almost every thing wrenchs and a piece of card board on the s- glide and the same metal wrench on the bro-by-laws heritage and he owns one of those vacume scavangers. as for the blood welcome to the busted knucle , I have more scares and problems with the hands than you could imagine and its more of a badge of honor than a scar, but if you can't deal with the scars then give me a call and i'll do it,.... for a sixer, ha ha

[Hot01]

Ha! I'm not sure how attractive busted knuckles are on a woman. Be careful what you offer Ironhorse, I've figured out that Cheyenne is not that far away.

I have a Scavenger system for my bike, but the mechanic who did all the work didn't think it was worth all the trouble and had concerns that I was turning the motor over without enough oil pressure. However, the biggest PITA about this oil change, other than trying to avoid bleeding out, was that I put 3 quarts in without checking the level and it was too much. Then I had to drain some. When I use the Scavenger to get all the oil out, I use about 3 1/2 quarts. I've been using the Scavenger for quite a while, and one has to wonder if that's why I was able to get a record number of miles out of my cam shoes.

[skull2007]

know what you mean i've been lookin hard at those K&N oil filters. K&N enjoys an excellent reputation, plus they have a nut thing on the end so all you need is a socket. looks really easy. might be the answer. as far the mess... engine cleaner and a garden hose

[SPORSTERBOY]

I USE ONE OF THOSE ONE SIZE FITS ALL PIECES OF CRAP, CAN'T EVER GET A GOOD GRIP DUE TO THE ANGLE AND DOWN TUBE IN MY WAY, ALWAYS END UP MESSING UP THE OLD FILTER, BUT IT'S COMING OFF SO IT DOESN'T MATTER, BETTER WATCH HOW MUCH OIL YOUR PUTTIN IN OR YOU'LL BE LIKE ME AND START BLOWING THE OIL CAP OFF, THAT'S A NICE MESS IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR HANDS BETTER, GET YOU SOME OF THOSE MECH. GLOVES, JUST KEEP THEM AROUND FOR WHEN YOU WORK ON YOUR BIKE.

[2fastnaz]

I can't turn a wrench on anything with out some blood loss. It just come with the territory

[mwelych]

Roger that... Meched for 11 years fore I hung it up.... Boy I had scars on top of scars... That's the way the cookie crumbles I guess.... Enjoy wrenching on your bike... It's a lot of fun, and you know the job was done right...

[FLHTbiker]

I change my oil just like Chucktx does except I use all my lead for molding round balls for my flintlock black powder rifles. I always use a piece of thin cardboard and shape it so the oil drops out the end into a small container. The filter wrench I use I purchased from the HD shop and its not made by HD. I think it might be Kent Moore and it does not slip. Put a 3/8 long extension and flex handle 3/8 drive long handle ratchet and works great. I've busted my knuckles on many things but never while changing the filter on my Hd. Sounds like you better get a good quality filter wrench. I can always pick one up for you Abby and send it to you. Personally I don't like bloody knuckles either.

[AFNurse]

don't feel bad...I am not a wrench, but everytime I TRY to be one, blood is spilt......and the bike don't bleed red.....so it must be mine!

[CD]

Originally Posted by mwelych

Roger that... Meched for 11 years fore I hung it up.... Boy I had scars on top of scars... That's the way the cookie crumbles I guess.... Enjoy wrenching on your bike... It's a lot of fun, and you know the job was done right...

Ahh, the good old days of finding out where all the cuts were when you stuck your hands in solvent. You knew exactly where each one was without lookin!

I got a lot of knicks and cut fingers etc working on stuff but the worst beast for "biting" was the F4 Phantom. You either duck walk or walk doubled over under the bird and every where you go there are sharp edges just waiting to give you a Phantom bite. At the end of the day you end up with galvanized saftey wire holes in your fingers, cuts and scrapes on your hands, arms etc and more often than not a nice scrape on some part of your back.

[FLHTbiker]

Speaking of cut knuckles I cut my knuckle of my index finger on the right hand while working on a diesel motor in Vietnam. There is still a dark spot from either grease or dirt that got into that knuckle and has stayed in the top of the knuckle all these years. Must want to remind me of the good old days. The worst was the cut and scare on my wrist from shrapnel at least that one got me 6 months of light duty and some really cool R&R.

[Art_NJr]

Speaking of cut knuckles I cut my knuckle of my index finger on the right hand while working on a diesel motor in Vietnam. There is still a dark spot from either grease or dirt that got into that knuckle and has stayed in the top of the knuckle all these years.

A new framing hammer with sharp teeth will get it off If you strike @ exactly the right angle! 20 years ago working with a sharp piece of sheet-metal that snapped like a spring, I cut my left thumb really bad - right across the knuckle & down the left side - severed a ligament, the artery & cut a little piece of bone off too. Had to have pretty involved surgery on that one & there was an ugly ridge of scar tissue that formed across the knuckle as the injury healed.

Got a new "waffle-head" framing hammer & of course the 1st thing you do with a new hammer (not intentionally) is smack a finger with it. Just so happened that I skimmed right across that knuckle - wiped the scar tissue right off. Bled pretty good for a while, but it healed up fine & guess what? That scar tissue never came back! Looking @ that thumb, there's no visible indication that there ever was an injury.

[FLHTbiker]

I have never hit myself with anything intentionally but I'll bet that new hammer of yours would do a job on my knuckle

[Hot01]

I still have a scar on my thumb from when I changed my headlight at the Tail of the Dragon last summer on my trip. I managed to stab myself with my other thumbnail while simply turning a screwdriver. It's nice to have souvenirs, but that wasn't what I had in mind.

Well I feel better now. I was worried that it was a chick thing, but apparently I'm in good company.