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Hazmat situation with oil change - tips please

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by Hot01, Jul 16, 2007.

  1. Hot01

    Hot01 Active Member

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    This might be a stupid question, but here goes. I use the Scavenger system to get all the dirty oil out of my 88B. The only reason I bring this part up is because I'm removing the oil filter and the puck that comes with the system, so I get the mess twice. Is there any way to get the filter off the bike without having an oil spill? I put the oil drain pan under that part, but I spend more time mopping up the oil that gets all over the bike than the actual oil change itself. There has to be a better way.
    Hot01, Jul 16, 2007
    #1
  3. ringo912

    ringo912 Active Member

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    Most bike shops sell a plastic trough that slides under your oil filter and seats against the face where the filter screws on. It exits to the side of the bike and the oil runs down it and into your pan. Or you can make one yourself out of an empty plastic bleech bottle.
    ringo912, Jul 16, 2007
    #2
  4. Clem

    Clem New Member

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    Aluminum foil...and a plastic tray designed to fit under the filter. Works fine for us. No spills, no mess on the engine, frame or mount. The pan is there to double the safety factor to prevent a spill. There are probably other sensible ideas here too...
    Clem, Jul 16, 2007
    #3
  5. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Cardboard works well, plastic etc just slide under the filter.

    I shove some paper towels in the slot between the floorboard and the side of the motor where the oil drains out.

    No way to get rid of 100% though.
    hotroadking, Jul 16, 2007
    #4
  6. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    i use a heavy duty tin foil...(type for wrapping briskets and ribs on a smokerpit)....i shape it to fit around the filter and slide it past the housing a bit. the length is long enough to get out past the floorboard to drain into a pan. i loosen the filter a bit before doing this so i can get the filter off with my hand. once the foil is in place i take a long sharpened screwdriver and drive it into the upper side of the filter, then again in the lower side. (note) this is looking directly on the filter.....12oclock is high, 6 is low....let the oil drain into the pan....when finished, remove filter and wipe the housing clean, pull tinfoil, install new filter with a bit of oil/grease on the filter gasket...so far my shop floor is clean!!!!:) hope this helps a bit....
    chucktx, Jul 16, 2007
    #5
  7. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    I use a 2lt Dp bottel , cut the bottom off & make a cut away about half way down both side's & cut it off , to be able to handle the filter from the top bottle will fill with the little oil from the filter &the filter as well you can pour it right out the same way, leave the cap on , & it will fit just under the filter mount
    :cool:
    cowboy, Jul 16, 2007
    #6
  8. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    lots of good ideas here.........aint this place grand??!!!!:)
    chucktx, Jul 16, 2007
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  9. ringo912

    ringo912 Active Member

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    Hey Chuck...your shop floor should be clean, don't most dedicated Harley owners change their oil either in the living room or family room? :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
    ringo912, Jul 17, 2007
    #8
  10. Hot01

    Hot01 Active Member

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    Thanks! Lots of good ideas. Chuck's sounds a little vicious, but it might be a good way to keep that creepy neighbor from staring at me while I'm doing the job.
    Hot01, Jul 17, 2007
    #9
  11. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    well, im not creepy, but i do like to watch women changing stuff!!!:roflmao:
    chucktx, Jul 17, 2007
    #10
  12. Tomflhrci98

    Tomflhrci98 Active Member

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    I just pick my bike up over my head with my right hand and unscrew the filter with my left hand. Easy.

    I just never know what to do with the gas that pours all over my head. :D
    Tomflhrci98, Jul 17, 2007
    #11
  13. ringo912

    ringo912 Active Member

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    I probably wouldn't light up a smoke right away.:eek:
    ringo912, Jul 17, 2007
    #12
  14. FlynDutchman

    FlynDutchman New Member

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    Im with you man....cardboard works pretty good & its cheap & plentiful
    FlynDutchman, Jul 17, 2007
    #13
  15. kenfuzed

    kenfuzed Administrator Staff Member

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    Cardboard, cut 2 liter bottles, or my neighbor's Sunday paper that he never reads anyway... whatever I find at the moment always works for me. I get it all drained without a drop on the floor. Then being the klutz that I am I usually trip over the drain pan and then spend the next hour cleaning up the mess, DOH!

    Speaking of oil messes, here's a strange but true tip for soaking up the worst of spills. Go to your local hair salon or barber and ask them for the days worth of cut hair they are throwing out. Stuff the hair into ladies nylons or pantyhose and knot them so you have a stuffed tube. Then when you have a spill use them to soak up the oil. Sounds strange but this was actually discovered by a hair stylist years ago and the idea was adopted by hazmat teams for removing oil slicks from coastal waters. Hair will soak up oil faster than sand or kitty litter.
    kenfuzed, Jul 17, 2007
    #14

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