| Author | Message | ||
     Pa_xb9sx  |
First, this is not a question about which oil to use. I would like to know what is involved in changing the oil on a 2005 XB9SX. Is this a simple process, or is it best left to the service department? | ||
| Darthane  |
Nothing is best left to the service department if you're halfway mechanically inclined. In the case of XBs, you ride for fifteen minutes or so to get it warm, then park it, put a drain pan under the swingarm and remove the dipstick and drain bolt (top and bottom of the swingarm, respectively). Let it drain completely, clean off the plug and replace. Remove the chin fairing so you can get to the filter (7 T27 Torx bolts) and remove it. Put 4oz of clean oil in a new filter and replace. Put the REST of 2 1/2 qts into the swingarm, replace the chin fairing and dipstick and off you go. Once you've done it it's a 15 minute job. Unless you really trust your dealer, do it yourself. (Message edited by darthane on November 23, 2004) | ||
| Xb9er  |
If you have to ask, then you better take it to the stealership.  RTFM and get a Torque wrench. Mike. | ||
| BadS1  |
Now how about that reply???Mike has this board ever helped you when you had question or a problem???Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning??? | ||
| Darthane |
Mike, if you read his profile, he doesn't yet HAVE a XB, therefore doesn't have the manual to read. Someone •••• in your Wheaties this morning or what? It's a valid question - some bikes have a much more involved process to change the oil than our lovely air-cooled, pushrod-driven v-twins. | ||
| Reepicheep  |
Nice Bike C! Thats a good question, I have changed the oil on a number of different brands, and the "PITA" factor varies widely. My old 86 Yamaha Radian was a moderate pain. Pull off the filter cover, and you get a handfull of parts spread all over the place, and it has to come out through the exhaust headers (still hot) and you need a goofy extension to get the (likely stripped) drain plug out. A buddies Kawasaki ZR7 was also a PITA, take a plate off, and you get a pile of parts falling down into your drain pan, and oil all down your arm. My old Cyclone was the best, pull a plug from a hose and direct the hose into a drain pan. Reach up and twist off the oil filter, no other tools, not problem, though removing the filter would drool down onto the headers / voltage regulator. I just hosed it off when done. My 9sx is only a little worse, not a big deal. You will need a Torx T27 driver, probably a socket to get the chin fairing off (4 bolts). A torque wrench would be good, but if you get the socket (to get it off) and just a normal T-27 screwdriver to put it back on, "about as tight as you can get it with the screwdriver" is not far off the correct tightness. The drain plug is right on the bottom of the swingarm, fill hole is the check hole on top. The one "gotcha" is that you need to put some oil in the filter before installing. I have forgotten this more then once. The oil filter crosses over to a normal automotive part if you can't get to a friendly local Buell dealer. There is great debate about oil, but any full synthetic of the right (or better) viscosity will serve well, Mobil 1 VTwin (20w50) or Mobil 1 15w50 are great and easy to find, harley full synthetic (20w50) is good also. I would not run non synthetic in a Buell I own unless I knew I was going to change the oil anyway in 1000 miles or less. It's a pretty easy job, just take your time and have the right tools and parts in hand (or be ready to go get them instead of rushing the job or ruining something by using the wrong tool). | ||
| Darthane |
Reep, can't you count? I swear, you techie people always neglect the other portions of your education...  There's 7 Torx bolts unless three of yours fell out! (Message edited by darthane on November 23, 2004) | ||
| Reepicheep |
I only did it once. Two on each side... oh yeah, and one up on the front. Forgot about that one. I remember a nun in 4th grade asking "so what are you going to do, spend the rest of your life with a calculator strapped to your hip?" No, as it turns out. It is also a cell phone, always on internet connected web browser, email client, secure shell vt220 emulator, AOL instant messaging client, scheduler, and address book, and yes, it actually is strapped to my hip. So in keeping with my above post, and my technical training, let me co-opt a quote from Donald Knuth, author of some seminal books on algorothim design... "Beware the following algorithim, I have only mathmatically proven it correct, not actually run it".  | ||
| Pa_xb9sx |
Thank you everyone for your help (especially Darthane). BadS1 is correct. I do not have the XB9SX yet, but I will hopefully be picking it up next week. (That's a rental that I am sitting on in the picture.) I just wanted to see what was involved before I buy it. I don't want to pay $50 every time I need an oil change. Sounds simple enough to change. Once again, thanks for all of your help everyone. | ||
| Odie  |
Neither of you can count, there is 7 bolts on my 12S chin fairing...   | ||
| M1combat  |
Odie's right... I've got seven on my "R"... | ||
| Darthane |
What are you talking about...that's what I said...seven! Most of the maintenance on these bikes is fairly simple, Pa, and as I said, if you're even moderately mechanically inclined, you can do anything required as regular maintenance by yourself in the garage without too much trouble. It doesn't require that much in teh way of oddball tools, either. My primary piece of advice - buy the Service Manual if you intend to do ANY work on it yourself. They are very well done and worth every penny. (Message edited by darthane on November 23, 2004) | ||
| Daves |
Pa, Could I interest you in a trip to Wisconsin? I have a buy,fly and ride promotion going. Part of it is a service seminar where we will show you exactly how to do your own oil changes. | ||
| M1combat |
"Part of it is a service seminar"... LOL... Just FYI Pa... That's a VERY small part of it . Check out the thread. It' seems to be a brilliant deal to me... I almost regret that I already have a 12R. | ||
| Tatsu |
Oil change is very easy to do. I would get a funnel or something like that to help get the oil in, or you'll waste a lot on the ground. Steps where described above. It's a very simple and painless process. I do it all the time. | ||
| Xb9er |
I'm just jealous 'cause she's getting a CityX and I'm not. I have never even tasted Wheaties but they tell me it's good stuff. Mike. | ||
| Joele |
Besides the simple oil change - you might also think about the other things that the dealer does during the 1k service (assuming that's what you are asking about). It seems to me that it would be a good thing to let the dealer see the bike for the first service and maybe the second, at least. | ||
| U4euh |
Pa Get the bike!! Trust what these guys here are saying. I have owned seven bikes, the XB is by far the easiest to do basic service on. Changing the plugs for the first time is trying my patience, but I will get thru it!! I still have to contact Daves to get them ordered. Keep his name in mind when you need to order parts. Good luck with the new bike. | ||
| Lovematt  |
One little trick I do is use tin foil on the end of the muffler to cover it and make a "drain river" into the drain pan...otherwise the oil goes all over the place. This is on a stocker...others may not have this problem. | ||
| Barkandbite |
I'm with Matt. The tinfoil trick rocks...works on the drain and under the filter. What I did (and this is my advice to all new owners) is to take it to the dealer for the 1000 mile to get it in the computer (this has helped on other vehicles/bikes when warranty issues arose) as I can then substantiate a regular maint. schedule in conjunction with my receipts. Also, if somethings going to get loose or otherwise need adjustment, if the dealer's half way competent, you'll get a checkup... YMMV...this is what I did and it works great for me. I do all my maintenance unless there's some wacky tool I don't have. Good luck. Get the bike (from Dave!) Chris |
