DIY Oil Filter cover

[4jranch]

Planning a long cross country this summer I knew that I wanted to cover the oil filters on our bikes to prevent damage on gravel roads or the odd object on pavement. We do not plan to use our bikes off road and I didn’t want the weight and expense of any of the skid plates.
So here is my inexpensive solution to the problem.

First I removed the plastic OEM skid plate. Looking it over carefully I noted where I might attach the additional cover.

I then cut a piece of cardboard for the pattern.

 

[4jranch]

After getting it the right dimensions I then folded it to fit. Working to get it to fit well, cover the oil filter and attach where I wanted to place screws to hold .

 

[4jranch]

I then moved to metal for the final cover. I had some old license plates that seemed to be about the right thickness and strength for the job. I cut and bent them to match the cardboard and then fitted them to the OEM skid plate. They were light enough to bend fairly well using a vice and hammer. I matched drilled them and the skid plates and mounted them with #8 1/2 inch screws, washers and lock nuts.

 

[4jranch]

After confirming the fit they were then painted and mounted.

 

[4jranch]

They seem to fit well and will not have to come off the OEM skid plates as the whole unit will be removed to change the oil.

 

[4jranch]

My wife's may have turned out better. Second model.

 

[hojo in sc]

Well done!

Here is what I have, sorry, I opted to buy one;

http://www.murphskits.com/product_info.php?products_id=427

 

[scott123007]

I then moved to metal for the final cover. I had some old license plates that seemed to be about the right thickness and strength for the job. I cut and bent them to match the cardboard and then fitted them to the OEM skid plate. They were light enough to bend fairly well using a vice and hammer. I matched drilled them and the skid plates and mounted them with #8 1/2 inch screws, washers and lock nuts.

So your state requires a license plate on the front of the vehicle too. Eh? ???

 

[EricV]

Good job on the DYI project. If you ever do a Gen II version, or someone else reads this and copies your idea, it would be smart to give just a little more room in front of the oil filter. Better to give it a little crush zone, than rely upon just the thickness of the metal plate and oil filter. Not a lot more, but perhaps 3/8" to 1/2" gap. Yours appears to be a bit closer than that.

 

[racer]

That's a lot of work and looks like home made. Before I got my after market skid plate, I expoxied a rare earth magnet inside a cup type oil filter wrench and placed it over the oil filter. The magnet not only holds the wrench on the filter, but it also will collect stray pieces of ferrous metal inside the filter. Looks a lot better too!

 

[4jranch]

It does look home made in these photos. I tried to get close ups to show how it attaches and covers the filter. Looking down at the bike from adult height it really looks much better.
I do like the magnet and filter wrench idea. Had I thought of that probable would of used it. On the other hand this wasn't too much work and except for the screws and nuts I used stuff I had in the shop.


More clearance? Maybe. If I used a stiffer metal I don't think that would be an issue. Time will tell. This is my first go at this problem, maybe all that will be necessary. The current oil filters that are on the bikes are somewhat longer than the OEM filters which I plan to use for our trip. That will give me the room you suggest.