Oil drain gasket
- Thread starter Dwido
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EricV
Riding, farkling, riding...
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12mm for both the oil drain plugs. Remember, there are two and both must be drained to get a complete drain at oil change time.
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
You probably know but the copper washers can be cleaned up, annealed and reused. Just get some fine grit paper and clean until flat, then heat until red and drop in some water. Rejuvenated washer to the rescue...
I use Yamalube and a couple of turns of plumber's ptfe/teflon tape as insurance too.
I use Yamalube and a couple of turns of plumber's ptfe/teflon tape as insurance too.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
I have never changed that oil gasket-washer on a Tenere.
However at about 160,000 miles that washer on my Goldwing developed a small crack so I replaced it.
However at about 160,000 miles that washer on my Goldwing developed a small crack so I replaced it.
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Sounds about right. If you look after them, they can normally go about ten changes. I have 5 on mine atm and at least 5 more unless cracks form like yours did...
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Don't use them when they are this far gone though. That is stretching it!
Ride
Member
I used some aluminum ones I had lying around (new). Any prob with this?
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
No problem.
Top Ten
Active Member
You are right. There's probably no bolt anywhere on a motorcycle that is more over-tightened than the oil drain plug. Most people think they can feel the correct tightness, but I prefer using a torque wrench if I have the specs and a torque wrench available.
RCinNC
Well-Known Member
Just an FYI, you can get a bag of 25 of these washers on Amazon for ten bucks. That's where I got mine. It wouldn't surprise me if they were a buck apiece if you bought them at OEM prices.
Even at near zero cost, I don't see the need to ever replace them. On the GL1800 forum, guys get all angry if you even hint at thinking of not replacing so I bought 10. I still have 10 spares and the original one doesn't leak yet after 16 oil changes.
RCinNC
Well-Known Member
LOL, Ron, I hear ya. I've seen crush gasket threads that basically degenerated down to "well, if you don't replace your crush washers every single time you change your oil, then you don't deserve to ride a bike and don't come crying to me if your bike explodes". For years I never changed them, but one of those threads convinced me to change my heretical ways and buy a bag of them. If I remember to dig them out of my motorcycle parts box before I start an oil change, I'll change them, but I still don't end up doing it every time.
I'm baffled sometimes by all the stories of guys stripping out the threads in the sump when they tighten an oil drain bolt. I've never used a torque wrench on a drain bolt, mostly because I'm not sure I'd trust my Pittsburgh torque wrench for it. When I'm tightening anything into aluminum threads, I really err on the side of caution. Basically I go finger tight, then snug up the bolt a little bit, then run the engine for a few minutes. As long as it isn't leaking, I'm good. I've never had one leak over time, and I've never had a drain bolt fall out of the sump, in close to 40 years of riding.
I'm baffled sometimes by all the stories of guys stripping out the threads in the sump when they tighten an oil drain bolt. I've never used a torque wrench on a drain bolt, mostly because I'm not sure I'd trust my Pittsburgh torque wrench for it. When I'm tightening anything into aluminum threads, I really err on the side of caution. Basically I go finger tight, then snug up the bolt a little bit, then run the engine for a few minutes. As long as it isn't leaking, I'm good. I've never had one leak over time, and I've never had a drain bolt fall out of the sump, in close to 40 years of riding.
Yeah, it's not a monetary thing, 'cuz you're right. . . . they're dirt cheap. It's a "my s**t's not leaking" thing. And, yeah, aluminum threads with steel bolts scare the crap out of me. I've never met a cross threaded bolt that I couldn't snap, so I know I have to be extremely careful with alu-min-ium.
RCinNC
Well-Known Member
It probably helps me that I fabricate a lot of stuff from aluminum, and I've tapped a lot of holes into it and threaded steel bolts into it. Over time I think I've developed more of a feel as to what's safe and what's too much. Which doesn't mean that I won't screw it up at some point, but so far so good.
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
The tightening or the pronunciation?
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Excellent. Saved ten bucks. Now I can afford to hang with the bimmer boys at Star*ucks twice...
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Yamalube is a great insurance as well...