oil filter cover studs

[davidduarte]

I had replaced these studs with allen head cap screws years ago, and never had a problem until this year. One night a month or so ago, after riding home from work in a fierce rain storm, I pulled into the garage, and just happened to look down to see the bottom screw was missing. Went to the hardware store the next and got a replacement. Today, I hopped on the bike to go to work, just turned off of my street when I noticed the oil pressure light was on. Looked behind, trail of oil behind me, puddle underneath me. Turned off the engine, and weighed my options. I ended up starting the bike up, riding just back up to my street, then killing the engine and coasting up into my garage. I'm praying that I didn't do any permanent damage. I'm planning to go back to the studs and bolts for that cover. I hope I didn't strip the lower hole out.

 

[Nessism]

How long did you ride with the oil pressure light on, and how fast did you go?

 

[davidduarte]

How long did you ride with the oil pressure light on, and how fast did you go?

maybe 10 or 15 seconds at less than 30 mph.

 

[salty_monk]

It's tough to get those studs from a store long enough... I got one that sort of worked but eventually had to cough up for the ones from Suzuki..

 

[Nessism]

maybe 10 or 15 seconds at less than 30 mph.

Okay then. That shouldn't damage the engine...much...hopefully.

 

[davidduarte]

It's tough to get those studs from a store long enough... I got one that sort of worked but eventually had to cough up for the ones from Suzuki..

I was in my local Ace Hardware store recently to get some replacement bolts for my CB200. They have a pretty good selection of both English and metric nuts, bolts, and other hardware. I even saw studs much like the ones in question, and I kept at least one of the old ones in my toolbox, so I'll bring it along to measure it.

 

[salty_monk]

I got some from Ace... they worked but you could only get the outside nut on about 2 threads.

It's weird that it came off... the force of the spring on the inside & the O ring usually work like a spring washer & prevent them working loose. Hope your threads not had it.

With a roller bearing crank & some lube present on the cams etc I would think you're going to be ok - fingers crossed for you

 

[davidduarte]

I got some from Ace... they worked but you could only get the outside nut on about 2 threads.

It's weird that it came off... the force of the spring on the inside & the O ring usually work like a spring washer & prevent them working loose. Hope your threads not had it.

With a roller bearing crank & some lube present on the cams etc I would think you're going to be ok - fingers crossed for you

unfortunately, the 450 doesn't have roller bearings.

 

[salty_monk]

- I'll cross them a bit harder then. Hopefully there was enough oil in there to keep the crank from damage.

 

[davidduarte]

got home tonight, and took a look at the oil filter cover. I'm lucky I didn't lose the cover, as one screw was missing, one was firmly in place, and the other about to fall out. The engine still turns; that's a good sign. I think at this point the prudent move will be to go back to the studs and nuts, and I'm thinking red Loctite might be in order for the studs.

 

[GregT]

Try looking for 6mm socket head grubscrews - available in lengths that are suitable and high tensile to boot.
Should be easier to find than studs - and you can hold them with an allen key while you tighten the nuts.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

This is how I fixed my oil filter cover permanently. As Greg suggests buy some 6mm hex grub screws of the correct length. Measure the depth of the holes in the crankcase, measure the thickness of the filter cover where the screws pass through plus a bit for the nuts to thread on and you will come up with the total length the grub screws need to be.

Remove the original studs using double locknuts, use red loctite and install the stainless grub screws into the crankcase. In my case I could only remove two of the studs and had to leave one of the originals in place.

After the Loctite has set replace the filter, "O" ring and cover and using nyloc nuts (nuts with nylon inserts) screw them into place and they will never come undone.

Some pics of my process below:

It will never come undone.

All finished. Replace the nuts as required if the nylon inserts get a bit worn.

.

 

[davidduarte]

Grrrrr...I put in new studs today, virtually identical to the original equipment, with red loctite, put on the nylon lock nuts, drained the remaining oil out, then put the plug back in and refilled it. Started it up, oil pressure light goes out, but then I have oil gushing out from the oil filter cover, at least I think that's where it's from. I hope it's not the base gasket. I'll have to have another crack at it tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Did you leave the filter cover "O" ring out when you put it back together.

 

[davidduarte]

Did you leave the filter cover "O" ring out when you put it back together.

Nope, that was in there. I may have to go back and get regular nuts, as it's possible that I'm not getting the nut on there tight enough. Stupid question, would the nylon lock nuts strip out if overtightened, thus protecting the threads on the studs? It's possible that I just didn't tighten them enough. I'm sure you can understand why I don't want to strip the studs

 

[Guest]

possible the oring slipped and you pinched it. its happened to me. good to have an extra on hand just in case.

 

[JEEPRUSTY]

Is that a giant spill of blue loctite on the right side of the cover.
could it be part of the problem? Did you sue and OEM filter? The gaskets that come with those are a lot better than a FRAM or other replacement.

 

[davidduarte]

the o-ring was messed up, and I think I know why I accidentally sprayed carb cleaner on it when I was cleaning out the stud holes. When I took the cover off, the o-ring was a big mess. I have another one though. On the other hand, on the 200, I managed to get my brake shoes in place, back in the rear wheel and got the rear wheel mounted, chain adjusted, brake arm and torque link back together and torqued, and axle nut torqued, with appropriate cotterpins all around. Then I discovered that Bike Bandit sent me fuel lines that are too small Oh well, another reason that motorcycles are easier than women. You can use your tools on one, then walk across the garage and use them on the other one, and neither of them get jealous

 

[davidduarte]

put the other O-ring in, cover on, socked in those lock nuts and topped off the oil, and no leaks! I know it's small, but it always feels good to square away a mechanical problem.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Well done David, those nuts will never come off now. Especially now they are torqued up to the correct tension.

A year ago I bought a small 1/4" torque wrench for doing up all the 6mm nuts and bolts on the 550/650, especially for the valve cover and such things. Last thing you want is a stripped thread in the cylinder head for valve cover bolts. Si I now torque all the 6mm nuts as a matter of course -- for one thing you can be sure it does not strip the alloy in the head, etc. and another benefit is the correct torque is applied to prevent leaks, etc. from the parts concerned.

So Nyloc nuts + new "O" ring + correct torque = no leaks and no nuts falling off or coming undone.

So all you need to do now is the same task on the 850.