Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MECHANICAL & TECHNICAL => Topic started by: huahuafish on June 11, 2006, 03:59:11 AM

Title: surprise oil change
Post by: huahuafish on June 11, 2006, 03:59:11 AM: recently got a problematic 91' Bandit 400 to start running again...so I thought "hey, why not an oil change to really sweeten this thing"...

so I got all my tools, reached down to the drain plug (nut) to unscrew it and drain the oil, and with less than 4 short twist it CAME RIGHT OFF...and after the drain I CANT PUT IT BACK ON CUZ THE DAM THING IS NOT THE RIGHT SIZE AND WAS APPARENTLY HELD ON BY SHEER WILL POWER AND GUNK...

dear BanditAlley...is a correct size drain plug pretty easy to find, or do i have to shave off a bigger nut to make it fit? the one right now is juuuuust a bit too small to make a tight fit...is there anyway i can make it fit?
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: Arkan Eller on June 11, 2006, 07:21:51 AM: Are you sure it's the wrong sump bolt and that the thread isn't damaged?

This is just my two pence, but I crashed 3 years ago at triple figure speeds cos the thread was damaged on my sump plug and it came out whilst riding along. This is very unpleasant and I don't care how good a rider you are, if you're moving when this happens, it's all over!!

I changed the whole oil pan for about £20 ($30) from a breakers, rather than trying to repair the thread etc. Ebay might be a good choice for a pan or bolt?
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: huahuafish on June 11, 2006, 07:21:59 PM: huh...thats not a bad idea changing the whole oil pan...i plan on going to the dealer first and see if i can find a bolt that's bigger. If not then i'll see about changing out the oil pan

but will I be able to find a 91' Bandit 400 oil pan that easy?
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: jbrough7 on June 11, 2006, 07:35:58 PM: Here's one . Would all 400's be the same? Doesn't specify the year.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Suzuki-GSF400-GSF-400-Bandit-Oil-Pan_W0QQitemZ2455738076QQcategoryZ35595QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

good luck!
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: stormi on June 12, 2006, 02:04:56 PM: You can also try several of the members here that are parting bikes out. (Try the B4 forum and the for sale forum)

The dealer may have a larger bolt, but it likely will not self-tap. You'll still need to have the threads properly tapped. (believe me, you'll be happy about this every time you change the oil, and everytime you ride and don't find oil under her. Or of course, every time you -don't- have the situation that Arkan Eller had.)

And of course, as I mentioned in your other thread, do -not- buy a self tapping drain plug for her.
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: stormi on June 12, 2006, 02:06:36 PM: Quote
Here's one . Would all 400's be the same? Doesn't specify the year.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Suzuki-GSF400-GSF-400-Bandit-Oil-Pan_W0QQitemZ2455738076QQcategoryZ35595QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

good luck!

That one would work for him, but ... Apparently that one's been on ebay for ages. The only reason something doesn't sell, is because it's over-priced. Most of the people I've talked to on the board are willing to sell their pans for $20USD.
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: huahuafish on June 13, 2006, 01:23:43 AM: holy smokes I was just about to buy that oil pan....good thing I decided to come here first ....

the Suzuki dealer recommended a heli-coil, a.k.a Steel Thread Insert, does that sound like a good idea?
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: Daytona on June 13, 2006, 02:37:30 AM: Quote
="huahuafish"]holy smokes I was just about to buy that oil pan....good thing I decided to come here first ....

the Suzuki dealer recommended a heli-coil, a.k.a Steel Thread Insert, does that sound like a good idea?
Yes yes yes! Installed correctly its better than the oem! Cost of coil kit is about $10.00'you will have to remove pan anyway. :beers:
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: huahuafish on June 13, 2006, 04:53:20 AM: well...just took the oil pan off...the thread for the bolt is more worn out than Jenna Jameson's you-know-where...

looks like it's time to head to the local shop for a helicoil kit, and a new gasket from Suzuki...
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: stormi on June 13, 2006, 01:11:25 PM: Quote
well...just took the oil pan off...the thread for the bolt is more worn out than Jenna Jameson's you-know-where...

looks like it's time to head to the local shop for a helicoil kit, and a new gasket from Suzuki...

I'd actually rather see you tap it out. The pan has "channels" for the oil to flow to the drain hole. A heli-coil will not allow as much of that oil to escape. unless of course you don't put the coil all the way up, but then it's not as strong as it could be. A tap won't cause that problem.

Helicoils are great for other parts of the bike though, cause like Daytona said, they're stronger than factory original.
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: Daytona on June 13, 2006, 01:21:21 PM: Quote
I'd actually rather see you tap it out. The pan has "channels" for the oil to flow to the drain hole. A heli-coil will not allow as much of that oil to escape. unless of course you don't put the coil all the way up, but then it's not as strong as it could be. A tap won't cause that problem.

Helicoils are great for other parts of the bike though, cause like Daytona said, they're stronger than factory original.
The same folk offer a sleeve type that can be lock tighted in place! I have never seen how thick the B4 pan is! But on a GSXR1100/B1200 eng i have installed the helicoil insert with pan still on the eng with no probs to my knowledge! This uses the same plug, Tap it and you will have to use some other plug. SAE/JIC/PIPE, tapered! YUK JMOP! :beers:
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: stormi on June 13, 2006, 02:42:28 PM: Quote
The same folk offer a sleeve type that can be lock tighted in place! I have never seen how thick the B4 pan is! But on a GSXR1100/B1200 eng i have installed the helicoil insert with pan still on the eng with no probs to my knowledge! This uses the same plug, Tap it and you will have to use some other plug. SAE/JIC/PIPE, tapered! YUK JMOP! :beers:

The part where the thread is, is about 3-4mm (approx 5/32") high (IIRC),.. it's not that big. We played with the idea of helicoiling it as well, but in the end, it turned out that the channels would be interferred with, or else, not enough threads would be inside to make us confident with the repair.

Do you know, since you didn't take the pan out to heli-coil it, that the last of the oil is not sitting at that coil and unable to escape? (That pan may also be different)

I believe that suzuki sells an over sized drain plug. (Or a good parts person should be able to see which bikes have a larger one than the original, i.e. a b600 drain plug, etc.) If they don't, you can get a metric one from many of the auto parts stores. No tapered or SAE etc bolts required.
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: Daytona on June 14, 2006, 02:13:26 AM: Sounds like the way to go stormi. The B12 is much more hefty than that. 5/32" no wonder so many have problems! :beers:
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: huahuafish on June 15, 2006, 03:28:55 AM: I checked in with the local Suzuki dealer and other service shops and turns out tapping with or without helicoil is $35 - $40, having Suzuki order me a new oil pan is $75, getting the one on ebay is $55 with shipping...

I found myself agonizing over this time and again, so..during lunch break today I caved in and ordered the oil pan on ebay.. :sad:

ONLY TO FIND OUT 2 HOURS LATER THROUGH EMAIL THAT SOMEONE ON BANDITALLEY HAD THE OIL PAN FOR SALE...

I cried a lil...
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: snofrog on June 24, 2006, 05:29:40 PM: I will weld and tap it for you for the cost of shiping
Title: surprise oil change
Post by: rider123 on June 28, 2006, 04:04:16 PM: I heli-coiled my GS750EF 3 years ago and it's still going strong. No problems at all. I would suggest the heli-coil unless you want to keep this bike long enough to give it to your grandkids.