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04-10-2010, 08:34 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sutton West Virginia
Posts: 430
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Oil fill plug
OK, ready for my first oil change. I read all the threads on recommended oil and filters, well a few dozen anyway. And yes I will clean the oil screen. But my problem is how do I remove the oil fill plug without messing up the nice chrome finish. Is there a special tool for this? What do you all use?
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Rick (Krash) Kestner Sutton, West Virginia VBA #01448 2008 Metallic Ocean Blue / Neutron Silver *the coolest colors*
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04-10-2010, 08:54 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Pasadena, Maryland
Posts: 124
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Oil fill plug
I use a piece of aluminum, a flat bar 1/8" thick. You can buy a small length at Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware or True Value Hardware. The piece I have was 1" wide and that is a little to wide to fit all the way into the slot so I just used my hack saw and cut the bottom about 7/8" wide and 1/4 " back so it would bottom out in the slot on the oil fill cap. You only need the piece a couple inches long. I put it in the slot and use a small adjustable wrench on the piece of aluminum to loosen and tighten the oil fill cap. It works great and doesn't ding up the cap. Don't use any kind of steel tool or screwdriver to open it because it will ding the chrome and dent the cap. BTW the cap is also aluminum that's chromed and a new cap cost about $32 from the dealer if you need to replace it. Don't forget to file all sharp edges where it makes contact with the oil cap.
BTW, I just changed the oil and filter and the gear oil in the rear end this afternoon on my 07 Nomad. Use the same homemade aluminum piece to remove and tighten the fill plug on the rear end differential when changing the gear oil. Don't overtighen either fill cap. Both have O-ring seals and the aluminum caps bottom out against the aluminum case in both locations. Just snug them. |
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04-10-2010, 09:54 PM | #3 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,329
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Oil fill plug
I used a longish bolt and put a large stainless washer on the end with 1 nut front and back to lock it. Find the right sized washer to fit the groove, no problem. Special tool number 001 for your tool box and no cutting required.
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Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad |
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04-10-2010, 09:57 PM | #4 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Braunfels, Texas
Posts: 1,162
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Oil fill plug
I have a couple of large, flat washers. The outside diameter is 1.75"×.130" thick (1 3/4"×1/8"). I keep one in my windshield bag and one in my tool box. If the plug is tight, then a screwdriver can be inserted through the washer for extra leverage. The washers will fit the final drive plug and the crankcase.
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Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13 |
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04-10-2010, 11:54 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,329
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Oil fill plug
I love both ideas. I will drop a spare washer in the toolkit now, thanks ndbigfish. Ringadingh that's got to get extra points for elegant AND dangerous looking.
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Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad |
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04-11-2010, 12:12 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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Posts: 21,926
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Oil fill plug
I have a tool that Chuckster made me out of aluminum. One side fits the groove in the cap, the other side you use an adjustable end wrench to remove/tighten the plug.
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Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 |
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04-11-2010, 02:50 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 275
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Oil fill plug
I use a flat washer as stated above, but ndbigfish has a great point. I'll get a second one to keep with the bike in case I need to add oil some time that I'm not close to home.
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04-11-2010, 06:01 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Psychiatric Ward FL
Posts: 3,429
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Oil fill plug
Keep it simple, I've changed my oil many many times over the last 7 years. Never damaged the fill plug.
The slot is wide enough (on my 03 1500 anyway) that I take a flat blade screwdriver and lay it down in the slot and voila it turns. I've also used a coin when on the road. There is no need to 'torque' it down extremely tight. MT
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04-11-2010, 06:58 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sutton West Virginia
Posts: 430
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Oil fill plug
Quote:
By the way I did find this on Ebay last night, looks like it would work. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT
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Rick (Krash) Kestner Sutton, West Virginia VBA #01448 2008 Metallic Ocean Blue / Neutron Silver *the coolest colors*
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04-11-2010, 07:04 AM | #11 | |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sutton West Virginia
Posts: 430
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Oil fill plug
Quote:
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Rick (Krash) Kestner Sutton, West Virginia VBA #01448 2008 Metallic Ocean Blue / Neutron Silver *the coolest colors*
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04-11-2010, 07:47 AM | #12 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Newburgh IN
Posts: 3,404
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Oil fill plug
I use a Quarter and a small adjustable wrench to turn it with.
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04-11-2010, 08:54 AM | #13 | |
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Montreal QC
Posts: 12,034
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Oil fill plug
Quote:
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Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136 |
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04-11-2010, 09:55 AM | #14 |
Top Contributor
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 5,915
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Oil fill plug
I put a thick terrycloth towel over the cap, then insert a regular large flathead screwdriver into the slot and let the towel be the buffer...like others have said..it does not need to be tightened to the extreme.
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Todd Frazier VBA #0003 VBA National Leader-USA Operations/Garage Moderator - RETIRED 2006 Black Nomad since she was born Greensboro, NC |
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04-11-2010, 11:27 AM | #15 | ||
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Oil fill plug
Quote:
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Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 |
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