oil tank drain and other oil mess

rgla · Aug 26, 2011

what are people using to drain the oil tank without making a giant mess - i've been shoving a long funnel up against the bike and letting it drain into my drain pan - is there a better way?
also, is there anyting that fits under the bike with the center stand down to drain the oil without jacking it up - i'm tired of using my wife's tupperware.

Hobot · Aug 26, 2011

LOL!. Its one of Commando owners best kept secrets from outsiders, how diarrhea diaper like an oil change can be. I've made a sight tube hose I could just pull down into a jug and come back to later, no tools and not a drop missed, but that was on special Ms Peel , not on my factory Trixie. For her this last time I happened to grab a sliced off top of oil jug and it slipped under the oil tank and projected spout out enough when plug opened it all hit the catch bowl. Next time I'll cut-contour for better reach under tank and then use socket on extension to unscrew cap though the spout, ugh w/o any quick skill to open cap and slap 'funnel' on before you know what's messes the 'diaper' area.

Others can tell ya about foil sheets to propping bike up so oil falls out away from bike. Some may just stuff rags/diaper under tank.

Rich_j · Aug 27, 2011

Pump it out

cash · Aug 27, 2011

I made a trough too many years ago and still use it.

Cash

zotz · Aug 27, 2011

It's even worse with the 1970 style central tank.

batrider · Aug 27, 2011

I cut up a gallon antifreeze jug to make a large scoop-like funnel. I left one side long to get under the drain plug. I then wire this to the kickstart lever for hands-free draining. Don't forget to remove and clean the screen too.

DogT · Aug 27, 2011

On my central type tank, I pull the block off the timing side, that gets most oil out and then it's not too bad to get the screen out without oil all over. Need to keep gaskets handy. Or just let the bike sit a week or so and then it's nearly all in the sump anyhow, but it's not warm.

Dave
69S

1up3down · Aug 27, 2011

Ah, draining the oil tank!

Pull in the clutch, rotate the kick start all the way down and forward enough to wedge my right foot against it to stop it from moving, then I have enough room to stick a cut off large funnel hard up under the drain plug.

Following this athletic move is the crux pitch, doing all this while putting my right hand on the throttle grip and pulling the bike over toward me so it rests precariously against my left knee, enabling rightward last drop drainage.

Changing the oil on a Commando should be an olympic event.

steveyacht · Aug 27, 2011

I use a combination of a cut up Clorox bottle and a transmission funnel with the long neck. The bottle is cut to fit under the drain plug, the cap end is put into the trans funnel, and the small end of the funnel into a three gallon jug I use for my drain oil. Works pretty good.

bluto · Aug 27, 2011

I use an extractor similar to the one posted above, works great on the Norton tank and on other vehicles (tube goes down dipstick hole)....FWIW Napa has the bigger two gallon model on sale now

click · Aug 27, 2011

Hi,

I just use a piece of cardboard bent in a V, one end rests on the oil tank just under the drain hole, the other end empties into a container, simple, cheap & disposable.

Kevin

bmwbob · Aug 27, 2011

Automotive oil change pump. I suffered too many messy oil changes and crawling under cars!

mitchp · Sep 1, 2011

Plastic Coke bottle cut so it hooks under the oil tank- Simples!

Hobot · Sep 1, 2011

michp, I will follow your clever draining device design as best down and dirty easy cheap solution I've seen yet for a hick at heart.

Josh Cox · Sep 1, 2011

I use an oil extractor, like the one pictured above, it is a far superior way of removing the oil, you will be amazed at how much carbon and crap the pump will suck out of the bottom of the tank.

Flo · Sep 1, 2011

Blimey!
It is meant to make a mess & get it all over our clothes, that is why we were called greasers. :lol:

oil tank drain and other oil mess

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