New member with oil filter questions

[Bubba89000]

Hello there my name is Ivan and I just purchased an XS1100H. I'm from Vancouver, Canada (Westcoast).

I did an oil and filter change yesterday and had a few questions.

I was wondering if the 4 stroke Castrol 20-50 is good for my bike?
Also when installing the oil filter, there were 2 rubber grommet or o-rings on each end, and when installing the filter onto the bolt, the grommets came out and I had to put them back on the filter, and put the filter back on the bolt.

Also I am not sure I put the oil filter housing on the right way...the tabs are facing forward toward the front of the bike.

Is that ok?

Anyways I hope I can get some help around here as I don't know too much about this bike!

PS - I will get some photos up as soon as I give her a good cleaning.

[Bubba89000]

I will be starting my bike up as soon as I figure this out so any help would be much appreciated.

[WMarshy]

Hi bubba, Im new here too and lemme tell ya, these guys know their stuff. Theres a lot of good things already out there on this site. Take some time and read up beacuse they have many good "tricks" that will prove to be useful. My owners manual says you can use 20W/40 type "SE" motor oil, or SAE 10W/30 type "SE" motor oil. Oil and filter replacement should take 3.5 lit, and just changing oil will take 3.0 lit. Hope that helps! I have yet to change my filter so I cannot help with orientation, the manual just says make sure the o-ring on positioned correctly... Good luck.

[bikerphil]

The tabs on the oil filter housing should be toward the rear. This keeps it fixed in one place to keep from spinning when tightening. If you have it together already and full of oil, I wouldn't worry about it though. It'll work just fine that way with no leaking. You can always correct it at your next oil change.

[BlackD1114]

If you look closely where the filter housing sits you can see where the tabs of the filter housing fit up. You'll see the square recess on the engine. But like bikerphil said, if you already have it back on just change it around after your next oil change.

[fredintoon]

Hi Ivan & welcome,
Castrol 20W50 motorcycle oil? Ooh there's posh. I use the Canadian Tire 20W50 motorcycle oil myself because I'm cheap.
About the oil filter. There's an o-ring on the centre bolt where it goes through the filter cover casting. First to go on that bolt inside is a spring then a flat washer then the new filter element. The filter element has flat rubber mouldings built into it that fit around the centre bolt. There is also a large o-ring that goes in a groove in the crankcase where the casting fits. The dogs on the casting point backwards and fit between dogs on the crankcase to stop it spinning as the centre bolt is tightened but as has been said, if it seals, that don't matter.
BTW, only a cupful of oil comes out with the filter, the rest has to be drained through the main oil drain plug. Did you find it?

[Bubba89000]

Thanks for the help guys! I was referring to the rubber orings on both ends of the filter...they came out when i put the filter through the bolt. I put them back in though. I was just wondering if i disturbed the seal?

[John]

You didn't hurt anything by reinstalling the grommets back onto the filter. You could have had a problem if you hadn't put them back on.