TC SOFA experience (so far)

[trdriver71]

There's the convience of being able to walk into any parts supller and buy an oil filter when you do this mod. Messy is one of the reasons I did it and I find oil changes are faster and easier. A Fram PH3950 or the Canadian Tire cross reference can be had for around $6.00.
Like I have mentioned before I have been able to find Quaker State oil on sale with a free Fram oil filter for $14.99 for 5 litres at Canadian Tire here in Canada. So it's also cheaper to do oil changes with this mod too.

I did buy my last filter from canadian tire that is the one I paid $10.00 for and it came with the new orings and the filter.

[Tropic-al]

How mine came out !!

My install was pretty simple following the instructions. I painted the PH6017A filter silver. It sits about 3/4" from the header pipe. Does anyone think it will be too close and get too hot?? Although it looks like it won't fit, it slides in and out pretty close to the header but with no problem.
I made a black mark on the case and the filter to check for it loosening up after riding. Have had no leakage problems. Easy to change oil now !!
Thanks for a great product TC !!

[Tropic-al]

SOFA oil filter options

TC suggests using the Fram - PH6017 for the SOFA. In case you can't get the Fram, don't want to use Fram, or just want other choices, check these others out.
K & N - KN303. In chrome KN303C.
EMGO -10-82230. In chrome 10-82220.
Hi Flo - HF303.
Vesrah - SF4005.
Yamaha - 3FV-13440-10-00.
Comparing them to the Fram, there is very minimal size difference both in diameter and length. The rubber gasket is same diameter in all.
Maybe if TC sees them he can make an observation as to the area where the oil passages are for being OK or not.
I know most in this forum look at prices before anything, so don't kill the messenger as some are expensive compared to the Fram. My intent is just to give other possible options.
As my setup brings the headers real close to the filter, the Vesrah gives a little bit more space between them to hopefully run cooler.

[TomB]

Nice job on the filter.

I don't think the heat from the header is an issue. Have you seen the Standard European bikes' oil cooler pipes, they run down the frame between 1+2 headers and 3+4 headers without any problems.

You'd think the close proximity of the headers to the cooler pipes would cancel out the benefit of the cooler






.

[Aches n Pains]

Is this the right filter? TC3950

[Tropic-al]

Is this the right filter? TC3950

If I understand it correctly, the PH 3950 is the one to use if you have the original version of the SOFA or the one with the oil cooler, SOFCA. This is an auto sized filter.
For the other model of the SOFA, TC (the builder) gave as an option the PH 6017. Being a motorcycle filter, this one mainly helps when you have space constraints between headers and filter. Any of the ones I listed above are substitutes for the PH 6017.

[Tropic-al]

Nice job on the filter.

I don't think the heat from the header is an issue. Have you seen the Standard European bikes' oil cooler pipes, they run down the frame between 1+2 headers and 3+4 headers without any problems.

You'd think the close proximity of the headers to the cooler pipes would cancel out the benefit of the cooler
.

Thanks Tom.
Although I have not seen the Euro models, your comment does make sense.