oil filter change rant

[650mark]

as has been pointed out many times before on this forum and on some others i have read, changing the oil filter on an xs1100 is a truly crappy undertaking.
the engineers(and i use the term loosely) who designed this mechanical abortion should be hung until dead, and then shot. i now am on tc's waiting list for one of his spin-on adapters and i can't get it too soon but i suppose it could be worse. oh wait, IT IS. to replace the oil filter on my 2007 yamaha vstar 1100 you must remove the exhaust system must have been the same damn engineers. too bad they are still around to continue their reign of terror at any rate, i put in mobil1 full synthetic for motorcycles and found an immediate and very evident smoothness in the way the bike sounds and shifts. the tranny is much quieter and smoother when shifting which was my main objective. it's amazing. i've used this oil in some of my goldwings and it didn't make nearly this much improvement. never had any clutch issues before with this oil so i don't expect any now. very worth it.

[James England]

I've never had the slightest problem changing filters on an XS1100. I've always changed them every 2,000 miles too. What is the problem about them on the US models?

[trbig]

I don't understand the problem either, James, unless he's got a 4-1 exhaust?

[650mark]

not a problem, just messy and not easy like the spin on filters on almost all of my other bikes. i change my oil and filters often and anything that will make the job easier and cleaner(tc's mod) is a plus.

[motoman]

I've never had the slightest problem changing filters on an XS1100. I've always changed them every 2,000 miles too. What is the problem about them on the US models?

+1...........dexterity practice....

[BA80]

It is kinda messy but it only has to be done every 2 or 3 months.

[jetmechmarty]

It is kinda messy but it only has to be done every 2 or 3 months.

I you ride a lot. Less often if you don't.

[BA80]

I you ride a lot. Less often if you don't.

Yeah, I just changed mine 2 or 3 weeks ago and I'm almost at 1000 miles already.

I'll probably change it again before I head that way.

[650mark]

it's funny how easily the miles pile up on these bikes. i went out to just "warm it up" a bit to change the oil and i ended up putting over 100 miles on it. some of my favorite routes on the other bikes were a little tedious but on the xs the power and smoothness make those same rides a real blast.

[mxmikie]

then again some people were not ment to change oil

[MPittma100]

Oil Change

I have been told that a cartridge type filter, like the ones on the bikes from the factory, are a better filter than a spin-on?

MP

[XS1100 Newbie]

Depends on the filter you buy. A Napa gold, or Wix (same filter) Is a good filter. Hastings make a good filter. Myself, i won't buy a Fram, or Purolator, and a few other filters. The Amsoil filter you buy for this bike is also a Wix.

[Diskman01]

Lol.. I HAVE to remove my exhaust to pull my filter. It's NOT a big deal. Maybe you need to let it cool down a bit before you stick your fingers around there. I even have a stripped out bolt. (Winter fix).

Bonus:

Here are the part numbers for the various stores for the XS1100 filter cartridge. Save yourself a BUNCH of $ instead of ordering from the dealer or even eBay.

Autozone: SP2

Napa: 4933

STP: SMO-2

O'Reillys Auto: Wix 24933 $6.99

Fram CH6002 (lol Fram)

[James England]

POssible mod to OEM filter housing??

Personally, I think the spin-on filters look awful. As I said, I've never had a problem with the OEM setup and Ive had 4 into 1 systems that even allow for the filter housing to be removed (eg Marshall, Sebring). I suppose a spin-on would look OK on a much modified XS1100 but, for the style I like to have (OEM) then the OEM filter housing is a must.......

One modification I did think of, based on the filter housing in my XJR, is possibly to drill and tap a small hole in the housing itself and put an allen bolt with sealing washer into it. As with the XJR, this would allow the filter housing to be drained of oil before removal. It's the fact that the OEM housing is full if oil on removal that makes it so sloppy to do if you're not careful; it tends to slosh over the top as the assembly is removed.

It might be necessary to alloy weld a thickening piece to inside the bottom of the housing, in order to give the drain bolt a good purchase? Then again, it might work as-is, given the thickness of the housing itself....

[fredintoon]

not a problem, just messy and not easy like the spin on filters on almost all of my other bikes. i change my oil and filters often and anything that will make the job easier and cleaner(tc's mod) is a plus.

Hi Mark,
and you an XS650 owner. At least the XS11 has a real filter rather than the XS650's wire mesh oil strainer.
And what's wrong with hot oil dripping off your elbows anyway?