broken oil cap

[kerrfunk]

The lip of the cap snapped as I tried to remove the cap. So... how do I get it off?

And are they standard / common to most / all GSes? I see a cap on ebay for six bucks, listed under GS450. This is a 650.

[dorkburger]

Channellocks on the outer edge? Preferably with good teeth.

[tkent02]

Use a hammer and some sort of drift to turn it, like a screwdriver or something to drive it counterclockwise. Channelocks, Vice grips, anything like that should work.

As far as I know they are the same on all of the GSes. Suzuki still carries them, pretty cheap too.

[eil]

Suggestions above are pretty solid but if all else fails, you can remove the clutch cover (remember to buy a new gasket as well), drill two holes in to the cap, drive a couple of stout screws in, and lever it out.

I suspect the caps are very common among models, but check the parts fiches to verify.

[kerrfunk]

Suggestions above are pretty solid but if all else fails, you can remove the clutch cover (remember to buy a new gasket as well), drill two holes in to the cap, drive a couple of stout screws in, and lever it out.

I suspect the caps are very common among models, but check the parts fiches to verify.

The channel locks are not getting the job done, and there's less and less cap to grab on to. Makes the above picture look pretty good . I 'spect I'll be removing the clutch cover.

[tom203]

The channel locks are not getting the job done, and there's less and less cap to grab on to. Makes the above picture look pretty good . I 'spect I'll be removing the clutch cover.

Genuine vice-grips will work- no problem as long as there's something left to bite on.

[tatu]

You could tap it round using a sharp chisel on the edge and hit it with firm smacks like Tom says, you have to be firm because there's an o ring under that and rubber will tend to spring.

[kerrfunk]

Yes, I'm doing leftyloosy
I have made that mistake before, when trying to get the oil plug off under the bike. Upside down and I forget which way is righty or lefty..

I was not the last person to put the cap on, and I don't know when the cap was off last.

I have not tried any heat.

And there is just no good place to grab it any more. The sides are getting real chewed up and I decided to walk away

[chuck hahn]

Got a dremel??? Make a slit in the cap and use the biggest flat tip bit for the impact driver you have.. Heat the crap out of it and do the impacting with it hot. Obviously you dont need to worry about punching thru it..its already junk so beat on it good.

By gawled up, you mean the outer rim of the cap? It would seem some simple channel locks on the outside would snap it loose rather easily!!

[kerrfunk]

I like the dremel idea, but...

I have removed the engine cover bolts, I've removed the oil plug and the oil filter and its cap... and the engine cover seems pretty happy to stay right where it is. There's not a great grab spot for it, really the only lip is under the oil level window.

Any tips for removing the engine cover? (gawd I feel like a noob)

[chuck hahn]

It sitting on the dowels. Take two putty knifes and go in at the back top and front top. Gently tap them in right down into the gasket. Get them in 1/4 inch or so and twist them at the same time to get working the cover free of the gasket and the engine crankcase. Once you get a gap started you can use your fingers to grip and wiggle it off.

Set the bike on the side stand and maybe only a few ounces of residual oil in the sump will come out. Lay some rags on the floor under the bike and have a few ready to wipe the exhaust and your hands. Just soak up the oil in the sump once youve opened it up.

If the oil filler cap is off ( in your case it isnt though ) the handle of a long screwdriver ( or wood dowel ) down the hole and levered between the clutch pressure plate and a little outward pull will usually snap the cover loose.

[chuck hahn]

Another thought here...Why cant you put the cover bolts back in and dremel the slot? If its not leaking and all you want is the cap off, then why ruin the good gasket?

I would try that before having to clean all the hardened on stuck gasket material off the engine and the cover!!!

[habsdoc]

Just use a chisel and hammer to remove the cap by hitting it near the radius on the remaining upright unbroken part. By hitting down and lefty loosey, it will come undone rather easily.

[chuck hahn]

KKBS...from what I gathered he hadnt tried to remove it yet with much force. Thus his question...you cant expect it to " just pull off" And yes, the gaskets sealed between the oarts CAN be that much of a biitch to get loose.

[chuck hahn]

I also have had guys that got there before me grip the dowels with pliers of vice grips to remove them and slightly "egg" them out. Then the dowels get a hold of the cover ( which is forcable reinstalled ) and the damned thing is like it has been welded to the engine after that.