Spinning nuts

[Guest]

Grr ... Happy Easter everyone. What should have become a routine oil change today became problematic when I began to replace the oil filter on my GS425. Started to back out the three nuts that hold the filter cover on before realizing I'd been spinning them out for awhile. Spun them the opposite direction, same thing. The thread on the studs must be stripped and the nuts aren't able to work their way off the bolts. Previous owner must have done this. Same problem with the oil drain bolt - When I ratcheted it back in, applying minimal torque, it wouldn't fasten in all the way. Keeps spinning on the end. There is now a slow ooze around the oil drain bolt and the oil filter cover. (Sidenote: Bike is PURRING now. Took it for a test spin and it was beautiful.)

The only thing I can think of, next to bringing it to the local shop, is to buy a nut splitter, split the nuts, buy a tap and die, rethread the bolts, CAREFULLY rethread the oil drain hole, repair. I think I'm going to have my tires changed professionally when they arrive in the mail, so I thought it might be a better idea to instead have them do it. The tools alone would cost me 30 or 40 dollars and, honestly, I'm never going to use them again. The place I'd be bringing it to is a local muffler shop and I imagine they run into this sort of problem frequently.

Any thoughts? I'm finding more and more little problems that the PO neglected to inform me of. GRRRR.

- Tom

[Gold01ca]

If you can get the acorns off the filter cover studs, might get lucky and be able to remove old/stripped studs with vise grips. New studs should be available from Suzuki.
Probably have to pull off oil pan to get plug hole repaired or replace pan with one from a wrecker.
Good luck!

[srg]

I replaced the oil cover studs on my bike, I got OEM from a suzuki fiche. I replaced the three nuts and washers as well to avoid running into this problem in the future.

The oil pan comes off easily (replace those bolts too, if you want! I think there's 9 or 10?), so a shop should be able to rethread it with no problem.

[gspower]

I replaced the oil cover studs on my bike, I got OEM from a suzuki fiche. I replaced the three nuts and washers as well to avoid running into this problem in the future.

The oil pan comes off easily (replace those bolts too, if you want! I think there's 9 or 10?), so a shop should be able to rethread it with no problem.

Just bought a nut splitter and a tap and die set ... I think I'm going to attempt this myself. Fingers crossed.

[rustybronco]

Try squeezing the nuts with vice grips first then see if they will un-thread.

[bccap]

When that happened to me it was the nuts so try a new one before you go pulling the studs.

[Tech73]

Maybe I have a dirty mind but you guys have me laughing my azz off with this thread.

[Steve]

Try rustybronco's "squeeze the nuts" method first. If that does not work, use your nut splitter. When the nuts and cover are off, it will be no problem to use vise-grips to remove the studs. Get new studs, washer and nuts, there should be no need for re-tapping anything.

For the drain plug, don't bother pulling the pan just yet.
Use vise-grips on-end, so you can pull, as well as turn. You might be able to engage a thread that way. When you get the plug out, go down to your favorite auto parts store, get an over-size drain plug in the proper size. I think what's there is an M14x1.25, but am not positive on that. You can get a "Plus 1" or a "Plus 2 size. Start with the "Plus 1". Thread that in, it should hold plenty tight. If it is not quite tight enough, go back and get the "Plus 2" size and use it. These plugs are only a few bucks each, so it's not all that bad if you end up having to get both of them.

.

[gspower]

.
For the drain plug, don't bother pulling the pan just yet. .

I have a 425.. The pan is different from the 450s. Looks more difficult to take off. I'd like to avoid doing so, in any case, if possible. Do one of you have a link where I can find the OEM bolts?

[1948man]

Are you sure the studs are not spinning instead the nuts. I thought that as happening to me one time and the stud finally backed out. Nothing at all was actually damaged.

[Steve]

Do one of you have a link where I can find the OEM bolts?

Evidently, you have missed out on BassCliff's Mega-Welcome.

Sit down, grab a cool beverage, have a good read. There is a list there that has a BUNCH of information, as well as a list of some of our favorite vendors.

.

[tkent02]

That's one place I wouldn't use OEM hardware. It's not very good. Just get some good quality studs and nuts with lockwashers, or better yet locknuts from the local metric fastener place.

[gspower]

That's one place I wouldn't use OEM hardware. It's not very good. Just get some good quality studs and nuts with lockwashers, or better yet locknuts from the local metric fastener place.

Any idea where I can find the studs and/or what the size/thread count is so that I can buy it on my own?

[1948man]

Try Ace Hardware. Take an old one in and match it.

[gspower]

Try Ace Hardware. Take an old one in and match it.

No Ace Hardware, tried my local hardware store, no dice. Ended up ordering the three studs, washers , and acorn nuts from BikeBandit. $25 shipped to my door. For anyone that reads this in the future, the parts are under "Oil Pump". Should have em soon. Thanks everyone for their help. It is invaluable to me.