Help! Oil Change with Race Rails?

[LXnastynotch93]

I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but whenever it comes to motor mounts or anything of that fashion I get a little nervous. Also I like to do things as easily as possible, and disassembling a bike for an oil change sounds miserable. So here's the deal its a 2000 GSX-R750 with these race rails. They mount up to the front motor mount and to one of the rear mounts near the transmission (seen in picture below). I need to get the fairing off enough to get my hand in there and remove the oil filter. If possible I need to be able to safety wire said oil filter for track days (PITA). Does anyone know if this can be done without removing the right side race rail?

[Pigman]

Just pull the rails, all of 2 bolts....and being a new bike to you I would say take the time to look it over good.

[LXnastynotch93]

Just pull the rails, all of 2 bolts....and being a new bike to you I would say take the time to look it over good.

Can I remove that front engine bolt without supporting the motor from the bottom without any adverse effects?

[Pigman]

Yea, shouldn't move much. Gotta do the same thing for frame sliders. Worst case put on a stand and throw a piece of wood and a jack and it will move up. Bolts should thread easy if not check the alignment....

[tls25rs]

As Pigman suggested shouldn't be an issue to remove rail and then reinstall it when finished.

May want to check out some stunter forums if you have further questions. Those rails are primarily designed and used by stunters more so than roadracers so they will likely know any tricks to make oil changes easier.

[LXnastynotch93]

So I tried to put a socket on the bolt just to see if it would fit and the rail gets in the way of the socket. They're motor mounts so have to be torque to spec so an open en wrench wouldn't do it. The rear one I could get at with a socket but the threads are too long for a standard length socket and a deep one is too long and contacts the cage.

[Pigman]

Open end wrench and it will clear and I have NEVER in my life used a torque wrench on a bike. You will be fine, as the guy who put those on I am sure didnt have a Open ended tourque wrench ...and cut that hindle down will look a ton better too...my 2Cts. But for the year it looks rather clean and in good shape..

You may be able to pull the back one thats just a rod thru the frame and spin it to get at the front one also...

[timmyho414]

I had to click on this just to know what "race rails" were.

If you're going to safety wire the oil filter use a hose clamp around the filter, send the wire through its tail to a close by bolt.

just me but I would not put those rail back on.

[LXnastynotch93]

Looks like the crisis is averted. I picked up a crow's foot that slots in there perfectly and I can get a socket on the rear one on the left hand side of the bike.

Is it okay to wire the oil filter to the drain plug as well? Obviously in the tightening direction.

[timmyho414]

you could but then you have to wire it every time. If you wire it to something you won't be taking off you just loosen the clamp and slip it off. On my bikes there are two drains so I wired those together and the filter on it own. either way.

[SVRACER01]

Looks like the crisis is averted. I picked up a crow's foot that slots in there perfectly and I can get a socket on the rear one on the left hand side of the bike.

Is it okay to wire the oil filter to the drain plug as well? Obviously in the tightening direction.

you could but then you have to wire it every time. If you wire it to something you won't be taking off you just loosen the clamp and slip it off. On my bikes there are two drains so I wired those together and the filter on it own. either way.

i dont see why not. if youre removing one, then youre removing the other and the wire would have to be replaced anyway

[LXnastynotch93]

I'm gonna go with that then I figure that makes the most sense. I don't have safety wire pliers so it's gonna be a lot of twisting with vice grips.

[Kurlon]

Grab a set of cheapy safety wire pliers. Sooooo much easier than hand twisting.

[LXnastynotch93]

Got it done today and cleaned the air filter. Took me about 6 tries to get the safety wiring down and tidy.

[LXnastynotch93]

just me but I would not put those rail back on.

Double checked my work today and tried to torque the rails down to factory spec. The hardware they're installed with is incredibly shitty and the long through bolt for the rear motor mount stripped out. I just ordered all the factory parts to put it back to stock. Thanks for the advice lol.

[OreoGaborio]

i dont see why not. if youre removing one, then youre removing the other and the wire would have to be replaced anyway

It doesn't happen often, but there have been multiple instances where I had to remove either the drain plug or the oil filter w/o removing the other.

I have my filter wired in a way that I don't have to mess w/ the wiring. I just loosen the hose clamp, spin it off, spin new one on & tighten the hose clamp.

Also have my drain plug secured with safety wire attached to a spring clip. No re-wiring needed for oil changes.

[Pigman]

Sell those race rails on either stuntride.com or stuntlife.com.......pay for some other upgrades

[LXnastynotch93]

I'm gonna sell them and probably get some frame sliders instead. The bikes already got everything I want except for maybe some adjustable rearsets...

[Pigman]

Yea....and cut the pipe down will look much better

These are good and killer seller..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-00-Suzuki...ht_1167wt_1001

[LXnastynotch93]

I ended up getting Woodcraft sliders. I think I'm gonna keep the pipe the way it is. It's loud enough for me without being obnoxious, especially with the GSX-R1000 headers.

[KB]

Stunters don't change oil. They just get anothe "hot" bike

[LXnastynotch93]

Stunters don't change oil. They just get anothe "hot" bike

Lol good thing I don't stunt. The bikes in great shape I don't see any signs of abuse. Looks like it was tracked which makes me happy because that's where it belongs.