Removing exhaust downpipes to do oil change

Removing exhaust downpipes to do oil change

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Sebo

Original Poster:

2,166 posts

225 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Morning

I've bought a new (to me) track bike - a GSXR-1000 K3. It's got a full Arrow system on it which does look and sound lovely.

One pain in the arse is that the routing of the pipes means that there is not enough room to get the oil filter off without taking the downpipes off. Anyone have this issue themselves and have any tips / anything I need to watch out for?

The headers are joined to the manifold with Allen bolts so it should be quite easy but there isn't loads of room down there (may have to unbolt and move the radiator too) and being a lazy fecker, I want to find a short cut.

Anyway... this is probably the crappest post on the forum today and TBH I am not expecting a better answer than "you bought it like that, just get on and take the pipes off you tt" but there we go

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
This is a lay opinion, and maybe I've misunderstood your post, but I'm really not convinced Suzuki would design a bike you need to take the downpipes off to change a filter. A quick Google reveals many people have issues getting a filter removal tool in place, but no talk of taking them off?

If access is piss poor, you can get a "specialist" tool to slide over the end of the filter, or stab it with a screw driver perhaps?

I'm not sure if you've done it before but when removing the header bolts, just bear in mind those bolts get a hard life, they may not be so easy to remove. That's how I come to buy my first stud extractor set (and many expensive Honda studs). So if you can avoid taking them off, that may be best.

Could be wrong on all accounts of course.




Sebo

Original Poster:

2,166 posts

225 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Cheers for replying to my pants post
Prof Prolapse said:
This is a lay opinion, and maybe I've misunderstood your post, but I'm really not convinced Suzuki would design a bike you need to take the downpipes off to change a filter.
I agree and have read that the GSXR is actually a very easy bike to do an oil change on as the filter is easily accessible - I suspect it's simply that this arrow system is badly designed from the point of view of oil filter access


Prof Prolapse said:
I'm not sure if you've done it before but when removing the header bolts, just bear in mind those bolts get a hard life, they may not be so easy to remove. So if you can avoid taking them off, that may be best.
That is my fear - frequent removal of the stud bolts and eventual rounding of Allen heads. I might proceed on the basis that the previous owner couldn't get his hands in there to get the filter off and see if I can do without removing headers though as it's a K&N, they are easy to remove generally so I am sure he would have tried that approach.


Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Ah. Well that's a total pain in the arse! If it's only a small amount out, I'd be looking at undoing the exhaust bracket further back and pushing it forward a touch. Perhaps loosening off the bolts rather than removing entirely. Just a thought.

Best of luck.

Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Can you get away with just removing the link pipe?

Sebo

Original Poster:

2,166 posts

225 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
Ah. Well that's a total pain in the arse! If it's only a small amount out, I'd be looking at undoing the exhaust bracket further back and pushing it forward a touch. Perhaps loosening off the bolts rather than removing entirely. Just a thought.

Best of luck.
Cheers

EagleMoto4-2

669 posts

103 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Can you take a picture of it so we can see what we are dealing with?

MattOz

3,910 posts

263 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Sebo,

My Yoshi full system on my GSXR1000K7 is exactly the same. The headers are on slip joints at the head end, so once I've removed the can, link pipe and 4-into-1 collector, I can swing the headers apart to remove the filter. Naturally, with an OE set of headers, there isn't a problem. You can imagine the issue looking at the pic below


Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
I have the same issue with the full Akrapovic system on my Fireblade, but it has slip joints retained with springs where it joins the cylinder head so it's less of a problem.

Sebo

Original Poster:

2,166 posts

225 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
MattOz said:
Sebo,

My Yoshi full system on my GSXR1000K7 is exactly the same. The headers are on slip joints at the head end, so once I've removed the can, link pipe and 4-into-1 collector, I can swing the headers apart to remove the filter. Naturally, with an OE set of headers, there isn't a problem. You can imagine the issue looking at the pic below

Yep that would be a tad tight..

mckeann

2,986 posts

228 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Access on my R1 was more difficult with akrapovic full system, but I was able to get a socket in between the pipes on a long extension bar to reach. Never tried on a gixxer though.

Biker's Nemesis

38,536 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
mckeann said:
gixxer
grumpy

mckeann

2,986 posts

228 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
That was quicker than I could have dreamed possible biggrin

Biker's Nemesis

38,536 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
mckeann said:
That was quicker than I could have dreamed possible biggrin
I've got an app on my phone that alerts me.

mckeann

2,986 posts

228 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Haha. That made me laugh John. Got anything planned for Euro trips. I was out at Portimao with Toot and Raigan last week. Dry for 2.5 days :O

Biker's Nemesis

38,536 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
Nothing planned Neil, I have to get my bike sorted first, truth be known I just can't be arsed with, dash full of fault codes and loads of stuff still to fit and.... It keeps raining every time I take it out to try and get it run in.

447 miles so far.

Sebo

Original Poster:

2,166 posts

225 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
mckeann said:
Access on my R1 was more difficult with akrapovic full system, but I was able to get a socket in between the pipes on a long extension bar to reach. Never tried on a gixxer though.
Cheers.

bimsb6

8,034 posts

220 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
MattOz said:
Sebo,

My Yoshi full system on my GSXR1000K7 is exactly the same. The headers are on slip joints at the head end, so once I've removed the can, link pipe and 4-into-1 collector, I can swing the headers apart to remove the filter. Naturally, with an OE set of headers, there isn't a problem. You can imagine the issue looking at the pic below

Why are you using a triumph tool kit on the suzi ?

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
bimsb6 said:
Why are you using a triumph tool kit on the suzi ?
hehe It's the precision toolkit as well.

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
It's good that he's using those wk Halfords "professional" screwdrivers they gave away with oil. I've got two sets, they're easily the sttest metal I've ever had in hand tools.