Stupid question, but the guy who sold me my bike never sent the manual to me like he said he would so I need some help here with the basics. Does anyone have a diagram to show me where the drain is for changing the oil on an '05 Ninja 500R or some other easy instructions ?

I tried to take a look underneath and didn't see it, at least not the first time around ? She'd like a change pretty soon if she's going to keep on purring.

Thanks.

 

i changed my oil a while ago and i also have an 05 ninja. The "Oil Drainage Plug" is under the bike. You have to put the bike in its center stand and you have to take out the lower fairing. I used a regular wrench to take out the nut and a filter cap for the filter. I used a torque wrench to put it back on because the manuel said that it need 22 lb ft of torque for the drainage plug and 10-14 lb ft for the filter.

 

unless i removed the wrong bolt (which i concur is beneath the engine), the fairing did NOT have to be removed. i used a 17mm socket (i think) with a medium extension on the drain bolt, and a strap wrench to remove the filter (for the little that it's worth, i've always been taught that a wrench should not be used to tighten/install an oil filter, only to remove it). it never hurts to recheck things a day/ride or so later, though. the quoted torque specs sound about right. however, i do wonder if factory/shop techs actually torque the filter to spec?

take care,
greg
'06 500R

 

youre right , the fairing doesnt have to be removed it just kinda can get in the way sometimes

 

Thanks for the help on this. I did start to take a look underneath but I had on good clothes and didn't have time to change and roll around in the driveway before dark to get a good look underneath at where the drain plug is hiding. I'll take a better look in the daylight, that is, if I'm up that early. Seriously, thanks for the help.

 

The bottom fairing must only come off if you're changing the oil filter. I change the filter every time I change the oil, but some folks don't believe it's necessary.
It's also a good idea to use a socket wrench to remove the drainplug bolt if you're new to maintaining your bike. I've known two friends who have stripped the threads on their oilpans and had to replace the part when the helicoils didn't work. Don't laugh or think I'm making fun! It's pretty easy to get it backwards when you're working on upside-threads.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
-CCinC

 

Thanks Chris. I didn't have time to do it today but hopefully before the week's out I'll get started on my self-instructed motorcycle mechanic class with some help from you and these other folks. The help is appreciated though I frankly have no idea what a helicoil is. I did read Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance/Mechanics" back in my college days in the early '80s but it really didn't stick with me and my recollection is that there really wasn't much information that could be put to practical application as far as keeping my bike purring. At the time I thought it was a good book none-the-less. How's Angel doing by the way ? Not skittish about getting back up on a bike with you ? Take care. Chris

 

Hey Chris.
I read ZAMM five times; I kept trying to "get" it, but finally decided that Pirsig wasn't really writing about a cogent philosophy, but was simply free-associating the junk that was going through his mind while he was riding. It's interesting stuff, but most Philosophy majors (and motorcycle mechanics, for that matter) simply chuckle about taking it too seriously. It's more of a work of art than a scientific treatise.
Here is an excellent site that covers the book, the places he rode through and about his ideas: http://ww2.usca.edu/ResearchProjects...s/ZMMLinksPage
And here are some photos of the actual characters of The Ride from that excellent site:




If you're really looking for some good information on maintaining this bike, get the factory service manual and supplement. The set costs about $50, but it will more than pay for itself by all of the dealership service visits, stripped threads or other damage than can occur. Once you've got the manual and the tools, it's really just as easy as following recipes in a cookbook.

Helicoils are these springs made of pliable metal that you use with a drill and tap to repair stripped threads. Sometimes they can be used very effectively for a permanent repair, but sometimes not.

Angel's doing great, thanks. She jumped right back up on my leg to get up on the bike just two days after the accident and has ridden at least 200 miles with me since.
Peace, brother.
-CCinC

 

Hi Chris,

It's really been so long since I read ZAMM that I don't recall it well other than enjoying it quite a bit at the time. Thanks for the pictures and I'll take a look at the website you mentioned when I have a bit of time.

Thanks for the definition of helicoils, I can now at least mentally picture and understand what they are.

And glad to hear that you and Angel are both riding fearlessly again.

I'll probably go ahead and spring for the service manual though money's tight and I was hoping that the guy I bought the bike from would at least send me the owner's manual but I guess he never found it or spaced it.

The weather's turning cold here so I'm not sure how much more riding I'll get in this year unless I'm willing to seriously dress for it. Almost froze my fingers off on a cold ride home from work a week ago or so, though there was somebody out there riding his bike back home from New York last night when I decided I was better off taking the car because it was too cold. It's probably a bit warmer where you are.

Take care,

Chris

 

HAHAHAHA, memories. I converted a honda dream to dirt back in the 70's. Worked but not all that great against the actuall dirt rides in that time.