First oil change a nightmare!

mjbuck · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 10:21 PM

My 2011 BR was due it's first maintenance and as always I did it myself. First off, I own a service manual, which was next to useless. The drawings were so off, even my wife asked if I had the correct manual. It took about 15 minutes to find the oil filter. I imagine Honda has some sort of special tool to get to it, because that took another bit of time. Finally got it all done and moved onto the gear lube in front and back. Much easier, however getting the plug screwed back in was next to impossible. Finally got the neighbor kid to screw it back in because his 7-year old hand were the only one that would fit. Once the thread started, then I could get at it with a wrench. I have to admit though, now that I've done it once, the next time will be much easier because I know what to expect. I really have to wonder that when they design these type of products, do they intentionally make them nearly impossible for the owner to do the work, so you have to rely on the dealership.

sfrankland · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 10:36 PM

I have done it three times now and it's doesn't get any better each time I do it. Everything is a pain and hard to access.

Diamondt · #3 (**permalink**) 07-16-2011, 8:23 AM

I am about to do my third oil change, and I believe the Honda engineer(s) who designed this should be required to come to the customer to perform the oil changes for the first year! Bet that would change their thinking!

Jimbo

jhyde · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2011, 1:38 PM

i got a 2011 br mine wasnt that hard

Dr_Al · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2011, 4:31 PM

I've got a BendPak 2 post lift. When you can stand under it things are much easier.

ajsandoval · #6 (**permalink**) 08-18-2011, 10:34 AM

I agree also! Changing the oil in my 2009 Big Red is a dreaded task. If you're not an octopus I feel sorry for you. There's is absoloutley nothing easily accessible for the oil change except the oil dip stick, its horrible. One of the worst design flaws seeing how a lot of owners do it themselves.

sfrankland · #7 (**permalink**) 08-18-2011, 1:33 PM

The change oil warning came up last night. Quess what I have to look forward to soon. I really need to get this up on a lift and see if a bit of room can be made.

Dr_Al · #8 (**permalink**) 08-19-2011, 4:28 PM

If you have a lift it's not hard at all. There's a washer on each side of the oil filter and a bolt that holds the filter, the washer, a spring and the cover in place. Getting everything in place and then tightening the bolt is slightly hard but if you are standing under it then it's not bad at all.

The biggest problem I had was the washer/ seal on the end of the drain bolt was stuck onto the case so the bolt wouldn't come out all the way and the oil drained real slowly. Also getting the correct amount of oil in it makes a world of difference. A quarter of a quart makes the difference between running great and when it shifts into third having it slip.

If I had to do it under jacks on my back, yea it would suck.

BigLakeBR · #9 (**permalink**) 08-22-2011, 9:56 PM

I don't think changing oil on the BR is that big of deal, but I am a mechanic for a power company and some of our swamp buggies take 5 hours to change oil. The BR only took a 1/2 hour. They could have put a remote oil filter on the machine to make life easier but Honda NEVER changes anything that isn't broke.