Quick tip for oil change!!

[PowderFalcon]

Completed my first oil change on my winder today. Was smooth sailing under the sled with crank case drain and oil filer. Then came the oil tank. What in the he!! kind of design is that arctic cat?! The drain plug is tucked up above the lower body panel which is riveted onto the machine!! Thankfully the writers of the owners manual suggest stuffing a funnel under it to divert the oil through the running board! Phew! thats a relief right? WRONG!!!
So here i am, funnel stuffed under the drain bolt. crack the bolt loose with a 14mm stubby wrench. pull the plug out. the oil starts draining just barely onto the side of my stuffed funnel, then into my oil pan. PERFECT!! Then it occurs to me that i should take the filler cap off to allow air into the tank. Twist the cap off, then BOOM!! Oil starts pissing out the drain like turning on a garden hose!! OIL EVERYWHERE!! Up my arm, all over my garage floor, everywhere in the lower panel, FAK! Put the cap back in to slow the flow. Spend the next 45 minutes soaking up oil from everywhere inside the panel including the now saturated foam. Half a role of shop towels, spray 9, and some bloody knuckles later, shes all cleaned up!!

Should also mention that when i took my filer off, the O-ring stayed on the machine. Make sure you check for that as i've heard 3 stories this year of sleds serviced and O-ring left on! sure makes a mess on the trail!!

Moral of the story... just "crack" the filler cap when draining the tank, do not take it all the way out!!!

Hope to save you all some cursing and cleaning!!

Cheers everyone!!

 

[stevewithOCD]

LOL. I didn't want to say anything & sound like a whiny bitch, but OMG! I started to think if they could screw this up, imagine how the rest is engineered...Oh well, 2 big oil stains later & i have fresh oil...

 

[yamahinn03]

LOL!!!!! lmao, sounds like the exact same stuff that goes on in my garage..

 

[TD Max]

I am told that the Viper and winder use same/similar oil tanks and that these should work on the winders as well:

http://www.ulmerracing.com/ulmer-racing-ez-drain-oil-drain-detail.htm?productId=-3549765

 

[PowderFalcon]

I am told that the Viper and winder use same/similar oil tanks and that these should work on the winders as well:

http://www.ulmerracing.com/ulmer-racing-ez-drain-oil-drain-detail.htm?productId=-3549765

That funny, was just researching a way to do this!! Way to go Allen!

 

[bleedyamaha]

That funny, was just researching a way to do this!! Way to go Allen!

Nope Way to go TD max

 

[Motorhead]

There's a neat idea for changing your oil under MrSleds (Frequently Asked Questions). I tried it,works OK with very little mess. But yes have to agree about a few things on this sled that are not well designed engineering feats.

Oh well none are perfect eh.

 

[joyrider]

Steal your wife's cardboard roll out of the paper towels, cut the end open on top, install through access hole take plug out. And what do you know the oil goes down the tube into the drain pan. Easy and costs zero dollars.

 

[Snowaddict]

LOL!!!!! lmao, sounds like the exact same stuff that goes on in my garage..

Glad I am not the only one!

 

[stevewithOCD]

mo' money mo' money

 

[Jafo1970]

The cats actually had the drain plug closer to the outside of tank so the funnel trick worked better and you could get at the plug better. This 17 they moved the plug in closer to the lower elbow which makes no sense. There's actually a spot on the tank for the drain closer to outside so it's like they did this on purpose. You can take some tin and make a U channel and dent it in for the elbow and it works pretty good and it's held in good then. I didn't spill a drop in the belly pan then and also like stated earlier, don't take the filler cap off.

 

[sgauthier]

I don't have a SW or a Viper so this might not work. But can't you just add a length of hose with a plug on the end to the bottom of the tank and routed it out to where you can easily reach it when you change your oil? wouldn't cost much to do

ooops looks like someone has already come up with a kit.