Some of you might remember I posted about the malarky I had to go through to change the sparkplug and coil in my ET4 Vespa a few months back. This weekend was oil change time, way overdue and I'm skint so I decided to do it myself. Forseeing that it might not be as straightforward as it sounds I consulted the Haynes manual. Now I've noted before that what's in the book doesn't bear much resemblence to the bike because it covers about 5 similar (but no way the same) models, but it's close enough to get you started. So out I went, Billy Big Balls, new filter in hand etc.
First up is to drain the old oil out, no problem, the drain plug looks like it's right underneath in the book, pan under bike, plug out and drain. Well no. First Piaggio have put the bike stand right in the way so you can't get a pan or a bottle underneath. Second, they have decided it is a good idea to BLANK OFF THE DRAIN PLUG!!! So how the bloody hell am I supposed to get the oil out the engine you Italian idiots? Who's great idea was this?
Right then, off with the old filter. Usual lark with the strap wrench except as usual there is something in the way, the exhaust, but it came off with the help of a bit of grunting and swearing. Some oil dribbled out the side so I tried to tip some out through the filter hole. No way, it's too small. So I go round the other side to the filler neck and that is clearly the only way it's coming out. Bike up on bricks straddling a drain, shallow pan over the drain cover and lean the bike over onto its side so all the oil dribbles out.
What a performance. It took me about an hour to get that far. I'll be paying someone to do that next time, I pity those that do this for a living
First up is to drain the old oil out, no problem, the drain plug looks like it's right underneath in the book, pan under bike, plug out and drain. Well no. First Piaggio have put the bike stand right in the way so you can't get a pan or a bottle underneath. Second, they have decided it is a good idea to BLANK OFF THE DRAIN PLUG!!! So how the bloody hell am I supposed to get the oil out the engine you Italian idiots? Who's great idea was this?
Right then, off with the old filter. Usual lark with the strap wrench except as usual there is something in the way, the exhaust, but it came off with the help of a bit of grunting and swearing. Some oil dribbled out the side so I tried to tip some out through the filter hole. No way, it's too small. So I go round the other side to the filler neck and that is clearly the only way it's coming out. Bike up on bricks straddling a drain, shallow pan over the drain cover and lean the bike over onto its side so all the oil dribbles out.
What a performance. It took me about an hour to get that far. I'll be paying someone to do that next time, I pity those that do this for a living