Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050

V-Strom specific discussion => V-Strom specific discussion => Topic started by: bonne on April 03, 2022, 14:03:31

Title: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: bonne on April 03, 2022, 14:03:31
The bloke chaging the oil last time has been tightening it way too tight.

How to get it off without breaking it?
Title: Re: How to get oil cap of without breaking it?
Post by: bonne on April 03, 2022, 14:39:31
OK, I could use a large plier for it
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: porter on April 03, 2022, 17:01:13
An adjustable spanner will do the trick and not mark the filler cap.
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: bonne on April 03, 2022, 18:29:12
Yeah, OK... I used exactly this https://www.avxperten.dk/vandpumpetang/bahco-vandpumpetang-250mm-ergo.asp?gclid=CjwKCAjwi6WSBhA-EiwA6NiokxgemKjSsHCEIutxAn8K5f8NF4tkyBqWXyCLfqE8PPI9R8giZ9tspRoCHQEQAvD_BwE

Not sure about the English name... took some paper in between... and it didn't damage the cap.
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: Rusty Nuts on April 03, 2022, 18:36:34
Gland pliers or water pump pliers are the two names that I know for that item.
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: Tiggerbits on April 03, 2022, 18:50:23
I have a knipex plier wrench which has been used to do this among alot of other jobs on the bike as it doesn't cause damage. Maybe a bit pricey for a single job.
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: sillyboy on April 03, 2022, 20:35:53
as said, gland nut pliers or as we know them -- hens legs.
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: Joe Rocket on April 03, 2022, 20:38:21
Don't be fooled by tools for the job and go by your instincts bonne.

It's a solid plastic filler cap, nearly brand new, used less than a few times, not affected by sustained high engine temperatures (age), with oil below it's unlikely to seize (the casing it sits in is alloy).

Having said that I wouldn't use ordinary pliers from above just long nose pliers from the side for increased leverage. Put a wadding over the flange on the cap to avoid surface damage.

Finally clean and just tweak the cap a bit more than finger tight when replacing (like an oil filter).
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: bonne on April 09, 2022, 06:23:12
actually oil filter has to be tightened more than finger tight according to the service manual... but that is another story :)
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: Gert on April 09, 2022, 07:27:44
Its almost starting to sound like the oil cap may have been cross threaded or abnormally tightened down.  Perhaps Bonnie can snap a pix or two of the oil cap, in relation to the engine casing.
A pix can be zoomed for a clearer view, to determine if any uneven gap, where the cap stops against the casing or foreign tool mark is present.
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: bonne on April 09, 2022, 10:05:11
I could take a pic, but I managed to get it both off and on again... it looks very normal and not ruined...
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: The Doctor 46 on April 09, 2022, 10:18:12
Dynamite! ............................... Oh sorry, I've just the original question again and noticed that you did mention, without damaging it.  :thumb:
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: SteveDL1K on April 09, 2022, 21:33:37
Ball peen hammer, Its easy smash all the casing in.
Get a pair of good knipex and nibble away at the edges and that should get your cap off with not a single scratch! :)

Glad you're sorted! :thumb:
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: purplebikeunicorn on April 10, 2022, 05:23:24
Its almost starting to sound like the oil cap may have been cross threaded or abnormally tightened down.  Perhaps Bonnie can snap a pix or two of the oil cap, in relation to the engine casing.
A pix can be zoomed for a clearer view, to determine if any uneven gap, where the cap stops against the casing or foreign tool mark is present.

Can confirm from my previous bike, that these plastic caps can be a right bugger to get off if tightened by a strongman. I did the same (molegrips, with some rubber in the jaws).
Title: Re: How to get oil cap off without breaking it?
Post by: The Doctor 46 on April 10, 2022, 12:50:51
I had a Honda XR250, I've had six XR's of different sizes, anyway. The oil is in the frame and the dip stick in the middle of the upper frame in front of the tank. It's awkward to get out but a nightmare to put back in, hence, the oil only got checked once a month. Nothing to do with your problem, just saying.  :icon_wink: