Oil change

On purchase my Alp had 1200km, 1500km by the time it was home. I didn't think that the previous owner would have done the 1000km oil change so that was a priority.

The owner's handbook details the job pretty well, but it's worth pointing out that the sump plug is 17mm, frame plug 8mm, strainer plug 18mm and strainer hose clamp 7mm. The 'sump guard' mountings are 8mm too. I'd also add a few points:

1. Take care when draining the frame - have a jug present as the oil has a fair hydrostatic pressure and will squirt a long way as the plug comes out.

2. When removing the brass plug with gauze I would suggest removing the blue hose from it. Start it sliding by rotating a large, smooth flat-bladed screwdriver at the pipe's cut end. After starting it slid off readily. The manual seems to suggest undoing the clip and then letting the pipe rotate whilst attached. This works to a degree but does make it hard to withdraw the gauze.

The gauze had collected a bit of swarf and in the absence of an air line I manged to remove it using WD40 on a kitchen paper towel. The sump oil was carrying an obvious level of debris despite the paper oil filter so the job was essential.

The oil filter change was easy and exactly as described in the manual.

Including a 10km warm up trip the job took 75 minutes, some of which was cleaning up after the unexpected oil squirt!