how to change oil

[marki61701]

Have a 1987 kawasaki voyager and i'm wanting to change the oil.Problem is my centre stand doesn't work,,what would be the best and easiest way to change the oil and filter?

[doug of so fla]

Put it on the side stand and go under to the filter and 2 drain bolts from the oposite side of kickstand not a big deal, once it is drained I would stand it up for a minute to see if you can get any more oil out. after you put both plugs and filter back in put in exactly 3qts 22oz of oil. Rottella 15/40 from Walmart at $12.77 a gal is a good one, but you can put in anything you want. As long as it is not marked "energy conserving oil" Then get a good center stand on it, they are invaluble on the XII one of its best features!!!

[debron]

A 2x4 or 2x6 under the side stand will put the bike almost level. Check the stability of this method before starting any work. You don't want an 800+ lb elephant falling on you!

[Steve do]

The other day I saw some center stands on E-bay, they aren't very expensive, you can probably get them on some other places. Good Luck.

[jre258 in SoDak]

Mark, maybe your center stand isn't broken. It took almost a year before I found through this website just how the two stage center stand works. Go to the AVA website and look through the tricks and tips section for center stand. I think that someone has posted a video of how to work the stand there.
Jim

[Brealytren]

Mark,

One more thing to check on you center stand. I thought mine was broken also....but upon close inspection, one of the shoulder bolts that articulate the two piece unit had fallen out. Quickly ordered from my local dealer, installed with a drop of locktite and it now works like a dream.

Good luck
Chuck

[Mr Jensee]

FYI, if you really don't have a center stand there is another little trick you can do. Go to a junk yard and pick up an old scissor jack for a car. I have one from and old Z260Z I am using but any Japanese car jack will do. Get someone to hold the bike straight up, put a 2x4 or at least a 1" plank under the bike wide enough to go all the way across the pipes and scissor up the jack where the center stand normally goes. This works great also for changing tires, front or back, just move the jack farther forward to do the front wheels. If you can it is always a good idea to tether the bike on both sides to make sure it won't fall if it comes off the jack.

[On a Voyager 12]

I use the scissors jack and 2x4 on several bikes, except I use two jacks and the board is long enough that the jacks are just outside the frame and etc. This makes it a lot more stable and much like a center stand.

[broksonic]

I picked up a motorcycle jack at an auction, but been worried about using it. Afraid of crushing the pipes as it looks like it hits them before the frame.

Anyone know for sure if it does? (haven't actually laid down on the floor to check, I have 2 herniated discs so its kind of painful, not to mention that concrete is COLD)

[On a Voyager 12]

I have used the 2x4 and two jacks on many other bikes (I do repairs at home) and for things like fork rebuilds, tires, rims, etc. As long as you are respectful of the nature of what you are doing it should be ok.
I just did this last Saturday to take the front tire/rim off my new to us Voyager and it was fine.
There are also those floor jacks for motorcycles. I sometimes use them just to make sure the bike is level and secure. But not if I need to do something under it because they then in the way.
Either way you do it remember : it is on a jack.

[SgtSlag]

broksonic, I have the Harbor Freight high position motorcycle lift, but I've never been able to use it on my Voyager because it will crush the exhaust pipes!

I need to make an adapter, but so far, the methods I've explored have failed. It will require fabrication techniques I don't have access to (welding, metal forming/shaping, etc.). Need to locate someone who can do it for me, but it hasn't happened yet... Cheers!

[ghostler]

I've got a Sears motorcycle jack similar to Harbor Freight's:

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive ... 61632.html

I've been studying the Kawasaki bike frame and my jack, pondering using wood to come up with suitable shimming/cradling that will clear those pipes but safely support the bike on the jack.

I think there is a way. Will post when I find something that works.

[voyager55]

I bought the lift adapter made for the voyager 1200. Suppose to work great with most lifts. Never used it yet, or bought a lift!

Pitbull motorcycles lifts makes a lift that works with our bike.
The standard series lift will work well with the voyager with no problems

[broksonic]

broksonic, I have the Harbor Freight high position motorcycle lift, but I've never been able to use it on my Voyager because it will crush the exhaust pipes!

I need to make an adapter, but so far, the methods I've explored have failed. It will require fabrication techniques I don't have access to (welding, metal forming/shaping, etc.). Need to locate someone who can do it for me, but it hasn't happened yet... Cheers!

I just tried to drop an e-mail to Richard Pepin, there was an old thread (started in 09) where he was making adapters to fit M/C jacks. I asked if he still had any left over he wanted to sell. (he was asking $50 +shipping)

Let you know if I get anything back from him if your interested.

[SgtSlag]

Thanks. Was expecting to have to pay above what the jack cost me! Would love to put it to good use... Cheers!

[Mr Jensee]

I use the scissors jack and 2x4 on several bikes, except I use two jacks and the board is long enough that the jacks are just outside the frame and etc. This makes it a lot more stable and much like a center stand.

That's an even better idea!

[Avidrider62]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSFd9L6lMro" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Maybe it's not broke, watch this.

[Skibou]

Thanks for the advice on the scissor jacks. I gave my motorcycle jack away after I bought the Voyager. I was also afraid of crushing the pipes. Now it's off to the scrap yard to find a couple of scissor jacks.

[duckman]

I have the HF jack also and if I remember correctly the brackets were purchased from Pepin. However I also use the jack for the Nomad and those same brackets will not work. Consequently, I used thin cardboard from a giant cereal box and drew up then cut out some templates to fit. It took a couple tries to get the card stock notches just right. At the time I was able to get a shop to make some aluminum brackets. Now I swap the brackets back and forth when changing tires. So if Pepin does not have any brackets left perhaps you can cut out your own for a template and have a local shop make them. I even took some photos (some place) of one or the other so I can see how many washers I used in specific positions because I don't swap brackets often enough to remember.

[duckman]

By the way the old wood trick also works. Get some short pieces of 2x6 and/or 1x4 (or whatever thickness you have) and stack them up (and screw together) on the foot brake side under the frame at a height where the bike is vertical. Then place another 2x6 (+ 1x if needed) under the kick stand. The bike will stand straight up and it will not tilt either way as long as you place the foot brake side first.