[Jason]

I went ahead and did my first oil change today even though it was a little early.  If you haven't serviced yours yet, it's a royal PITA to get to everything.  It's not impossible, but they definitely need to revise the serviceability of these things.  The hole in the skid plate needs to be positioned where it won't catch oil while draining or the drain plug needs to be on the bottom.  Either way, the fill location needs to be more accessible.  I took the provided funnel and rubber tube then (by some of Dad's engineering) cut the end of a funnel off and attached it to the rubber tube to make filling easier. It reaches fine through the access panel behind the passenger seat.

I did have a small amount of metal shavings and buildup on the bolt, but nothing to be concerned about since it's just now broken in.

[mayor hal]

Where is the oil filter at? Pics?

[emersonsc]

I agree, the oil change is a PITA in these. What I do is remove the metal skid plate. It's held on by 4 bolts. Makes loosening and draining the oil much easier.

The oil filter is directly above the water pump on the p/s of the motor. Same side as the dip stick. The cover had three bolts. Make sure to be careful when removing the cover. There is an o-ring you'll need to reuse.

[Jason]

Sorry I didn't keep snapping pictures because I had oil all over my hands, but I drew around where your filter cover is.

[NMKawierider]

Yeah the oil filter is one thing they didn't have to retain from the Rotax engine copy. They modified it enough to put a wet clutch in it, why not a spin-on filter. Go figure.

[Flipper]

Have some brake clean handy to clean up the oil from changing the filter. 

As far as the drain plug, I agree, the hole needs to be a 1/4 larger in diameter.  Might try to widen it with a dremel

[emersonsc]

Or remove the skid plate that's held on by 4 10mm bolts and Jill two birds with one stone

[NMKawierider]

Yeah I just took the plate off.

[Revolutionary]

I just changed the oil (first time) in both of our machines; and yes, it is a PITA to get to the drain plug, filter housing bolts, etc, but it's done & I'm happy.

Emerson, I think that maybe they changed the bolt pattern on the skid plate, but mine has a pile of bolts holding it on, at least 4 on each side, plus some more in the middle, it's actually a decently beefy skidplate, I was surprised. Goofy to me that they didn't make it a spin on filter, too, and the instructions in the manual (on how to change the oil) are pretty worthless. LOVE the machines, though....I changed the filters & put in just over 3 quarts of Honda 10W40, GN, I think.

[NMKawierider]

I just changed the oil (first time) in both of our machines; and yes, it is a PITA to get to the drain plug, filter housing bolts, etc, but it's done & I'm happy.

Emerson, I think that maybe they changed the bolt pattern on the skid plate, but mine has a pile of bolts holding it on, at least 4 on each side, plus some more in the middle, it's actually a decently beefy skidplate, I was surprised. Goofy to me that they didn't make it a spin on filter, too, and the instructions in the manual (on how to change the oil) are pretty worthless. LOVE the machines, though....I changed the filters & put in just over 3 quarts of Honda 10W40, GN, I think.

Wow, so on yours, right under the engine drain that isn't a small section of steel skid plate with 4-10mm bolts?

[Revolutionary]

I'll have to go look, but it sure looked to me like one HUGE skid plate that goes the length of the machine, and when I drained the oil, the oil came right through one of the two big (like 2.5 inches or so) holes right under the drain plug. I got some oil in the skid plate, but that all came from the oil filter, none from the drain plug. 

[NMKawierider]

I'll have to go look, but it sure looked to me like one HUGE skid plate that goes the length of the machine, and when I drained the oil, the oil came right through one of the two big (like 2.5 inches or so) holes right under the drain plug. I got some oil in the skid plate, but that all came from the oil filter, none from the drain plug. 

I believe the HUGE single plate is just in front of that slam metal plate.

[willpower719]

Do you have a photo or part number of the filter? Any after market options on the oil filter your aware of? About to do my first oil change after break in too.

Thanks

[NMKawierider]

Do you have a photo or part number of the filter? Any after market options on the oil filter your aware of? About to do my first oil change after break in too.

Thanks

For now play it safe and just get the OE filter. I get mine from Alpha-Sports:  http://www.alpha-sports.com/cfmoto_parts.htm

[willpower719]

Thank you! Looking right now.