OP
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
Which bolt? You do have to remove the skid plate thing to get to one if the filter screen / drain plugs. Look at the pictures earlier in this thread.
Husqvarna 401 Oil Change
- Thread starter Vintage Veloce
- Start date
waxfiggy
contributing rider
This one in the attached photos. I honestly thought it was gonna be super easy after watching your guide but I got stuck at this damn bottom bolt lol.
I've removed the skid plate but wasn't able to fit my wobble extension in between the engine and the exhaust to reach the bolt. Not sure if your bike has more space than mine between the exhaust and the bottom of the engine? (I called the dealership just now and they said 2 out of 10 401s (2020+), they need to un-do the top of the exhaust and move it to the side to be able to reach the bolt). If you've used some sort of special tool to reach this, please let me know!
I've removed the skid plate but wasn't able to fit my wobble extension in between the engine and the exhaust to reach the bolt. Not sure if your bike has more space than mine between the exhaust and the bottom of the engine? (I called the dealership just now and they said 2 out of 10 401s (2020+), they need to un-do the top of the exhaust and move it to the side to be able to reach the bolt). If you've used some sort of special tool to reach this, please let me know!
Attachments
OP
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
It is tight, but I was able to get at it with a socket and normal extension. Now, my socket and extension are fairly slim, but I think maybe you dealer is right and some bikes are just tighter than others.
I probably used this:
That is a Snap-On 1/4" Mini Ratchet, a Williams 4" 1/4" drive extension and a Williams socket
It also might be possible to get at it with a normal box end wrench? Or a ratcheting version of a box end wrench? That does assume there is enough clearance to remove the plug once it is loose.
I probably used this:
That is a Snap-On 1/4" Mini Ratchet, a Williams 4" 1/4" drive extension and a Williams socket
It also might be possible to get at it with a normal box end wrench? Or a ratcheting version of a box end wrench? That does assume there is enough clearance to remove the plug once it is loose.
waxfiggy
contributing rider
Ah so I pretty much used the same setup but was unable to fit the socket in between the exhaust/engine (I even tried putting it through above the exhaust on the left side of the bike, the gap in between #3 and #4 in my second photo above). This is a bummer since this is the first bike I've owned that I can't fully do the oil change on my own.
Anyhow, thanks for the help!
OP
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
Are you willing to try loosening the header a bit? It would probably only have to wiggle a little bit to get in there...
waxfiggy
contributing rider
I've replaced the right and left filter only. I don't want to go through the trouble again so I will be taking it to the dealership for future oil changes. 2 months of ownership and I am already starting to miss my Yamahas.... lol
Attached are the pictures to the bolt. The one taken from the bottom is with the skid plate attached (I took the photo just now, after I finished putting everything back together) but it still shows how 2/3 of the bolt is located on top of the exhaust (and only 1/3 of the bolt is shown in the photo) which makes it impossible for the socket/extension to reach without the exhaust removal.
Attachments
Last edited:
BISavage
champion rider
Probably can solve the problem for good if you loosen the exhaust up and retighten it, paying attention to the position in relation to the bolt to find the sweet spot.
One time deal.
One time deal.
BISavage
champion rider
Torque shoud be inside your user manual.
Here is what is used on the 2019.
Nuts on Header Bolts: 8nm or 5.9 ft.lbs.
Exhaust Clamp: 20nm or 14.75 ft.lbs.
Here is what is used on the 2019.
Nuts on Header Bolts: 8nm or 5.9 ft.lbs.
Exhaust Clamp: 20nm or 14.75 ft.lbs.
BISavage
champion rider
So I noticed something today at like my 10th oil change.
When its in the side stand and you fill it with oil but dont yet start it, you can read the oil on the sight glass.
Then after started the oil moves and, once its warm... and held level it reads the same as before.
Got me asking myself, did anyone else notice this, and did those engineers design it up so good that it has a multipurpose sight glass!
When its in the side stand and you fill it with oil but dont yet start it, you can read the oil on the sight glass.
Then after started the oil moves and, once its warm... and held level it reads the same as before.
Got me asking myself, did anyone else notice this, and did those engineers design it up so good that it has a multipurpose sight glass!
Vicsunus
new rider
So I just did an oil change in my 2020 Vitpilen 401 and ran into accessing the bottom oil screen bolt due to interference with my exhaust.
I undid the two nuts holding the header using a wobble bit and extension. The angle wasn’t perfect but enough to grab the bolt. Essentially the extension arm was pushed up against the radiator to try to keep a straight as line access to the nut. Then with the header loose I could kinda of shift it away from the bottom oil bolt to access it. Very poorly designed and manufactured bikes. I believe when they welded the exhausts together there wasn’t a jig or the tolerances weren’t great leading to this issue.
I’m considering swapping a 2017-2019 Vitpilen exhaust (which routes inside the frame) so I don’t need to undo the exhaust header every oil change.
OP
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
I wonder if you loosen the header and the joints around the cat/premuffler if you could rotate the header enough to get the exhaust permanently out of the way?
BISavage
champion rider
RobWCanada
expert rider
Hmm. I just did an oil change on a 2021 Svart 401. For the most part it was pretty easy and didn’t encounter any issues or badly formed threads. My threads holding the skid plate on were full of dirt (I cleaned them out with a thread chaser (not sure the exact name), NOT a tap, this cleans and re-aligns threads vs. cutting more metal like a tap or die).
Anyway, with problems people post about accessing the screens I’m wondering if I missed one lol. There’s only 2 right? 1 under the motor (near the exhaust) and one in the main drain location on the side (19 mm bolt), is that right? Maybe they improved the issues in the 2021?
Also to note, on 2021 they changed the skid plate. The main skid plate has a little hooky thing on it which on yours in the main photos (first post) is actually UNDER the exhaust so when you undo your 6 m6 bolts your skid plate just falls to the ground (I assume). On the 2021, this bracket/hooky thing goes OVER the exhaust. So when the 6 bolts are un-done the skid plate actually hangs on the exhaust. Sooooo, what that means is the 6 bolts have to be un-done AND the 3 smaller M5 pan head bolts holding the little black spoiler on have to be undone as well. The black spoiler is also affixed via the hooky bracket thing via a clip/rubber clip on the outer left side. Dunno if that makes sense, wish I took some photos. I can run out after work and snap some of it attached to the bike
Also, my bike looks pretty damn level and I let it drain for a good while because I was chasing my threads and doing a thourough cleaning of all the parts I took off (my bike went through 26 hours of rain, mud, dirt, sand …and from the smell of the dirt, some manure lol …all clean now though haha). Annnnyway, I put in exactly 1.7L but I could juuust see the oil below the window. I had to add at least 300 ml more to get it in the center of the lines. I believe total was 2.05 L. …odd but I completely warmed it up like you said in prior posts (fan came on and all). And it’s between half and 3/4 between the line. I’d say it looks perfect. Anyone else get this kinda volume in there Svart?
Rob
Anyway, with problems people post about accessing the screens I’m wondering if I missed one lol. There’s only 2 right? 1 under the motor (near the exhaust) and one in the main drain location on the side (19 mm bolt), is that right? Maybe they improved the issues in the 2021?
Also to note, on 2021 they changed the skid plate. The main skid plate has a little hooky thing on it which on yours in the main photos (first post) is actually UNDER the exhaust so when you undo your 6 m6 bolts your skid plate just falls to the ground (I assume). On the 2021, this bracket/hooky thing goes OVER the exhaust. So when the 6 bolts are un-done the skid plate actually hangs on the exhaust. Sooooo, what that means is the 6 bolts have to be un-done AND the 3 smaller M5 pan head bolts holding the little black spoiler on have to be undone as well. The black spoiler is also affixed via the hooky bracket thing via a clip/rubber clip on the outer left side. Dunno if that makes sense, wish I took some photos. I can run out after work and snap some of it attached to the bike
Also, my bike looks pretty damn level and I let it drain for a good while because I was chasing my threads and doing a thourough cleaning of all the parts I took off (my bike went through 26 hours of rain, mud, dirt, sand …and from the smell of the dirt, some manure lol …all clean now though haha). Annnnyway, I put in exactly 1.7L but I could juuust see the oil below the window. I had to add at least 300 ml more to get it in the center of the lines. I believe total was 2.05 L. …odd but I completely warmed it up like you said in prior posts (fan came on and all). And it’s between half and 3/4 between the line. I’d say it looks perfect. Anyone else get this kinda volume in there Svart?
Rob
RobWCanada
expert rider
Okay. Here’s some photos of this hooky, clip bracket thing attached to the skid plate/spoiler. I may also mention they don’t talk about this in the service manual either.
RobWCanada
expert rider
Also, any way to get my exhaust nice like yours? Lol, or does yours look like mine now? I guess cause I have been in the rain so much and it’s been wet A LOT.
BISavage
champion rider
Hey @RobWCanada , nice post!
Few things from my experiance:
Before changing the oil, you need to hot rod around until its all-the-way warmed-up, so the junk ends up suspended in the oil and not settled anywhere.
I also noticed (because I installed a digital oil temp gauge) it takes more than 15 min Idle to warm it up to where the oil is at operating temp, so you probably over filled (no biggie, if you over fill it will just end up in the airbox, dont ask me how I know
)
My exhaust looks like that a few times per year; a little elbow grease, wd40 and scotch brite pads will make it metallic looking again. Additionally I sometimes use a few different super fine sand papers and it gets pretty close to mirror until I ride it twice.
Few things from my experiance:
Before changing the oil, you need to hot rod around until its all-the-way warmed-up, so the junk ends up suspended in the oil and not settled anywhere.
I also noticed (because I installed a digital oil temp gauge) it takes more than 15 min Idle to warm it up to where the oil is at operating temp, so you probably over filled (no biggie, if you over fill it will just end up in the airbox, dont ask me how I know
)My exhaust looks like that a few times per year; a little elbow grease, wd40 and scotch brite pads will make it metallic looking again. Additionally I sometimes use a few different super fine sand papers and it gets pretty close to mirror until I ride it twice.
RobWCanada
expert rider
I'll keep an eye on my level...if it's too high I can pump it out (I have one of those oil extractors that work via vacuum which I use on the Sea-Doo jetski).Hey @RobWCanada , nice post!
Few things from my experiance:
Before changing the oil, you need to hot rod around until its all-the-way warmed-up, so the junk ends up suspended in the oil and not settled anywhere.
I also noticed (because I installed a digital oil temp gauge) it takes more than 15 min Idle to warm it up to where the oil is at operating temp, so you probably over filled (no biggie, if you over fill it will just end up in the airbox, dont ask me how I know
My exhaust looks like that a few times per year; a little elbow grease, wd40 and scotch brite pads will make it metallic looking again. Additionally I sometimes use a few different super fine sand papers and it gets pretty close to mirror until I ride it twice.
The exhaust is strange. Where the oil drained on it, the exhaust actually cleaned up fairly nice. I wonder if it's some combination of weird dirts I drove through and it just happened to cake and bake onto it. It's the weirdest thing. If I feel like doing some extra work I'll see if I can hit it with some WD.
R
OP
Vintage Veloce
pro rider
Interesting, that precat cover is different than on my 2020. The 2020 doesn't have that extra strap on the right side:
RobWCanada
expert rider
Strap. That's a good word for the "hooky thingy" lol. Haha.
I think yours does have the strap but it goes under the exhaust ...pretty sure I saw it in one of your pics when you're showing the offroad dents you did
(I have many).R