Does anyone know...

Hipnerd · Post by **Hipnerd** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 12:18 am

...where the guy who decided where the oil filter goes on the Buddy 150 lives?

I'd like to drive to his house and punch him in the junk. There is no room to get a socket wrench or the torque wrench they insist you need in there. There is also no way to avoid making a oily mess as you remove it, as they decided to recess it behind various bits of the undercarriage.

So, if you have an address for me, I'd appreciate it. Oh, and a recent photo would be nice.

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:47 am

almost an after thought in the design phase. took a lesson from auto makers.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:06 am

Amen. I had to buy a shallow socket from the internet in order to use my torque wrench on the oil filter.

Hipnerd · Post by **Hipnerd** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 3:33 am

Tocsik wrote:Amen. I had to buy a shallow socket from the internet in order to use my torque wrench on the oil filter.

I considered this, but the pictures of sockets labelled "shallow socket" don't look all that shallow to me. I was worried whatever I bought wouldn't be shallow enough. Where did you get yours?

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:24 am

It's actually easier to get to than it is on a lot of scooters, like the Blur for instance. And never buy those godforsaken slotted filters (as opposed to the hex ones)

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:19 am

I got one of the socket heads for the slotted filters and it's still a pain.

I think part of it is that it's much easier to get to on a lift, with the scooter elevated and stand up.

So I need a lift.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:26 am

There's a protective shelf that should be removable with 2 or 4 bolts. Once you get that out of the way, the oil filter is stupidly simple to remove. Just keep an oil catch pan underneath and you'll be fine.

It's much easier than the Blur and many times better and easier than generic non-filtered scoots.

Hipnerd · Post by **Hipnerd** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:44 am

Lostmycage wrote:There's a protective shelf that should be removable with 2 or 4 bolts. Once you get that out of the way, the oil filter is stupidly simple to remove. Just keep an oil catch pan underneath and you'll be fine.

It's much easier than the Blur and many times better and easier than generic non-filtered scoots.

I can get it off, but fitting a torque wrench in there looks near impossible without removing the center stand assembly. That's just poor design.

Dean F · Post by **Dean F** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:40 pm

3/8 inch Willliams fits nicely with a standard socket.

Hipnerd · Post by **Hipnerd** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:03 pm

Sears only had 1/2" drive. I'll poke online for a 3/8" and try that.

I noticed that Harbor Freight had a 2/8" drive torque wrench for $15 last time I was in. I'll pick it up just for this and give it another go.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:10 pm

This tool from ScooterWest works fine on our Buddy and Vespas.

http://www.scooterwest.com/items/?_page ... y-125/1719

Dean F · Post by **Dean F** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:23 pm

Hipnerd wrote:I noticed that Harbor Freight had a 2/8" drive torque wrench for $15 last time I was in. I'll pick it up just for this and give it another go.

Careful using a cheap torque wrench!
viewtopic.php?t=18269&highlight=cheap+torque+wrench

Howardr · Post by **Howardr** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:03 pm

We haven't been able to get anything but that slotted POS for a couple of years now. What a freakin' nightmare. One of our guys got so frustrated with his the other day, he took the oil cooler off. As it turns out, that is quite simple. Getting that slotted filter off was still a challenge, but much easier than when it was under the bike.

Who knew?

Howard

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:52 pm

If you need a shallow socket get a cheap one of the size you need and cut it down with a dremel cut off wheel.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:27 pm

Those inexpensive torque wrenches (when on sale) at Harbor Freight are made in Taiwan. That's the same country your Buddy came from. They aren't junk. Most things made in Taiwan are pretty damn good. I've used Harbor Freight Taiwan made torque wrenches for decades with no problems whatsoever.

The only people I know who have had problems didn't know their settings. They didn't know the difference between in-lbs, ft-lbs, Nm, cm-kgs, or m-kgs. Or they forgot to check their last setting before using the wrench again.

I've encountered very fancy and expensive torque wrenches that were WAY off. I have yet to encounter a Taiwan made Harbor Freight one that was way off.