Yep, I've broken my first oil filter cover stud   But, I've fixed it!

I got very lucky as you will see...

I've changed the oil and filter once before (a year ago) and was very careful that time not to over-tighten the nuts after reading all the posts on this site.  So, this time (today - Saturday) I drained the oil without any drama (although very messy), replaced the filter and cover and tightened the nuts.  I then torqued the sump plug to the correct torque range (having first fitted a new sump plug crush washer as one is supposed to do).  Everything going to plan and I'm almost ready to fill the bike with oil.  Now...this is where it goes pair-shaped.  When I changed the oil last time I didn't possess a torque-wrench.  But now I do.  So, I thought the safest thing to do was use my torque wrench on the nuts so I don't inadvertently over-tighten them.  I searched the Haynes Manual, the workshop manual, this site and the internet.  If you've done the same, have you wondered why there are no torque values for the oil filter cover studs out there?  Well, I'll tell you why you won't find them - it's because there ain't any!  I took an (educated?0 guess and set my wrench to 10 Newton Metres.  It twisted the bottom nut clean off!!

I totally freaked!!!  I couldn't believe I had f#*ked up big time when I knew one has to be really careful!!!  Now, this is where I was lucky.  The stud had twisted-off half way down its length.  There was about half an inch left sticking out of the engine.  So, after I had stopped panicking I went to Halfords and bought a stud extractor set - £22!!!!  the guy in the shop was very helpful and suggested that I should buy a mole wrench instead.  I should have listened to him because the 6mm stud extractor was totally useless!!   So I started to panic again and attempted the two-nut solution.  Only thing was - there wasn't enough of the stud left to put two nuts on!!!!

But this was when I got lucky!  I tried to tighten the nut on further but it only got stuck.  So when I thought all was lost, when I tried to remove the nut it started to loosen the stud just as if I had two nuts tightened together on the stud!!  I don't believe in God, but reprieves like this could maybe change my thinking!!!  The stud came out no problem.  I was so pleased because I had ordered some replacement studs earlier in the day which I'll receive in the post in a few days.  So, everything was OK with the world agin

But then it got even better!!!  I always keep old nuts and bolts, and I had a long 6mm bolt from an old bed that I had chucked some time ago.  This bolt was perfect to cut to length for a replacement stud!  So I cut it to approx 32-33mm and it went in there better than the original stud!  I could have cried I was so happy

Bike now filled up and no leaks.  Please, please please be careful when tightening those nuts.  When using a wratchet wrench, hold the wrench in the palm of your hand with your fingers around the shank of the socket extender so that you are only using the power of your wrist to tighten the nuts.  That way, unless you are a body-builder, it will be very difficult to over-tighten the nuts.

I'm so pleased with my fix I'm not going to replace the stud until the next oil change!

In the words of the great 'Buddha' - Cool 

Bassman

Welcome to the club!

I broke 2 last oil change... barely got the bolt snug and *ka-ping* snapped em'. Time to go I suppose.

New studs and cap-bolts w/lock washers run ya 3 bucks and about 30 minutes. Oh well.

Dan