I'm planning to do my first oil+filter change this weekend before storing the bike for winter. So I've read the Haynes Manual and it suggests that you apply "a smear of grease" to the o-ring on the filter cover. Is this really necessary or can I do without?

Its good practice to lube up any o-ring before you install/tighten down. I usually dab my finger in engine oil and apply it around the o-ring. Keeps it from ripping/binding and causing leaks.

+1
Dab of oil is fine.






Or so my GF says.

Quote from: the mole on October 25, 2010, 02:55:11 PM
Or so my GF says.

Haha =D I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, guys.

+4 Also the grease will help keep the o-ring in place while you put the cover one.

Quote from: GI_JO_NATHAN on October 25, 2010, 04:16:25 PM
+4 Also the grease will help keep the o-ring in place while you put the cover on.

We have our Winner!  

Quote from: MrTwinkle on October 25, 2010, 02:42:46 PM
I'm planning to do my first oil+filter change this weekend before storing the bike for winter. So I've read the Haynes Manual and it suggests that you apply "a smear of grease" to the o-ring on the filter cover. Is this really necessary or can I do without?

To answer your second question, no, it is not necessary.  I have done 4 oil changes on the GS and did not smaer grease on the O-ring...it seals and works fine.

Oiling or greasing an O-ring is more for the "spin-on" type of oil fliter....where you are rotating the O-ring against the flange on the engine.......it needs some lube so it doesn't "catch" or distort.......In our shop we use some special crap made by Dow Corining......but motor oil works just fine.

But.........the filter cover on the GS500 is a different deal altogether.......the O-ring simply compreses beteween the cover and the engine...........no sliding or turning or rotating............no oil or lube needed IMHO......

but it wouldn't hurt either, just messy....

Cookie

Wouldn't the oil also help from cracking the o-ring overtime as it gets old?

Quote from: MrTwinkle on October 25, 2010, 02:42:46 PM
I've read the Haynes Manual and it suggests that you apply "a smear of grease" to the o-ring on the filter cover. Is this really necessary or can I do without?

It depends on the nature of your new seal.....Some new seals will stay flat and sit quite happily in the recess, others will want to twist or lift or spring out. If yours is one of the latter a smear of grease will hold it in its correct position during assembly. It doesnt have to be grease, non-setting jointing compound like hylomar, or vaseline or even a dab or two of superglue will do just as well. I would avoid silicone though, you dont want a sliver of that coming loose internally and plugging up some oilway or gallery.

Quote from: ragecage23 on October 25, 2010, 10:47:04 PM
Wouldn't the oil also help from cracking the o-ring overtime as it gets old?

Well, as we say....RTFM..........

It says change the O-ring each time you change the filter element.........so you don't have to worry about cracking O-ring.......No mention of grease, glue, compound or anything.....

Me....I'm too cheap to buy an O-ring every time....but if it is getting old enough to need grease, I'll replace the O-ring.

Mine has no trouble "staying in place" so I see no need for grease for that purpose........."super glue" seems like a real mess, when it comes time to change the ring........also dried "hard" so will defeat the purpose of a rubber ring for good seal.........

Everybody has their own idea.....whatever works I guess........but don't make more work and complication than needed!

Cookie

oops!!!!

Well the owners manual does not mention greasing the o-ring.......BUT the maintenance manual does!!!!

So..........grease that O-ring!!!!


Cookie

I must have done over 60 oil changes on my GS500s and started out just putting a smear of oil on the o-ring and sometimes used the new o-ring and sometimes used the old one.  After a few changes I finally got a leaker from a pinched o-ring and have greased them since.  I grab a couple finger tips of cup/brg grease and put a heavy coat on the o-ring, put it in the cover groove, and then smeared a little more on it.  No problem since, I use aftermarket filters, mostly Fram, and they all came with a new o-ring in the box.  The one I changed yesterday took a bit more grease to keep in the groove.  That oem Suzi o-ring is way too pricey for something that costs pennies to make.

When I started making oil changes decades ago the cars didn't even have oil filters except a few that had aftermarket bypass types added by their owners and the oil didn't have any detergents in it and looked like a bucket of mud at 1000 mile oil change intervals so progress is being slowly made.   

A gs oil filter hatch O ring does not need oil or grease. I actually silicone/purple goop gasket maker I think on the cover. I sometimes put oil on the engine face, but its just from force of habit, in fact if you dont clean it with some kind of oil dissolving spray (carb cleaner) it will have a bit of oil.

An O ring that is being twisted, or pressed between 2 cylinders, or what not needs oil, else it can catch and tear. It needs to slip @ assembly. The gs filter hatch goes straight on and it just presses on. The thing comming loose from its groove and hanging loose is your biggest threat. Then it will get pinched and cut.

As cookie said earlier, I posted wihtout reading it all the way.

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: twocool on October 26, 2010, 02:39:53 AM

"super glue" seems like a real mess, when it comes time to change the ring........also dried "hard" so will defeat the purpose of a rubber ring for good seal.........

Nahhhhhh......so long as you dont go daft with the glue and lather it on it wont cause any problems..........ever used an O ring splice kit??

http://supaseal.co.uk/kits.htm

While grease on the gasket is not necessary it certainly makes installation easier. The grease holds the gasket in the proper position during installation.

It's an old mechanic trick. Being that grease is petroleum based it is considered a safe practice even during installation of carburetor gaskets. The key is to only use as much as you need and nothing more. It helps seal the joint the gasket is intended to seal as well as keeping the gasket from bonding to the surfaces it is between. This is very beneficial during disassembly and keeps the gasket soft on plyable and in a pinch allows reuse of gaskets that can't be replaced at the time assembly.

The grease is meant to keep the seal in place until you get the cover done up...it doesn't keep it from cracking, since it is the seal and the oil from the engine is always against it on the inside edge...cracking or splitting is from the heat of the engine and not replacing it when doing an oil change...if you remove the cover, spend the buck and get the seal...or get the after market filters that come with...cheap peace of mind...

My two cents...

Later.

just get on with it 

Quote from: gsJack on October 26, 2010, 07:42:23 AM
I must have done over 60 oil changes on my GS500s and started out just putting a smear of oil on the o-ring and sometimes used the new o-ring and sometimes used the old one.  After a few changes I finally got a leaker from a pinched o-ring and have greased them since.  I grab a couple finger tips of cup/brg grease and put a heavy coat on the o-ring, put it in the cover groove, and then smeared a little more on it.  No problem since, I use aftermarket filters, mostly Fram, and they all came with a new o-ring in the box.  The one I changed yesterday took a bit more grease to keep in the groove.  That oem Suzi o-ring is way too pricey for something that costs pennies to make.

When I started making oil changes decades ago the cars didn't even have oil filters except a few that had aftermarket bypass types added by their owners and the oil didn't have any detergents in it and looked like a bucket of mud at 1000 mile oil change intervals so progress is being slowly made.   

What part number FRAM do you use?  I see CH 6000    and CH 6001 listed for GS500F...they seem to be different in diameter of the seal...........

FRAM lists one filter for a "shaft drive" GS 500 and the other for a "sprocket drive" GS 500.............WTF?

Cookie

Hmmm.  I have been using the Fram CH6000 and the first o-ring was fine. But the 4 I have bought since have o-rings that are too small.  I just figured that the batch that went to the stores in this area were made too small.  So, Cookie, are you saying the seal that is a different size is the o-ring for the cover, or is it the seal on the filter itself(large rubber grommet)?

Quote from: madjak30 on October 26, 2010, 02:51:46 PM
The grease is meant to keep the seal in place until you get the cover done up...it doesn't keep it from cracking, since it is the seal and the oil from the engine is always against it on the inside edge...cracking or splitting is from the heat of the engine and not replacing it when doing an oil change...if you remove the cover, spend the buck and get the seal...or get the after market filters that come with...cheap peace of mind...

My two cents...

Later.

Thanks for clarifying exactly the same thing I just wrote.  Just like you said oil is on the inside and is hot from the engine as is the grease. But as we all know grease gets thinner at a much higher temperature and protects the gasket or seal where ever you apply it during assembly not just the inside. As Buddha said earlier people that take things apart and rebuild them do it as a matter of fact and as a good practice. It just makes sense and a tube of general purpose grease is inexpensive and will last most people years.

My 2 Cents is do it if you have it, and if you don't have it get some, and do it next time you will notice the difference the next time you disassemble it.