My Weirdest Wrenching Day Ever

Since our move to New Mexico a couple of weeks ago I have been delighted to hook up with some cool beemer people and more importantly the Survivors and these cats ride.

The reason I bring that up is because my bike needed some serious service and I no longer have a garage. Since we only have one assigned parking space here I have two bikes crowded into it and wrenching is frowned upon upon the apartment property I had a quandary.

Fortunately a new friend invited me over to his house to do a little wrenching, but it didn't work out.

So I decided to just go ahead and wrench in my little space and face the consequences.

So long story short, I go through the routine, valve clearances, etc, etc,.

Time to change the oil in the tranny and the engine...so I decide to do the right thing and go down to Auto Zone and bought one of those thingtymadoodabs that let you drain your oil and store it at the same time. OK, so far I am rockin'.

About this time, the wind kicks up to (and I am not making this up) about 50MPH which as I understand is typical for the area. Try as I might the freakin' oil is not entirely draining into the container, Dahmik! Nevertheless I continue one doing my best to shuck and jive and keep everything under control.

Oh Yeah, and I forgot to mention that the cat who has the parking space next to me has this Jeep with a really sensitive alarm that I kept setting off anytime I would come near it.

Bottom line, I got the service done and was quite proud of myself for prevailing
over such "obstacles."

So I get everything finished and locked down, started the bike and there was that sickening sound you get for an instant when the bike clanks with no oil in it for an instant and the oil pressure light comes on. Then that horrifying moment is over and all is well. Such was the case here, for a moment, then the light came back on and the clanking started again.

Look down and the damn oil filter had blown out.

Now keep in mind the wind has kicked up to 50MPH now making this all very surreal.

A couple of rolls of paper towels later the toxic mess was fairly under control.

Then we washed the parking pad down as best we could while the monsoon season weather continued to batter us.

Finally determined the cause of the blowout, it seems the old filter had left its rubber seal behind making my torque settings moot.

In the end everything got settled, but Geez......