RonKMiller
New member
OK, so I read all the info about the infamous $2K O ring and think I have a pretty good handle on it.
I measured the "gap" and it is a solid 4mm - BUT the engine had no problems with the old hinged oil filter, metal shim, O-ring AND PAPER GASKET that you are warned to eliminate most of the time. According to the common wisdom this engine should have grenaded a long time ago since the pressure on the O ring would have been deemed inadequate and the engine oil starved. This engine has had 8 documented/filter oil changes in 21,000 miles. I, of course, have no idea what combination of shims, gaskets, etc, were used prior to just popping it open since this is a new bike to me - a '79 R80/7.
I pulled apart the old filter and inspected it under high magnification in bright light - clean as a whistle except for some expected fines.
My thinking is that since there were no problems with the 4 mm gap, that by eliminating the paper gasket I am adding a little bit of insurance by putting a bit more pressure on the O ring... and that I should be OK doing this instead of adding an extra metal shim as recommended. I am installing a non-hinged oil filter.
I've never had this much "fun" changing an oil filter in my life!
PS: I PROMISE I won't ask which oil to use.
I measured the "gap" and it is a solid 4mm - BUT the engine had no problems with the old hinged oil filter, metal shim, O-ring AND PAPER GASKET that you are warned to eliminate most of the time. According to the common wisdom this engine should have grenaded a long time ago since the pressure on the O ring would have been deemed inadequate and the engine oil starved. This engine has had 8 documented/filter oil changes in 21,000 miles. I, of course, have no idea what combination of shims, gaskets, etc, were used prior to just popping it open since this is a new bike to me - a '79 R80/7.
I pulled apart the old filter and inspected it under high magnification in bright light - clean as a whistle except for some expected fines.
My thinking is that since there were no problems with the 4 mm gap, that by eliminating the paper gasket I am adding a little bit of insurance by putting a bit more pressure on the O ring... and that I should be OK doing this instead of adding an extra metal shim as recommended. I am installing a non-hinged oil filter.
I've never had this much "fun" changing an oil filter in my life!
PS: I PROMISE I won't ask which oil to use.