|  | Topic : Help! Can't access oil filter |  |
| | | rainamundo | | Set |  | | Reg. Date | : | 25/05/2025 | | Posts | : | 6 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 25 May 2025 - 12:00 Post title : Help! Can't access oil filter | | | 2013 Triumph Thunderbird 1600
I'm a bit of a noob to self maintenance and figured I'd start with an oil change. Turns out there seems to be some sort of aftermarket guard under the radiator that is blocking the oil filter. I don't know what to do. It is attached by two bolts, connecting it to the black frame rails behind the radiator and these bolts are very hard to access and very hard to loosen.
Photo uploads aren't working so here is a Google Drive folder with a couple of reference photos:
Link
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| | | Slcharger | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 18/02/2016 | | Posts | : | 1,693 | | Location | : | Denmark |
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| | Posted : 25 May 2025 - 12:59 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | | The bike seems to have had a rough life, have absolutely no idea what that bracket is meant for. It also seems that it is not possible to remove the bracket without removing the exhaust pipes as well. The 2 screws you mentioned is the front motor mount, the motor is an integrated part of the frame, a structural part.
If you ca't get the filter out from there, there is only one way, dismantle, and remove that bracket.
Sorry that I can't give better advise.
Have attached a link to the workshop manual, that you have all info at hand.
Kim
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| Big Bird, Bordeaux with " Celtic theme " Airbrush, 2010, 1700CC, ABS, 65.000 km. Lowered with Nitros rear shocks, Linear front springs, Burchard forward footrest kit, Kuryakyn ISO grips, LOTS of chrome, SLcharger REV2+ tune, Modified Cee Baileys windshield, Oil pressure gauge, Air box elimination kit, Portet cylinderhead, Intake cam advanved 8 degree, Exhaust cam retarded 2 degree, 10.5 C/R, Knock sensor, Machined flywheel, DNA Chrome Spoke wheels, 18x8.5"- AVON AV72- 240/40/18, 21x3.5"- AVON AV71- 120/70/21, Corbin seat with backrest, 20W fork oil. Hiflo HF303RC oil filter, Penrite Racing 20-20W60 engine oil, Adjurl lights.
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| | | rainamundo | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 25/05/2025 | | Posts | : | 6 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 25 May 2025 - 13:04 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Slcharger) | | | Thank you Kim and thank you for the manual. Unless someone else chimes in here with a breakthrough tip I'm just going to take it to the authorized mechanic and have the do it. And find out how they do it too.
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| | | Leethal | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,548 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 25 May 2025 - 13:16 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | | I would say someone has made a jacking bracket. Have you taken the radiator shroud off to see if the filter is accessible. You will need a filter socket anyway to get it off regardless of the bracket. You could cut the home made bracket off with an angle grinder if it's in the way.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it 
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| | | MotorMac | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,887 | | Location | : | Nor Cal, United States |
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| | Posted : 25 May 2025 - 17:22 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | | Hi Rainamundo-
Have you tried a strap wrench?
The K&N filters I use have a nut on the end that makes it pretty easy, but in the meantime there should be room to feed a strap wrench around it - unless I'm missing something.
Trick to posting pics is to put 'em into your album first, then copy pic address to post.
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| | | rainamundo | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 25/05/2025 | | Posts | : | 6 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 25 May 2025 - 17:49 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Leethal) | | | I haven't tried removing the radiator shroud. I figured that was a PROJECT.
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| | | rainamundo | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 25/05/2025 | | Posts | : | 6 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 25 May 2025 - 17:50 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: MotorMac) | | | I could probably reach with a strap wrench but there is no way to get the filter out and put a new one in. There isn't enough space to get it all the way out in any direction.
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| | | MotorMac | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,887 | | Location | : | Nor Cal, United States |
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| | Posted : 26 May 2025 - 05:27 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | | That's some seriously poor planning if there isn't even an inch in front of the filter. Have to wonder how old it is.
Might as well remove the radiator while you're at it, looks like maintenance wasn't a high priority....
It's worth doing, the T-Bird is a great machine.
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| | | Slcharger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/02/2016 | | Posts | : | 1,693 | | Location | : | Denmark |
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| | Posted : 26 May 2025 - 10:08 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | |
rainamundo wrote:
I haven't tried removing the radiator shroud. I figured that was a PROJECT. |
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Remove the radiator shroud is fairly simple. Remove the screws underneath, and lift it off.
If you then loosen the motor mount bolts, you might be able to flip that bracket forward, creating room for dropping the oil filter.
Motormac is right, I would cut open the old oil filter with an oil filter cutter, not an angle grinder or hacksaw, and inspect the filter element for metal content, will give you a hint of the motors condition. If there is no magnetic oil plug fitted, do it.
Kim
| Big Bird, Bordeaux with " Celtic theme " Airbrush, 2010, 1700CC, ABS, 65.000 km. Lowered with Nitros rear shocks, Linear front springs, Burchard forward footrest kit, Kuryakyn ISO grips, LOTS of chrome, SLcharger REV2+ tune, Modified Cee Baileys windshield, Oil pressure gauge, Air box elimination kit, Portet cylinderhead, Intake cam advanved 8 degree, Exhaust cam retarded 2 degree, 10.5 C/R, Knock sensor, Machined flywheel, DNA Chrome Spoke wheels, 18x8.5"- AVON AV72- 240/40/18, 21x3.5"- AVON AV71- 120/70/21, Corbin seat with backrest, 20W fork oil. Hiflo HF303RC oil filter, Penrite Racing 20-20W60 engine oil, Adjurl lights.
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| | | Slcharger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/02/2016 | | Posts | : | 1,693 | | Location | : | Denmark |
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| | Posted : 26 May 2025 - 10:13 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Leethal) | | |
Leethal wrote:
I would say someone has made a jacking bracket. |
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I thought of that too Lee, but it made no sense to me, blocking the filter removal, with a jack AND the bracket, since the purpose of lifting mostly is for oil change, and if, it is not very well though out by the previous owner.
Kim
| Big Bird, Bordeaux with " Celtic theme " Airbrush, 2010, 1700CC, ABS, 65.000 km. Lowered with Nitros rear shocks, Linear front springs, Burchard forward footrest kit, Kuryakyn ISO grips, LOTS of chrome, SLcharger REV2+ tune, Modified Cee Baileys windshield, Oil pressure gauge, Air box elimination kit, Portet cylinderhead, Intake cam advanved 8 degree, Exhaust cam retarded 2 degree, 10.5 C/R, Knock sensor, Machined flywheel, DNA Chrome Spoke wheels, 18x8.5"- AVON AV72- 240/40/18, 21x3.5"- AVON AV71- 120/70/21, Corbin seat with backrest, 20W fork oil. Hiflo HF303RC oil filter, Penrite Racing 20-20W60 engine oil, Adjurl lights.
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| | | Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,548 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 26 May 2025 - 12:06 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Slcharger) | | | Kim it may have been designed to lift the front only for obvious work. Who knows what people think about. :
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| | | rainamundo | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 25/05/2025 | | Posts | : | 6 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 26 May 2025 - 14:12 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: MotorMac) | | | Ya, sounds like a good idea. The triumph dealership does the annual maintenance on it and has been for years. The bike is DIRTY because I don't have a garage right now unfortunately so it sits under a cover out in the wild, wild world. I think it's in better shape than it looks, but since I may have to remove the radiator too I can figure out what maintenance I can do on that. Cleaning I'm sure at the least.
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| | | rainamundo | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 25/05/2025 | | Posts | : | 6 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 26 May 2025 - 14:16 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Slcharger) | | | Thanks Kim, I will try the radiator removal route since it sounds fairly easy. I think the motor should be in pretty good condition as it has been annually maintained by the dealership for years. Couldn't hurt to check though, and I will. Thanks for the tip. Also, I did loosen one of the bolts on the bracket and it seemed to allow the bracket to bend a little so I'm going to try and bend it out of the way first before anything else and see if that gives me the clearance I need to get the filter out.
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| | | peteronkarra | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/04/2012 | | Posts | : | 834 | | Location | : | Karragarra Island, Queensland, Australia |
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| | Posted : 08 Jun 2025 - 20:02 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | | It looks like the bracket is in 3 pieces. There's 2 bolts that hold the centre piece. Remove them and the centre section should come out and give access to the filter. From memory it looks like the Jack B Quick bracket.
| I sometimes wonder what I"ll do when I grow up.... but not very often 
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| | | Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,548 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 08 Jun 2025 - 22:10 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: peteronkarra) | | | I thought I would take another look but this time on my LT instead of the phone but the files won't open for me. 
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| | | tamboritha | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 26/08/2011 | | Posts | : | 366 | | Location | : | morwell, vic, Australia |
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| | Posted : 09 Jun 2025 - 05:07 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | | i owned an LT and that bracket was on the bike from brand new, and had me wondering why it was...two bolts and the filter is taken out
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| | | MotorMac | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,887 | | Location | : | Nor Cal, United States |
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| | Posted : 16 Jun 2025 - 02:39 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: rainamundo) | | | Are we there yet?
How's it coming, filter off, radiator all cleaned up, yes?
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| | | Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,548 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 07 Jul 2025 - 23:27 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: MotorMac) | | | Frustrating isn't it? People join, ask one question, receive advice and never return to give feedback. 
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| | | Slcharger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/02/2016 | | Posts | : | 1,693 | | Location | : | Denmark |
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| | Posted : 08 Jul 2025 - 02:32 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Leethal) | | |
Leethal wrote:
Frustrating isn't it? People join, ask one question, receive advice and never return to give feedback. |
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Yea, unfortunately it is more the rule than the exception. You deliver the service and then get kicked out, like a hooker, without payment. 
Kim
| Big Bird, Bordeaux with " Celtic theme " Airbrush, 2010, 1700CC, ABS, 65.000 km. Lowered with Nitros rear shocks, Linear front springs, Burchard forward footrest kit, Kuryakyn ISO grips, LOTS of chrome, SLcharger REV2+ tune, Modified Cee Baileys windshield, Oil pressure gauge, Air box elimination kit, Portet cylinderhead, Intake cam advanved 8 degree, Exhaust cam retarded 2 degree, 10.5 C/R, Knock sensor, Machined flywheel, DNA Chrome Spoke wheels, 18x8.5"- AVON AV72- 240/40/18, 21x3.5"- AVON AV71- 120/70/21, Corbin seat with backrest, 20W fork oil. Hiflo HF303RC oil filter, Penrite Racing 20-20W60 engine oil, Adjurl lights.
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| | | Linkdog | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 10/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 2,982 | | Location | : | Groveland, FL., United States |
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| | Posted : 11 Jul 2025 - 15:53 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Slcharger) | | |
Slcharger wrote:
Leethal wrote:
Frustrating isn't it? People join, ask one question, receive advice and never return to give feedback. |
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Yea, unfortunately it is more the rule than the exception. You deliver the service and then get kicked out, like a hooker, without payment.
Kim |
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The good news is that we never caught anything
| Never drink from a cow with one udder! 2010 1600 Blue&White ( of course ) Long TORS and HP filter.
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| | | Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,548 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 12 Jul 2025 - 01:48 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Linkdog) | | | 
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| | | Slcharger | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/02/2016 | | Posts | : | 1,693 | | Location | : | Denmark |
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| | Posted : 12 Jul 2025 - 05:52 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Linkdog) | | |
Linkdog wrote:
Slcharger wrote:
Leethal wrote:
Frustrating isn't it? People join, ask one question, receive advice and never return to give feedback. |
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Yea, unfortunately it is more the rule than the exception. You deliver the service and then get kicked out, like a hooker, without payment.
Kim |
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The good news is that we never caught anything |
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Kim
| Big Bird, Bordeaux with " Celtic theme " Airbrush, 2010, 1700CC, ABS, 65.000 km. Lowered with Nitros rear shocks, Linear front springs, Burchard forward footrest kit, Kuryakyn ISO grips, LOTS of chrome, SLcharger REV2+ tune, Modified Cee Baileys windshield, Oil pressure gauge, Air box elimination kit, Portet cylinderhead, Intake cam advanved 8 degree, Exhaust cam retarded 2 degree, 10.5 C/R, Knock sensor, Machined flywheel, DNA Chrome Spoke wheels, 18x8.5"- AVON AV72- 240/40/18, 21x3.5"- AVON AV71- 120/70/21, Corbin seat with backrest, 20W fork oil. Hiflo HF303RC oil filter, Penrite Racing 20-20W60 engine oil, Adjurl lights.
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| | | MotorMac | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,887 | | Location | : | Nor Cal, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Jul 2025 - 16:47 Post title : Re: Help! Can't access oil filter (Re: Leethal) | | | Frustrating, yeah, but that's why we're here.
Used to be we'd get notifications when a reply was posted, but I don't think that function works anymore. Still seems only polite to return with some sort of follow up.
Been watching a neighbor torture a bike (possibly stolen) cranking it daily until multiple batteries die, over and over, for weeks. Finally got it to start, won't idle, so he revs the shit out of it until it quits, crank, rev, repeat. Today he tried to ride it, didn't get more than 300 yards then discovered whatever-it-is won't allow bump start. New safety feature? So now he's on the sidewalk, reving the shit out of it again. Good thing he's wearing a helmet.
Some people were never meant to ride.
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