New owner needs advice

[strummer]

Hey everyone. Due to the death of a longtime friend I now own Super X #830. Due to his long running illness the bike hasn't been started in nearly two years. It's been in my garage for that time. The gas and oil have been in it all that time. I can't loosen the oil plugs to change the oil. I had 3/8" drive sockets on a 9 1/2" breaker bar but the plugs won't budge. Should I try some larger drive sockets, longer breaker bar, air tools? I'm not a mechanic so I want to be careful not to f*** it up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[2CoolWheels]

Even though I've done many oil changes on my bike, the plugs always seem too tight to me as well. My only advice is that you keep trying. Use a longer breaker bar if necessary, and be sure your Allen sockets are in good condition. I would strongly recommend using a torque wrench when reinstalling the plugs afterwards. You don't want to damage the threads by overtightening the plugs

[Donkey Hotey]

Yup, and it's not just our bikes. I've got others with the same issue. It's a sickening crack when they let loose. You always wonder if the socket snapped, the wrench, or the plug. I only had one bike where the plug came out with the threads still attached (KTM). All the other times, it just took a real twist on things.

I think the last EH I had that happen with took a nice, crisp, sharp allen key and my jack handle over the end of it for leverage. Yeah, that was kind of overkill but, what are you going to do? It's gotta' come off, right? The allen key was bending but, it finally let go with the characteristic 'crack' sound.

Welcome to EH ownership and sorry about losing your friend.

[Jumper]

  Whenever I change the oil, I just use a ratchet and Allen head socket. A quick jerk and it "snaps" loose. Putting the plug back in, I let it bottom out finger tight and then again, a quick snap to tighten it up. Seems to work for me. Just don't strip the threads out as that is a pain in the ass...
Jumper

[wytfut]

AND those silly allen head bolts will strip out easily if you don't take the time to clean them out before punishing them with your huge forearms.....

lets not forget to update those allen heads with the NAPA replacement bolt heads....   

I'm like Jumper....  its a big deal ugly SNAP noise... when they pop loose, and I usually use a cheater....

Sometimes I believe the sand cast of our casings absorbs oil away from the threads....   and make them just a little bit harder than most....

[wytfut]

I was refering to the oil plugs NAPA has for replacements

[strummer]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I bought a 12" breaker bar. No one around here had anything longer unless it was 1/2" drive. But the 2" apparently helped because I got them out. And, yeah, the small bolt looks like it's stripping out. I was going to ask about replacements. So I can replace them at NAPA?

[wytfut]

o to this page....

http://www.excelsiorhenderson.com/pages/tech/downloads.html

Click on the cross over parts reference... its a pdf download...
Oil plugs about 4th items down...

Sorry a bit limited here.... using my phone