Help...my VFR bled out on the side of the road.

I'm going to echo what people here are saying; stay away from the K&N oil filters! Same thing that happened to VFRNut and A.M happened to me this year when I went to the Corbin facility for the Hollister ralley on the 4th. I was so lucky because I was riding two up and just parked the bike before all the oil completely ran out. And it wasn't an immediate failure too, I had the filter on for 3000 miles too before it blew.

A mechanic that was riding with us said she saw the same issue on a brand new triumph that came in her service department but all the oil had ran out destroying the engine.

 

Congratulations, you have won a prize! According to Sniper, you are now a full fledged member of the inept clod club. Now go stick your head in the sand!

 

Another point also, just not on Honda and not just bikes. K&N brand filter failures are reported on many brands and cages too.

Please tell me how I get into this club? So far looks like plenty of room in the truck. I don't want to resort to the sand.

 

I've bought K&N stuff, and have never had a problem.

Every time l buy a used bike, the first several weeks are spent fixing what the previous owner(s) have screwed up. I will never again buy anything from a 20-something.

 

Well, I finally got the time (and the courage) to check out my bike since I had it towed home. Sure enough, it was the K&N oil filter that failed, hemorrhaged all my oil down the road and almost got me killed. The dent on the side is from the tool used to remove it.

I don't know why the image isn't opening. Here is a link to it: https://d.pr/i/lVmzfO

 

Holy cow, you had an angel watching your 6.
Since I’ve never used them only OEM, somewheres the batch # can be found and SHOULD be posted.
I’d say if you just bought a bike, change the oil immediately, you just may be saving your life.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Why Oh Why is this still an issue, it's not like we are keeping quiet about this. The lessons learned. Good to hear you're still vertical.

 

Good thing that you sorted it all out and where unharmed. VFRNUT any interest in doing a ride down Moab area june 29th - july 3rd now that you have a running bike. Free lodging for those that want to go. Just thought I would throw it out since you live in Utah.

 

Dang Bubba, that is sure tempting. I am doing PCH June 12th - 16th and I am just a poor Door Dash driver right now, so I don't think I will be able to miss any more work days for a while after that. Please hit me up again though on other touring rides after that one.

 

Sniper, do you work for K&N ? I was the one that posted pictures of the wrong diameter where the O-ring is involved and also sent 2 oil filters back to K&N. One was off of my VFR and one was off of my CBR track bike. Both were O ring failures. The filters were installed by me properly. By hand tighten only. As I’ve done for over 40 years. There are pictures with calipers that show an OEM filter and K&N filter where there is a discrepancy in diameter size. The O-ring is on the edge of the mounting surface not where it should be mating. Since my failures I have been in contact with many people with the same problem. Most that I have run into had O-ring failures but there have been a handful with the nut failure. Only one out of the five or so was installed using the nut. The other four or so we’re leaking from the nut that were hand tighten installed. K&N response was nothing, they sent me a new filter the first time and heard nothing back from them the second time. Fuck those guys.
Sniper get off your high horse and do a little research on the subject before you start accusing people of shit.
I’m glad OP is OK and knows not to use the filters.

 

What I really want to know is this. Why on God's green earth did it take you from August 2017 to now to figure out the cause of the spill. VFRNut. You are terrible at living up to your handle name here. (Tongue in cheek here you understand)

I have never used a K&N oil filter basically because if what I have read here and elsewhere. I used to have a K&N air filter but tossed that after a few years. I have to say though, there was no known failure I am aware of on these. I just got tired of having to wait for the air filter to air dry before applying the needed solution the filter before I go out for a ride. I switched back to OEM air filters.

As far as the oil filter, I use Bosch. The one I use is slightly larger in volume than what came with the bike. But it is the same filter used on Honda Civics. So when they go on sale, I buy half a dozen of them. My son and wife both drive Civics and I do the oil changes on all them

 

I was so bummed about what happened (and busy) I didn't ride it. Those were also winter months, where I don't usually ride. Part of me was expecting severe engine damage and it took me a long time to get the courage to find out. Out of the 3.3 quarts that were supposed to be in there, less than 1 quart was in there. Also, I work from home and I do delivery driving so I never have anywhere to go. My friends with bikes only plan summer trips. Finally, whenever I sign up on forums it is usually "...Nut" so my handle reflects my habit in choosing forum names. There is the answer to that question ; )

 

Well. I am happy to hear you did not suffer a catastrophic failure. Now a reasonable person might ride that bike like a two bit hooker from the east side.