The regulator is easy enough to un-bolt to get it out of the way during the change. Didn't cause me any problems. I believe some brands of filter may be a bit too long to use because they hit the back of the regulator.
Since the voltage regulator crowded the new Drifter fender I put on the wife's 900, I went ahead and re-located it to the left side of the bike with the purchase of 1 longer bolt and a spacer. Problem solved forever. I don't understand why Kaw put it where they did, makes absolutely no sense. Pics to follow.
Moving the regulator off the filter is pretty easy. Getting the filter out for the first time can be a bear without a good metal cap wrench. Not sure why the regulator is put there but it may be because that spot sees a lot of air movement and the regulator likes to be cooled. It also blocks debris that’s thrown off of the tire from impacting the filter.
by installing the Drifter fender, blocking debris is a moot point. I might just come back and make a more recessed cover for the oil filter which will clear the fender, maybe not
if you hate moving everytime, you can do like i did. i put (2) 1/4" thick collar spacers on each bolt behind the bracket and longer bolts w/nuts. now i never have to remove it when i change the filter. it gives it just enough room to get the filter in and out. i'll post a pic if needed.
Guess I'll just take the cover off, since it's not in danger of being struck by road debris, may even make an air deflector to force air onto it. That should provide sufficient air flow.
Do you have a meter with a temp probe? Or better yet an IR or laser temp gun? One thing you might try is to go for a ride (noting what accessories are on, lights, brights or not, etc., to keep things consistent)., read the temp in several situations and note them at your current mount, and then try and re-create those mounted in the stock location and see if it's operating warmer.
Doesn't even need to be 4 bolts! If I recall correctly, even the service manual just says to remove the one side and turn the reg/rect unit to expose the oil filter. Just takes a couple seconds. I don't take it off, I just swivel it out of the way by taking off the cover and then the bolt on one side.
I think that before any automotive engineer gets their degree, that they have to apprentice 1 winter in Detroit in an unheated garage and 1 summer in Phoenix without A/C both with gravel floors.
We live in a hurry-up world. Why can't we just be patient and take the little bolts out, unscrew the oil filter, and then cuss/sware looking for that blasted tool to remove the oil cap that should be a stinking dip stick... then try to figure out how to check the oil level. Sure there was a lot of thinking that went into the 900 design. The engineers all live in N.Korea now!
This might be a tip and it might not. I think - think - that when I changed my oil before putting the bike up for the winter I used the handy wrench in the factory tool kit for adjusting preload on the shock to get the oil cap loose. I think that the back of the wrench end is narrow enough to fit in the slot and then you have a nice leveraged handle to use. I might be completely wrong, though - it has been some months and my memory isn't what it used to be......
You are correct, the spanner wrench fits great. I also an old bicycle wrench in my tool box that fits perfectly as well. Amazing what you might find digging through your old tools.
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