Motorcycle Oil Catch Basin

[soupy1957]

Maybe I'll have to actually invent one, but.............I'm looking for a plastic 5 gallon (could be 3 or 4 as well) jug, with a narrow mouth top, that has a plastic, removable funnel (perhaps 5 inches in Ø) on top.

I have a motorcycle lift that will crank the bottom of my bike frame up to about 20 + inches off the ground. There's free air space under the bike, once raised.


(Tried to insert a pic here, but all I got was an icon. SHOULD have taken my photobucket weblink, but didn't, sorry)


Anyone seen any product that you could point me to, that would fill my need?

The whole idea would be that once the oil had drained into the bottom jug, I could remove the funnel, and put a screw on cap on the jug, and save it til the NEXT oil change. Then once full, haul it off to the Recycle Center for draining.

Something like THIS: (only a LOT smaller, a LOT more portable, and not "pressurized")

(http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to..._sku=1095196&gclid=COyXyuHKtcACFUVo7AodhjcANQ

 

[afmrick]

I use a 5 gallon steel pail w/ spout combined with a homemade drip pan (click pic for more):


Metal, screw on cap, built in pour spout and handle. Although, I still drain the oil into a conventional pan because I want to see if there's anything metallic in there before dumping it into the drum.

There's also better funnels/drip pans that'll get you closer aesthetically to your example.

I'm not home to measure but, I think, that may fit under your 20" limitation w/o a dolly.

EDIT: Oops you wrote "plastic" multiple times.
You could get a 5 gallon plastic bucket from your local hardware store and something like this plastic pail funnel (~$20). It's not quite what you want but the funnel has a lid or you could use the lid that came with the bucket.

 

[arrowhead]

So you want a jug to fill that you can just cap off and drop at the recycle center? Well get in line! Maybe you should invent something, you might have something there, I would think there would be a market for that for DIY automotive oil changes as well.

 

[soupy1957]

So you want a jug to fill that you can just cap off and drop at the recycle center? .................

Well, not exactly. I don't want to LEAVE it at the Recycle Center. I want to be able to drain it out (they have these big tanks there) and bring it home (it'll take a while to fill, if it's a 5 gallon jug!

-Soupy

 

[Boomer343]

I use one like in the large picture top of page with the green lid. Scroll down to see other options.

http://www.scepterconsumer.com/auto_accessories/funnels_drainpans/

 

[kelpaso1]

I don't understand the point of this. Why not put a small container under the bike and drain the oil into it. Then drain the pan into the 5 gallon bucket. Am I missing something?

 

[WILD-BILL]

I'm not sure if you can make it out in theses pics but I think I've done what you're after.

I used a 5 gal Rottella oil bucket From when I did the oil change on my motor home. Once it was empty, I stuck a funnel in the opening.

You can sort of see it under the bench on the right below the belt sander in these pics.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Empty 5 gallon cooking oil jugs. I have 2. One for oil & one for antifreeze. They have a 2+ inch opening. I get them from the food service company at work, but you can probably hook up with any local restaurant for them. They usually just toss them...

Tommy

 

[SwerveDriver]

You might try looking on Craigslist.

Not sure where you are in Conn. but these (metal) are in Griswold for $5. http://newlondon.craigslist.org/atq/4564167368.html

Or, as LS6T indicates above, it is not uncommon to find the plastic cooking oil jugs being given away on CL (granted, these are in Wisconsin, but look around!). http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/zip/4637059121.html

Best-
SD

 

[Jinks]

5 gal plastic gas can from walmart. Drain oil into anything, put a funnel in the gas can, pour oil into gas can. Two, three oil changes I take the gas can to the recycle & empty it. Bring it home & start again.

 

[soupy1957]

Yeah, thanks for the ideas, the links, etc..

I'm figuring I'll put the bike up on the lift and be SURE of how much actual clearance I have underneath, and buy a Walmart jug of some type (maybe I'll hit the auto parts stores and see what THEY have.........

I'll find SOMETHING.

Just figured it would be interesting to see if anyone had seen what I was looking for, and knew where to find it, is all.

thanks folks,

 

[soupy1957]

I'm not sure if you can make it out in theses pics .............

You're right.......I couldn't. That's ok. Thanks for showing me your work area.

I suppose I should go out and take a picture MINE, since "you showed me yours" (lol).

I CAN tell you THIS however..........I once (when I was a younger man) had a tool chest like tht..........with all kinds of tools.

Now that I'm older, I have streamlined extensively. A hammer, an adjustable, a few screwdrivers, and I'm "good to go" these days!! (Oh, and a ratchet and socket set too)

 

[Moose02]

I went to the local car wash and got their 5 gal plastic jug their cleaners come in and I use that to put the funnel in and take to recycling.

I remember in the old days we used to put the oil down on the dirt driveway and keep the dust down. not pc anymore

or just drain on the ground when it was legal to do it it came from the ground to begin with

 

[G19Tony]

I use one like in the large picture top of page with the green lid. Scroll down to see other options.

http://www.scepterconsumer.com/auto_accessories/funnels_drainpans/

Those are great, but I've found that they leak after awhile. At least the one's from the auto parts store did.

 

[soupy1957]

Those are great, but I've found that they leak after awhile. At least the one's from the auto parts store did.

The thing about THESE is, I raise my bike up a good amount, to make it easier to access the filter and plug. So the ability to be higher up with the funnel, reduces the potential for spilling.

Like (for those of us who are "guys" ) hitting the bowl from farther away.

 

[fitz1015]

Not sure if this helps but i service alot of motorcycles and I found this thing to be a amazing. After I just pump all the old oil into a 5 gal jug. You can change most your fluids without lifting the bike. You can also us this on your car as well.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JFJM14/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[NUTTSGT]

What about a five gallon bucket that you cut down ? Cut about half of it 4-5 inches high (from the bottom) and leave the other half full height to create a back splash ?

You can cut whatever height you need and if it works out alright, you could leave the high back in place so it still has a handle to carry it. After you use it, just dump it into a drain jug for storage/transportation.

 

[RossABQ]

I use this. Bought it at Pep Boys, as I recall. The funnel is wide and screws onto an opening that is capped when the funnel is stored. It holds just about 15 qts., about as much as I'd want (it's plenty heavy when full) Made by Wedco, out of recycled plastic.

 

[jabberwoki]

Doesn't one of these come in the Harley tool kit?

 

[soupy1957]

Not sure if this helps but i service alot of motorcycles and I found this thing to be a amazing. After I just pump all the old oil into a 5 gal jug. You can change most your fluids without lifting the bike. You can also us this on your car as well.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JFJM14/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Interesting idea...........don't know anything about them. I LIKE to have my bike elevated when I'm working on it. Easier on the back!

 

[soupy1957]

What about a five gallon bucket that you cut down ? Cut about half of it 4-5 inches high (from the bottom) and leave the other half full height to create a back splash ?

You can cut whatever height you need and if it works out alright, you could leave the high back in place so it still has a handle to carry it. After you use it, just dump it into a drain jug for storage/transportation.

I guess the whole idea for me, was to have one container, not two.

 

[soupy1957]

I use this. Bought it at Pep Boys, as I recall. The funnel is wide and screws onto an opening that is capped when the funnel is stored. It holds just about 15 qts., about as much as I'd want (it's plenty heavy when full) Made by Wedco, out of recycled plastic.

Yeah, that's along the lines I'm thinking. Just want it to be higher. Guess I could put it on a footstool to raise it up.

 

[RossABQ]

Doesn't one of these come in the Harley tool kit?

My Harley (FXRS) has a neat feature, a hose off the bottom of the oil tank. The open end of the hose stores on a dummy nozzle. Pop off the side cover, swing the hose over to the side, right into the funnel. Don't spill a drop.

 

[kbs2244]

I think we are over doing it.
How much oil are we taking about per change?

I would think a funnel into a gallon milk jug would do fine.
That is 4 quarts.
Even a ½ gallon milk jug is 2 quarts.

My local quick change has a DIY drain station where I could easily leave a 5 gal pail to drain, but a milk jug would never be noticed if left behind.
They just throw the empties into the landfill container.

 

[afmrick]

Could you cut something like this Harbor Freight guy down?

 

[ZRX61]

I just all sorts of 1gallon jugs & then just leave them by the tire/service check out at Walmart below a sign that says "Leave used oil here"