Yesterday I changed the oil in my K75.
(Hey, I've done it twice before and thought I had it down.) I had a large shallow pan lined with newspapers - Good move though more newspaper on the right side would have been smart to avoid that rather large spatter on the sidewalk. Also had, on top of the pan, a genuine approved oil drain container with a sloped side to direct the oil into a one-inch hole. Rode the bike for 20 minutes to heat up the oil then assembled the above. Loosened the drain bolt and spun it out with my bare hand (wouldn't a household rubber glove be smart!) and yanked the bolt out of the hot oil. Oil was splashing a bit but got the hole in the pan directly under the drain. That accomplished, I examined the bolt. No washer. I'd no sooner thought it than I heard something drop with a decidedly non-oily sound. Right, the washer had fallen into the drain pan. I knew I had purchased some extra washers and checked on them in the designated basement drawer. All new washers had been used and I had discarded the really bad washer I'd taken from the drain bolt last fall. But I'm glad that I had emptied all the used oil out of the container before this project and only had about 3 quarts do deal with. With a filter funnel I can pour the oil into a milk jug and catch the washer, except none of my funnels have filters. My wife suggests I cut a circle out of a plastic gizmo that holds bedding plants. Brilliant. Holes are big enough to let the oil pass freely but small enough to catch the damn washer. After cutting out the circle I put it in the filter, shake up the oil container and pour. I know what you are thinking, but you are wrong. The milk jug did not tip over. But the washer also did not come out. With brilliant sunshine behind me, I peered into the used oil container. Yes, there it was, mired in some sludge. Poured in a little gas, shook the whole thing up some more, then poured again through the improvised filter funnel - this time into the burn pile area. Success! And the washer was reusable. The whole operation only took about 1 1/2 hours, called for much creative thought, and saved me 50 cents. (That seems to be the exorbitant price of washers these days.) Think I'll order a few years supply of all drain washers. One can only take so much of this kind of fun before it becomes work and I believe once was my limit.
Doug