2017 Honda Metropolitan Scooter Manual
Intended for non-mechanics like myself, below is a step-by-step description of how to change the oil and, optionally, inspect and clean the oil screen on a Honda Metropolitan. The discussion and photos are of a 2007 Metropolitan. I’m not familiar with which years may use different parts.Online, there seems to be a lack of clear, complete, illustrated instructions for performing an oil change and oil-screen cleaning/inspection on the Met. One video showing how to change the oil ( ) is informative but incomplete: it omits many details covered below.REFERENCESThe steps below are based on the Honda Metropolitan CHF 50/P/S Service Manual, supplemented by the observations of others and by my experiences performing the operations. Many of the comments from others can be found at urbanscootin.com, which has forums intended specifically for the Honda Metropolitan scooter.HOW IMPORTANT?According to an article on JacksScooterShop website (, “The most important thing to do is regular oil changes for four stroke engines.
Given the small displacement (engine size) of most scooters, they tend to get run hard. The small amount of oil, lack of oil filter and high rpm usage lead to oil breakdown much quicker than in your automobile.”The article goes on to point out that the cost-benefit ratio is huge, given the protection that clean oil provides and the small cost of the oil. If you elect to do the oil changes yourself instead of paying someone else, the cost is even less.HOW OFTEN?The consensus seems to be to change the oil on a Honda Met about once every 800 to 1,000 miles. If you ride less than that far per year, change the oil at least once a year. If that is the case and you live where the scooter is stored during the winter, it is recommended that you change the oil in the fall, right before storing the scooter (Bustin, urbanscootin.com).SCHEMATICThe schematic below will help you locate the three areas of interest: dipstick/fill hole, drain bolt/drain hole, and oil-screen assembly. Some portions of the original schematic have been deleted for clarity.OIL-CHANGE BY THE NUMBERSDrain the Old Oil:1.
Rest the scooter on its center stand.2. Locate the oil drain bolt. It is on the left-hand side of the scooter, low on the crankcase.3. Place a waste-oil pan under the drain hole. Old newspapers are also recommended to catch any spills.4. Idle the engine to warm up the oil.
Microsoft. Warm oil flows more freely. I have seen two minutes recommended, but I let the engine run for five minutes to make sure the oil is hot.5.
Stop the engine.6. Place a piece of tape over the ignition (key hole). This step is optional but highly recommended; it reduces the likelihood that someone will start the engine, forgetting or not realizing that there is no crankcase oil. (This precaution is similar to the lock-out mechanisms used on industrial equipment when being serviced.)7.
2016 Honda Metropolitan Scooter Manual
After stopping the engine, wait at least two minutes to let the oil drain to the bottom.8. Remove the oil filler cap/dipstick. The open filler tube will allow air to replace the oil as it drains, improving the oil flow.9. Remove the drain bolt and washer. Use either a socket wrench with a 17mm socket (shown below), or a 17mm open-end or box-end wrench.10.
Allow the old oil to drain into the waste-oil pan. Some urbanscootin.com forum threads discuss the pros and cons of using a special vacuum to remove the last bit of oil. If you plan to do that, do it now.Oil Strainer Screen:Next, decide whether you want to remove, inspect, and clean the oil strainer screen. The Met doesn’t have an oil filter; instead, it has a strainer screen that will catch only relatively large debris.
2017 Honda Metropolitan Scooter Manual Price
How often someone does this step is a personal decision. The consensus at urbanscootin.com seems to be that once every few oil changes is sufficient.Scout1 (urbanscootin.com) writes, “The oil system screen is located behind the two-inch-diameter plug that is located at the very front of the engine, just above the front of the skid plate/parking stand. The screen has a spring that forces it up against the interior of the oil channel. The top, or closed end, of the screen is facing the front of the scooter.”If you decide to remove the oil strainer screen, you need a way to access it, since it is located underneath the scooter (see below).11. Tilt the scooter onto something soft. This approach is a simple way to access the oil strainer screen. (Make sure the gas cap is tightly closed.)12.