I am doing this for the first time tonight. How long should it take and what tools do I need? Does anyone have any pointers?

 

It takes me about 45 mins, since I have to drop my aluminum skid plate to do it. Oil type is critical. It must be "non-energy conserving", or it will ruin your clutch, per the manual. Since you are probably also due for your 1st valve adjustment, check with your dealer, cause some do the oil too for hardly more than the valve adjust alone.

Tools: all standard fare, but I put a tube on a funnel to make re-filling the reservior easier. The manual doesn't say so, but you should start the engine and run it for 5 seconds after you put the first quart of oil in the reservoir; otherwise it will overflow badly.

Good luck!

 

Here's a no mess way to drain used oil out of the tank on the Raptor:

Get an engine valve cover with the oil fill hole in it and put it upside down with the end farthest from the fill hole of the valve cover under the oil tank drain hole. Unscrew the tank drain bolt and the oil will drain down the inside of the cover and into whatever container you have under the fill hole of the valve cover. A small block or 6 cyl. valve cover will work best for this.

 

Good idea.

I used a piece of aluminum foil to channel the oil into a cetch basin.

 

it takes about 1/2 hour, since I have to remove my GYT-R skid, I throw down cardboard or newspaper to catch the drips (coming from 3 places). I switched to K&N oil filters which are cheaper (under $10) and have a 9/16" bolt-sort-of-deal on the filter so you dont need a filter wrench. I also found a funnel with 18" tube at harbor freight for less than $3, makes adding that oil a whole lot easier, I add 1.5 quarts slowly then start the engine for a minute or so and add the remaining .5 to .6 qt to top off

 

Instead of a valve cover, try this. Take an empty quart of oil contailer & cut open one side. The oil will fall into the oil container, then flow out the spout.

I also have the GYT-R skid. There is a drain hole under the engine oil plug and it seems to work fine for me. I don't have to drop off the plate.