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Message started by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 15:51:55

Title: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 15:51:55

Okay so probably something I'm over looking but I can't find the dipstick? I can find the oil fill cap and assume it should have a dipstick attached but mine doesn't , maybe it was replaced ? Thanks

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by verslagen1 on 11/20/12 at 16:07:17

no... dipstick ;D

there's an oil level window on the back right side underneath the clutch lever.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 16:16:00

duh, figured I was overlooking something lol thanks :-?

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 16:54:57

Okay so I checked the glass and saw no oil so I drained the motor and there was quite a bit in there, so does it not show on the sight glass if u r just a little low? I mean does it make sense that I saw none and there was a lot in there?

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/20/12 at 16:58:35

YOu dont have an owners manual, do you?

OIl level is checked with the bike held Upright,,

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 16:59:48

Bike was upright! And u got me no owners manual

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by 360k+ on 11/20/12 at 17:04:51

67787E7964635262526A78743F0D0 wrote:

YOu dont have an owners manual, do you?

Haha, amazing intuition JOG; almost like you been here before. ;D

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Boofer on 11/20/12 at 17:27:25

OK, you know where it is and that it needs to be somewhere around upright to check correctly. I read on here about someone using a mechanics mirror that extends. We are apparently the only two who do this, and I don't know who he is. ;D I grab the bars with them turned all the way left and stand beside the bike while holding the mirror by the sight glass. I don't leave unless it is about half way up sightglass. You can see two lines to stay between if you get on all fours. Hence the extension mirror. I've been doing that for every new ride the last 18,000 miles. Some get all uptight about procedure, but several ways work. Pick one and USE IT. :)

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/20/12 at 17:30:42

As long as the bike is parked on level ground, you can add oil until its visible in the bottom of the glass, on the stand,no need to stand it up.If that makes ya nervous, then a 2X4 under the stand is almost standing up..

The "Happy Moment" is, you drained it & it had quite a bit in it,
The other Happy Moment was, youre smart enough to be able to drain it w/o anyone having to tell ya which way to p[ut a wrench on it or help ya find the plug,.,

ONly takes about 10 minutes to unwind that long winded thing.,.,
So far, youre doin pretty good,,

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by 360k+ on 11/20/12 at 17:31:24

6845454C4F582A0 wrote:

Here's another way... invite no fewer than 4 neighbors over... 8-)

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Serowbot on 11/20/12 at 17:33:05

Bubba,..
Here's a pdf of the owners manual... It's free... ;)...
Owners Manual (http://www.savageriders.com/verslagen/transfer/2002_LS650P_Owners_Manual.pdf)

The oil site glass only shows about the top 1/2 quart... the bike holds a bit over 2 quarts...
Check it with the bike vertical, engine not running, (it needs to sit for a minute)... and the oil should be in middle of the glass or higher, but not filling the window completely...
Never let it go below the window view...
;)...

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 17:44:04

Thanks a lot guys ! It must have just been a little too low to see in glass, it was def old oil smelled pretty bad! Po must have never changed it, I'm new to this bike but know how to turn a wrench! I got the bike stock it had been sitting a while , don't ask me why I didn't check oil first thing cause I can't answer lol. Anyhow here is a pic of it after I did some work to it and I'm not finished will have new pics next week

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by verslagen1 on 11/20/12 at 18:02:40

If the glass was all black, then it was overfilled.
make a routine of giving this a quick glance before rides.
if you have the stock petcock or leave the raptorcock on, and the float valve sticks, you'll have a crankcase full of gas.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 18:14:57

Far as I know it's the stock Petcock. Is the raptor a brand name or actually one made for a Yamaha raptor?

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by verslagen1 on 11/20/12 at 18:15:50

Yamaha raptor... which is a brand name.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/20/12 at 18:49:15

Over full, stinks,, Hmmm,,, now what could that be?

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 18:52:24

Well I don't think it was over filled the sight glass was def empty not completely filled. But it did stink like it was Realy old

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/20/12 at 18:53:43

Id pour into a measured container & see how much came out.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 18:56:55

Can't do that. I emptied it into an already partially filled container

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/20/12 at 18:57:49

Yup,, That is, as they say, That!

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 18:59:04

I will refill and drain again to flush out anything ! Waste of oil but oh well. And by the way I replaced carb recently so that shouldn't be an issue anymore

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 19:03:18

While we're at it is there anything that could cause the motor to overheat ? I've only had it run in neutral but seems that it gets really hot? Maybe because its not moving I guess or low oil could have done that too just wondering if u guys no anything I should look for thanks again

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Serowbot on 11/20/12 at 19:10:31

Yes,.. air-cooled machines are like sharks... they must keep moving to survive... don't idle for too long... Try to keep it under 5 minutes...
;)...

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by verslagen1 on 11/20/12 at 19:10:58

If you run it in neutral, you're not movin
any more than 5 minutes and
you'll need a fan to keep it cool

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/20/12 at 19:13:35

That's what I was thinking. My only other bike was liquid cooled so don't know a whole lot about this one ! Last one was a v4 honda magna def a different animal

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by WD on 11/21/12 at 06:29:31

If you are going to do a refill and flush replace half a quart of the oil with atf or follow the directions on a SeaFoam can. Oil by itself is alright, but the other ingredients will pull a lot more carbon and sludge out of the engine. If you go the atf route, once the engine is warm, drain that crap out. It should come out black as roofing tar and smelling even worse. Leaving it in too long will wipe out your clutch. Automatic transmission clutches and bands are a different friction material than manual gearbox motorcycle clutches.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 11/21/12 at 06:34:20

Considering there is a clutch issue now, I wouldnt play with any other goal than flush the clutch & I sure wouldnt put anything in that could possibly make a clutch slip. I would work to solve this one problem. I would focus entirely on just that one issue, not engine longevity, not making sure the tappets are happy by adding things, all that stuff can be addressed later. I understand the efficiency of what WD suggests, but is now the time to add variables? I wouldnt.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by WD on 11/21/12 at 08:03:59

"Fixed" a slipping clutch this way in a Kawi 1500 over the weekend. The additives in atf or seafoam cut some of the glaze built up in the clutch pack. It isn't a permanent fix by any means, but it gives you a clean slate so to speak with an engine that sat up for a long time.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/21/12 at 08:17:22

When did I get a clutch issue I'm confusec

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Blinky on 11/21/12 at 08:28:16

4A45455359425542424111200 wrote:

When did I get a clutch issue I'm confusec

Hang in there Bubba 1. Before we get done with you, you will also have a petcock problem, your cam chain will start to make ominous sounds, and your head plug will start spewing oil. 8-)

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/21/12 at 08:40:24

Lol I'll have all the usual issues got ya! Is the head plug an issue on all yrs mine is an 86.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Blinky on 11/21/12 at 08:46:05

737C7C6A607B6C7B7B7828190 wrote:

Lol I'll have all the usual issues got ya! Is the head plug an issue on all yrs mine is an 86.

So far, no issues at all on my 07 with 8800 miles. I am a firm believer that I can't fix what is not broken so, (other than checking the cam chain in the spring when I change the oil again since this has the potential killing the engine in one big bang) I will just do the preventive maintenance schedule and ride the thing.

Good hunting

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by EJID on 11/21/12 at 09:36:17

444B4B5D574C5B4C4C4F1F2E0 wrote:

Lol I'll have all the usual issues got ya! Is the head plug an issue on all yrs mine is an 86.

Since it is an 86, I would peruse the following...

Starter gear upgrade for 4speeds (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1288911670)

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Cavie on 11/21/12 at 10:19:47

Did you find the oil filter??

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 11/21/12 at 10:54:24

Yup got it

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by WD on 11/21/12 at 21:35:19

Justin's a bit of a worry wart. ::) I never saw a clutch issue listed, just a concern over it having sat up for a while. Same "cure" for both issues, get the engine hot with something in it to help pull out sludge, varnish and related drek. Sitting up with used oil is not good for a wet sump motorcycle.

I've had my bike since 98, bought new, have flogged it unmercifully for most of that time. Only real issues with it are electrical, and have been since day one. It leaks, the electrical system is a joke, the brakes are junk... typical Japanese interpretation of a 1950s Brit bike... no idea the miles on it, hasn't had a gauge on it for years. Never needed a valve adjustment, no timing chain noise. Good enough for me.

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 12/07/12 at 15:37:06

Oh here is a pic of bike with new rear tire handle bars and grips , the exhaust I didn't like so cut it off again gonna shorten fishtail a little more then reweld it back on

Title: Re: Oil level? No dipstick?
Post by Bubba1 on 12/07/12 at 16:39:59

Thanks for all the advise ! Sorry for the long thread. Oil prob solved so its all good.