Oil Change

[Dano]

Changed the oil today for the second time since getting the bike, dang its soo much easier with the rear stand. The first oil change @ 600 miles I didn't have my stands yet and it wasn't bad but this one @2k went soo much smoother with the stand that extra room underneath makes all the difference.

[Alex]

/moved to new-gen tech

[Dano]

why move it, was more of a comment on bike stands, guess I should have titled it bike stands instead.

[Alex]

It's about a tech topic in maintenance, so I felt it was a better fit in the tech section. Maintenance was easier with the stands, right? If you feel that strongly I can move it back, but the only reason to leave something in General is if it doesn't fit anywhere else, and this fits pretty well?

[kamikaze]

I have to agree, just did my first oil change tonite, and with that rear stand it was stupidly easy...same with lubing the chain. I'm actually looking forward to washing it cause cleaning the wheels is going to be a breeze.

as far as I'm concerned, bike stands should be standard equipment for every owner because they are, in my opinion the 3rd best thing about having a motorcycle (first is riding the bike itself, and second is how a fresh tank of gas makes the balls feel chilly )

[Dano]

Originally Posted by Alex

It's about a tech topic in maintenance, so I felt it was a better fit in the tech section. Maintenance was easier with the stands, right? If you feel that strongly I can move it back, but the only reason to leave something in General is if it doesn't fit anywhere else, and this fits pretty well?

No keep it here I keep forgetting old gens don't have spool threads but a centerstand eventhough I owned a first gen in the early 90s.
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[Dano]

Originally Posted by kamikaze

I have to agree, just did my first oil change tonite, and with that rear stand it was stupidly easy...same with lubing the chain. I'm actually looking forward to washing it cause cleaning the wheels is going to be a breeze.

as far as I'm concerned, bike stands should be standard equipment for every owner because they are, in my opinion the 3rd best thing about having a motorcycle (first is riding the bike itself, and second is how a fresh tank of gas makes the balls feel chilly )

Chilly balls lol that was a good one. Now I got to clean and lube the chain, the one thing about moto maintence I actually don't like to do. Darn you for reminding me about that.
Posted via Mobile Device

[illrational]

I filled the oil up to the top line after running the bike for a couple of minutes but now when i llok at the gauge it above the line and im worried about running it with too much oil. Any advice? Should i start to take oil out until it gets under the line?

[backinthesaddleagain]

Is it over the line with both wheels on the ground and the bike straight up?

[Alex]

You're checking the level when the bike is off, and sitting straight up and down, right? If you can see any air at all in the sight glass, you're fine. Even if it's just above the sight glass, no harm either. If it's much above that, or if it's much below the fill line, only then worrying about adjusting it.

[illrational]

The bike is up on the stands, i drained it and then filled a little bit. Turned bike on and ran for a couplpe of minutes, turned off and looked at gauge. Then filled up until about top line. Turned on and then was low. Left alone but then when i looked at it again it was totally full. I didnt check for air bubbles but i will check when i get home. You know i'm pretty mechanically inclinced but this bike has me seriously doubting myself on things that are so simplistic. It's changing oil, it should not have solicitated me posting but i guess dealing with a bike will be a learning experience for me. Thanks for all you help btw.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Is it on rear stand only? If so could that make the oil appear higher?

[demp]

Just a creative draining method my dad came up with when I overfilled it... Windex bottle, the sprayer, if you put the part that sits inside the bottle, inside your oil filler hole, and squirt, guess what, oil comes out! I really didnt want to have to open the drain again.

[Cuongism]

Originally Posted by illrational

The bike is up on the stands, i drained it and then filled a little bit. Turned bike on and ran for a couplpe of minutes, turned off and looked at gauge. Then filled up until about top line. Turned on and then was low.

Whenever you turn on your engine, it'll appear low since the oil gets sucked down. The way you should check is on level ground (off your stands) and after you had your engine running for a few minutes and then turn it off. You also want to wait a few minutes for the oil to settle back down. Did you also measure how much oil you used? 1.7 L with a filter change.

[backinthesaddleagain]

or a syring type thing with a tube (just a bit neater than the sprayer, but the sprayer is cool McGyver way of thinking). or a crazy friend and a strawer (not endorsed or recommended by ninjette.org, Kawasaki USA, or Major League Baseball).

[illrational]

now consider that if i take it off teh stands, do i check after running and allowing to settle straight up or on the side stand?

[Cuongism]

You can run the engine and have it stopped on the sidestand. The oil sight will look emptyish on the sidestand, but when you pull it towards you the sight should start filling up. As long as you see some air (it'll be hard to be exact where straight up is), you're fine. If you lean it either side and some air isn't shown, it might be too full.