Oil Changing Disaster.....Opinions

[pamonster]

So It was time for an oil change. I've Had my Baghira less than 1 year so this was my first time. I found on this forum the K&N filter and Oil (Amsoil 10-40). Anyways I have the manual so I'm going through it step by step, drains fine, but when I tighten down the oil pipe screws it still weeps a bit of oil, so I loosen them and the coarse oil filter plug just in case that was pulling it off course. I tighten down the oil pipe again, then the coarse oil filter plug.....still weeps, maybe a little less. So I pull the entire thing off and grab the little O-ring and pipe and run to the store. All I can find in town is metric O-rings so I get the closest one, oil it up, shove it in the recess made for the O-ring and bolt it up (pipe first, then coarse). Well that appears to have done the job, I obsessively blot the oil pipe for the next 10 minutes and and every now and again I see a pin point of oil....could be from when I oiled the O-ring, could be leaking the smallest amount ever. After I convince myself it's OK I start adding oil. I continue the instructions; add the 2.5 L and let the engine idle for 30 seconds while I try to loosen the oil vent screw. Well its stuck so I get a better screwdriver that can really crank on it and I'm pushing hard so it wont strip. But then all at once all 4 corners snap and it's stripped. So the breather's not happening any time soon. So I turn the bike off and lean it over as far as I can hoping the air will make it's way through to the filling area.....So that's my first major concern....has this happened to anyone?? and is there anything I can/should do about not being able to let the filter vent?

At this point I go ahead and add the remaining oil (less than .5L, like .3L). SO what I put into the bike was 2.5L plus the remaining .3L but the other .2 is what I used to soak the oil filter, a little ran off into the pan but more or less there has to be about 3L that I added to the bike which is exactly what the manual says to do. So I sit on the bike so it is upright and check the level....it is barely on the bottom of the stick, bellow the MIN line. But the book says to check oil run it at mid RPM's for 5 mins then at idle for 30 sec then check it, so I do this and not it ready way above the MAX. But the manual also says the oil reads high if you have been riding......So my second question is: When should I check my oil level and how?? I am assuming the book saying "upright" means sitting on it, not on the side stand; correct? I want to make sure it has the right amount of oil. I don't think it is possible for it to me correct for it to be above the MAX since I added 3.0L or a little less.....I know there is supposed to still be some oil still in the bike (.3L) but is it possible I got most of that drained out and the original reading I took where it was low correct? Anyways this is becoming a novel (sorry) but any Opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks
P

[Old Dog]

Can talk about Baggies really but I check my Skorpion on the stand. After a good run is the best time when everything is warmed up properly. Vent screw should take a 10mm?? spanner as the screw driver part sounds knackered. I would give it a bit of penetrating oil first, and what ever you do don't take it right off when the motor is running or you'll risk setting you and the bike on fire - don't ask how I know. As for the o-ring, I change mine when I change the oil, not worth the bother not to.

Good luck with it.

[pamonster]

Thanks!
I did get the vent open, not much happened, but made me feel better. I ended up riding it again for about 5 minutes then let oil out until read at the MAX line. I haven't had experience with this dry sump thing before so it weird me out a bit. It seems wrong that my bike would sit overnight and if I checked the oil it is below the MIN line......make me want to add some, but the book and you say different so I'll resist the urge.
Thanks again, I hope its smooth sailing from here!

[AtomicSpew]

Resist the urge; check for other posts on this subject--can be VERY deceptive as to how much oil is in there--reads low quite often, but there's more in there than you think...

[phlat65]

I usually check mine warmed up, but not really hot. Let it idle for 1 minute or so, then check the oil. As long as it is between the min and max, nothing to worry about. If you got all 3L in the engine, then it is full. I can never seem to get all 3 in, more like 2.8-2.9. BTW, I usually don't mess with the bleeder screw, it usually just makes a mess. My bike has 20,000 miles now.

Good for you to worry about it though, no better way to ruin a good machine than run it low on oil.

[mr-brightside]

mine must be about due for a oil change not done one yet , whats the bleeder screw ? can i not just drain the oil from the frame change the filter then fill oil up and check gradualy.
or is it not that easy on these ?