Trouble checking oil on Baghira

[harold]

I am having problems figuring out the oil level. If the bike has been sitting, the oil level just hits the end of the dipstick. Crank it up and ride for a while, let it sit 30 seconds or so, and it flows out when the dipstick is removed. I read where Bill said his bikes would use any excess oil in the system, but mine has been doing this for months. I have removed the bleeder screw on the oil filter, and it will pump oil straight up past the tank, so I know the oil pump is working. It may have just been over filled to start with, but since I got it back from the shop who did the piston and cam, I have never been able to check the level without it flowing out.
My Buell is a dry sump also, but it only takes a minute of running to get the oil that drained out of the tank back in where you can check the level. This bike is acting much different.
Any suggestions?

[slammer449]

According to the manual;
Warm up the motorcycle for about 4-5 minutes at medium rpm. After that, the engine has to run 30 seconds at idle speed.
Then you check it. If I'm reading your question right you are turning it off then waiting 30 seconds b4 you check the oil level.

[harold]

Slammer,
Yes I was waiting, as I also tried it right away with the same results. I will try the 30 seconds of idling to see what happens. With my understanding of a dry sump system, your oil tank could show lower than the actual level, since when sitting some oil can drain back into the motor. I don't see how it could ever be higher, unless there was too much oil in there to start with.
I also don't understand why mine isn't burning or blowing any excess out, like BIll has experienced.

The last time I changed it myself, I did it according to the directions printed here, and filled to the top of the line on the dipstick. Then after the next ride I checked it and it flowed out of the filler. I then syphoned off oil the correct level, but when I rode it the next time and checked it, it was barely on the dipstick.

My understanding of most or all dry sump systems is you have one oil pump taking oil from the tank and pressure feeding into the bearings of the engine. You have another part of the oil pump that is scavanging the oil that flows from the bearings into the cases, and putting it back into the oil tank. If left sitting too long, oil from the tank could drain past the check valve into the motor cases, giving a false reading of low on oil. I have never heard of getting a false reading of too much oil, if everything was working correctly and not plugged up somewhere.

On a Buell, the filler cap/dip stick is just a rubber friction fit in the top of the tank. Many have over filled and blown the cap off, by not letting the motor run long enough to scavange all the oil from the cases. With the Baghira screw in filler cap/dip stick, too much oil isn't going to blow the cap off, and apparently on mine isn't blowing it out anywhere else- YET.

When sitting for a day, without starting it, right now it just touches the bottom of the stick. I remember when I had changed it and thought it was right, and after sitting a day the level didn't reach the end of the dip stick.
I am going to try the 5 minute warm up and 30 second idle right now and see what it does. I am betting it is still going to show overfull, but I will see.
Thanks for your help.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

if there is a back flow check valve some where in the oil system
is it sticking some times and other times not sticking ?

to be honest i have not gotten into the motor part of mine as i have spent most of my time
removing all the "MODS" to the chassis by past owners

Mine shows oil on the stick if i set it on the center stand and check it after a short run
it idles while i get the seat off then i shut it off before dipping it..
dave
1997 660 traveller

[harold]

Well after sitting for a day I checked it just now before starting up. This time it was at the top of the filler, or about 1" over full on the dipstick, where yesterday it was at the bottom of the stick. That time it had been over a day though. I am going to check it daily now without riding to see how long it has to sit before the level stops dropping.

I rode it slowly for 5 minutes, stopped it-and checked it immediately and it was at the top of the tube. I started it again and let it idle for 30-45 seconds, turned it off and it read at the top of the fill level on the dip stick, or about 1" down from the top of the tube. I guess after removing at least 1/4 quart over the last 100 miles it is close to being right at least. Also, it must not scavange as well idling as it does riding at normal RPM's, and the idle time lets more oil out of the tank.

I just don't think you would have to let it idle. When you are riding down the road at speed, if it overfills the tank, what happens? In my case it didn't do anything. I didn't check the level when I picked it up from the shop, I just assumed he had it right, and I rode it like I stole it-only not at sustained high or steadyt RPM's. It had been partly broken in at least on his dyno. However every time I did check it after stopping, without idling for 30 seconds, oil poured out. I even tilted it over once to dump it down to the full level, and the next time I checked it, it still poured out. It definately is not using oil, but possibly it could be creating oil, and I could sell it to Exon.

[chisleu]

Over-filling is pretty easy to do if you are no careful.

I believe to check the oil the procedure says to ride it around to normal operating temp (~5m at medium rpms as described should do it.)

Then idle it in an upright position for 30 seconds. Then turn it off and keep the bike upright for another 30 seconds. Then check the oil level. If it is overflowing at this point, you have too much oil and need to drain some. It can be dangerous and cause you to blow a seal if the oil is overfilled.

I found this method of checking the oil level on this site, but I could be wrong or misremembering.

[harold]

Thanks, that is what I have been doing now. The funny thing is, now it reads perfect even after sitting for a few days, where before it would show low.

[den]

I would absolutely love a diagram of how the baggys oil system works , Any one got one , Like something out of a workshop or
Haynes manual? A brief explanation and the big detailed diagram please.

oh , ps .

Should the oil in the frame be the same condition ( colour ) as the oil in the engine,,
also Whats the chances of air locks!

[angustoyou]

I had the exact same thing when I bought my Baggie, from a dealer who'd serviced it for me too. Never going there again.

I dumped all the oil out, it had been overfilled by half a litre, so I measured the amount I put back in, took it for a run, stood it upright for a couple of minutes, then checked the level. 1/2 way between min and max. Perfect. I only ever check it after a ride. It burns none, and leaks non, and still measures 1/2 way between the levels. Don't aim for maximum, as long as it's between minimum and maximum, it's fine.

It's a common issue for people to overfill dry sump bikes, even from (rubbish) bike shops.

[harold]

The plot thickens. After mine was showing a perfect level, I checked it the next time after a ride and letting it idle for at least 30 seconds. It again flowed out of the hole. I am thinking of selling this bike to Shell or someone, as it seems it generates oil on its own. From my understanding of the system, you aren't hurting anything as long as you have enough oil in the tank to be pumping to the motor under pressure. The correct oil level would let it cool better, but if you aren't overheating things by high RPM's and slow MPH's then it shouldn't be a problem.

My take on any machines oil level is to forget the oil stick. That could be off more than the cases capacity for oil. Fill it with the exact capacity, and see where it shows on your dipstick, and that is where it should be. Of course I have never done that, or apparently my mechanic, and I am reaping the rewards by dumping oil out. At least there are worse things to happen to your bike than excess oil.

[texoot]

Or make a custom oiltank with a spy.I don't have a dipstick anymore.It contents 2liter to the spy,total contents about 3 liter.

[basser23]

now that is nice!!!
is this on your Skorp?

[texoot]

Yes,it replaces the stock plastic tank.

[harold]

That is a nice tank. On a Baghira though the tank is the front down tube of the frame, that the Skorpion doesn't have. More oil in a tank that releases the heat is always better.