Too much oil?

Christ on a cracker! Ok I guess I'm going into the gravel in the dark. I have a little oil left. I'm hoping I can drain a bit out the drain plug and then just top off if I drain too much.

sorry dude...can you catch it in a clean container and re-use if needed...Larry is :blink: over this about now.....

4TheKZ1000 wrote: that had to suck....how bad did you get burned?

Luckily I didnt get burned beyond son of a b@#%* Thats HOT" did riun my new jeans though

In the dark in the gravel I couldn't break the dam oil lug free. Almost pulled the bike over on me and decided it's too late and I don't want to rush.

I can see the oil in the sight glass now. It's not filled all the way to the top. I'll make a final decision in the morning, but I think I'm going to ride.

if you can see a bit of sight glass you are okay imo

but watch that it does not spit out the extra cup or so and coat the rear while riding,give you a nice scare the first time you turn, if it is going to burp some out the crank case breather it should do it in the first ten minutes...if it does not it may later after a good highway stint (mile or three at steady speed 65-70) at speed...does the oil filter on that bike have its own little drain bolt...the oil filter will drain a cup or less and stop on some models....

Are you checking this on while the bike is on the center stand Topper? If I remember right, I get a totally different reading if I measure on the center stand as opposed to off the center stand. I suppose due to the forward tilt while on the stand. Having said that, that is a great idea Tri gave you. If the oil plug is stuck, maybe the one small plug on the filter is not (not the center bolt that takes off the filter). Worth a try. Good luck.

Topper, you better get your self A SERVICE MANUAL, & A TORQUE WRENCH, ...thats one bolt you do not want to strip ( oil drain plug or oil filter bolt )...dont ask me how I know, you can easily kill yourself....Pete

Ramtough...luckely you werent driving around like this chunky girl I saw driving a Harley the other day with a thong & flipflops, when the oil came out on you :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ...Pete

Topper wrote: Not that easy in the dark, on a gravel driveway with no replacement oil and nearest store 45 minutes away.

MFolks reply was enough to encourage me to try a little harder at getting a sight glass reading. I stood beside the bike and leaned it as far over to the right as I could. Jostled it a bit and when I put it back on the center stand suddenly I can see oil in the sight glass.

It's near, but not at the top mark next to the window. I ran it a bit, watched the oil drain out of the window, turned it off and watched it fill back up to the same spot. I now feel like I might be slightly over full, but not dangerously so.

What do you all think?

I also ride a 79 B4: NEVER dump in half a quart, wait ten minutes, then add more. On mine, you have to run the engine to get the oil going and then shut it off and let it drain down at least 1/2 hour before reading.. I have no idea why dumping it in doesn't read right (at least not without running it) but mine does that too.

If you thnk your engine is overfull:

get a CLEAN drain pan and thoroughly drain the oil (not fileter). Pour back in 4 quarts and you should be about dead on. It takes about 4.5 quarts with full drain and filter change.

Topper wrote: Christ on a cracker! Ok I guess I'm going into the gravel in the dark. I have a little oil left. I'm hoping I can drain a bit out the drain plug and then just top off if I drain too much.

On the B4, that's a mistake to "top off" and think you will get a proper reading. The oil fill is right over the clutch basket. I think you have to run it for several minutes after topping, then shut off an wait 30 minutes to get a proper reading. I've been bit by this before.

Topper wrote: In the dark in the gravel I couldn't break the dam oil lug free. Almost pulled the bike over on me and decided it's too late and I don't want to rush.

17 mm box end wrench, use a small hammer to tap it to break it. make sure you're going clockwise viewed from the top.

KZJOE900 wrote: Are you checking this on while the bike is on the center stand Topper? If I remember right, I get a totally different reading if I measure on the center stand as opposed to off the center stand.

Yes, it's on the center stand. I can't get an accuarte read without help otherwise.

Gonna try the oil drain plug one more time this morning before I go. But if I can't get it within a couple minutes I'm going to go ahead and ride. I suspect I'm about half a quart (maybe 3/4) over full. I don't think that's going to lead to catastrophe.