Checking oil level on a trike
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Edgewater FL
Checking oil level on a trike
I have installed the Mystery Designs trike kit on my wifes Sporty. The oil level cold is up to the edge of the filler opening. Tilting the bike is difficult to say the least. Checking the oil hot is going to present a challenge. Anybody have any suggestions?
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 8
From: Central Florida
HD,,,go find a guy with a spotry,,
you two check His Oil on the side stand,"bike Hot" fully warmed up, hopefully His is correctly full.
then have Him hold the bike level and Re-Check the Oil,,,,simple,,,
Now you can remember where It was On His stick level,,same for your trike XD
Am I a Genius or whut,,,Roflmao XD
If no luck that way go to the Dealer do a cold check on a used bike or new or both,,,
Sportsters show at the add mark when dead cold,,,sat for days,,, and show half way between full and add
when cold on a daily rider,,
HOT check should show full on all these bikes.
you two check His Oil on the side stand,"bike Hot" fully warmed up, hopefully His is correctly full.
then have Him hold the bike level and Re-Check the Oil,,,,simple,,,
Now you can remember where It was On His stick level,,same for your trike XD
Am I a Genius or whut,,,Roflmao XD
If no luck that way go to the Dealer do a cold check on a used bike or new or both,,,
Sportsters show at the add mark when dead cold,,,sat for days,,, and show half way between full and add
when cold on a daily rider,,
HOT check should show full on all these bikes.
Last edited by Osco; Jan 28, 2011 at 02:17 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Edgewater FL
Thanks for these interesting comments. I should have said that I change the oil myself and I am certain that the oil level was right before the kit was added. I suspect that the tank doesn't drain the same way or amount or as efficiently in the full upright position. I'm not clear on how the oil gets up there to begin with, the crankcase must have an air pocket or the motor wouldn't turn over. Why does oil stay up in these reservoirs?
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 711
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From: Eastern Shore, MD
There is not a whole heck of a lot of difference when i check my oil straight up, or on the jiffy stand. But there is some. How much oil are you putting in ? Repair Manuals were putting out some wrong info on oil amounts for some bikes i seem to remember.
Just checked and the repair manual was recommending 3.6 qts, when it should be 2.8 qts for your 07 sportster.
Just checked and the repair manual was recommending 3.6 qts, when it should be 2.8 qts for your 07 sportster.
Last edited by Cazimere; Jan 29, 2011 at 08:13 AM.
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
For those that have been around awhile, we all know that to prevent oil blow-by, the standard practice is to run the oil level about 1/2 quart low, or about 1/2 way between the ADD & FULL mark on the dip stick.
Well guess what? If you have your oil level at 1/2 way on the dipstick with the bike on the jiffy and then stand the bike upright and check the oil level again, it will measure at or very close to the Full mark on the dipstick.
I still say that the Owners Manuals are wrong and that the Sporty oil level should be checked with the bike in the upright position. Think about it, measuring the level on the jiffy explains why most of us have learned to fill only to the 1/2 way point. Many people raise or lower the suspension on their bikes and without replacing the jiffy, this changes the lean angle of the bike on the jiffy and that WILL change the reading on the dipstick.
Fill the oil level to the Full mark with the bike upright and you're good to go.
.
Well guess what? If you have your oil level at 1/2 way on the dipstick with the bike on the jiffy and then stand the bike upright and check the oil level again, it will measure at or very close to the Full mark on the dipstick.
I still say that the Owners Manuals are wrong and that the Sporty oil level should be checked with the bike in the upright position. Think about it, measuring the level on the jiffy explains why most of us have learned to fill only to the 1/2 way point. Many people raise or lower the suspension on their bikes and without replacing the jiffy, this changes the lean angle of the bike on the jiffy and that WILL change the reading on the dipstick.
Fill the oil level to the Full mark with the bike upright and you're good to go.
.
Last edited by cHarley; Jan 29, 2011 at 08:39 AM.
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Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Edgewater FL
There is not a whole heck of a lot of difference when i check my oil straight up, or on the jiffy stand. But there is some. How much oil are you putting in ? Repair Manuals were putting out some wrong info on oil amounts for some bikes i seem to remember.
Just checked and the repair manual was recommending 3.6 qts, when it should be 2.8 qts for your 07 sportster.
Just checked and the repair manual was recommending 3.6 qts, when it should be 2.8 qts for your 07 sportster.
Thanks for the info.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 464
Likes: 1
From: Edgewater FL
For those that have been around awhile, we all know that to prevent oil blow-by, the standard practice is to run the oil level about 1/2 quart low, or about 1/2 way between the ADD & FULL mark on the dip stick.
Well guess what? If you have your oil level at 1/2 way on the dipstick with the bike on the jiffy and then stand the bike upright and check the oil level again, it will measure at or very close to the Full mark on the dipstick.
I still say that the Owners Manuals are wrong and that the Sporty oil level should be checked with the bike in the upright position. Think about it, measuring the level on the jiffy explains why most of us have learned to fill only to the 1/2 way point. Many people raise or lower the suspension on their bikes and without replacing the jiffy, this changes the lean angle of the bike on the jiffy and that WILL change the reading on the dipstick.
Fill the oil level to the Full mark with the bike upright and you're good to go.
.
Well guess what? If you have your oil level at 1/2 way on the dipstick with the bike on the jiffy and then stand the bike upright and check the oil level again, it will measure at or very close to the Full mark on the dipstick.
I still say that the Owners Manuals are wrong and that the Sporty oil level should be checked with the bike in the upright position. Think about it, measuring the level on the jiffy explains why most of us have learned to fill only to the 1/2 way point. Many people raise or lower the suspension on their bikes and without replacing the jiffy, this changes the lean angle of the bike on the jiffy and that WILL change the reading on the dipstick.
Fill the oil level to the Full mark with the bike upright and you're good to go.
.