Either my bike is dead or I'm doing something stupid. SOS

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intotherain · Sat May 12, 2007 2:04 pm

Okay. So my bike's been acting funny to the point its scaring me.

I replaced the oil a couple days ago and I got to ride it today.

But when I was changing the oil, something weird was happening. It has never happened before. The oil gauge indicator kept fluctuating on telling how much oil was inside. I put in the oil, and I checked the amount of oil. It looked good. Just to make sure, I checked the oil again about 10 minutes later. The indicator said there was not enough. So I put in a little bit more oil. The oil was right in between the low and high. But I felt unsure so I checked the oil again 10 minutes later. It said there was none left. I did this about 4 times until the amount of oil would not change. I called it a day and came back today. I checked the oil again to see if anything crazy happened. When I checked. there was oil on the way top of the indicator. I mean like at the entrance to the engine way at the top. The oil soaked the entire indicator, (4 inches of plastic)... I was confused. I tried starting the bike and it did not even catch. I stopped starting it up and played with the gears. There was no first gear. I put it as low as it could go but the gears did not catch.

AND THEN, I checked the oil again. It was back to the normal position. I checked again 3 times in the next 30 minutes to see that it was in the normal position... I tried starting her up again but it would not budge. Now suddenly the first gear started working again. I checked the oil again and it was at its normal level. I started the bike again but still it did not catch.

I'm thoroughly confused. This is the first time this has happened in the 5 times I've changed my oil, I experienced no problems the other times.

Any one know what's wrong or have had a similar experience?

BuzZz · #2 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:32 pm

What I see in my head after reading that.....

You over filled the engine with oil yesterday (review oil change instructions in manual). No big deal.

You tried starting it today and pumped one or more cylinders full of oil, locking the motor (commonly called hydro-lock). You have to remove all the spark plugs and spin the engine over on the starter until most/all of the oil mist stops coming out of the plug holes when spinning. Chances are, this will create a hell of a mess, so try to catch as much oil with rags as you can. Short bursts on the starter to start, until the oil stops coming out as liquid and starts to mist instead. Then hit it longer, but not constantly, or you will toast your starter. Clean your plugs with brake kleen or something to get rid of all the oil. Might as well check the gap too. Re-install, and since you have previously rectified the oil level issue (right?

), start 'er up. It will smoke like a bugger for a bit until you burn off the remaining oil in the cylinders.

Of course, I could be way wrong. But if the crankcase was full before you turned it over, it's not full after you turned it over, and there is no big puddle under it after you turned it over, that oil went someplace. Probably your cylinders as the engine won't even turn over any more.

Good luck, eh?

intotherain · Sat May 12, 2007 3:39 pm

oh god. What's the difficulty level on this for a beginner? I'll try it...

so take off the spark plugs..
then what??

#4 Unread post by **Sev** » Sat May 12, 2007 4:03 pm

He already told you. Take off the spark plugs, shove some rags around the opening. Turn the starter for a second.

Stop

Turn the starter for a couple of seconds.

Stop

Turn the starter for a couple more seconds.

Stop

Replace rags as required.

You may need to boost your battery.

Continue until oil stops coming out.

Shorts · #5 Unread post by **Shorts** » Sat May 12, 2007 4:15 pm

Yeah, its pretty easy. I did this on the Vulcan before starting up after winterization. I wasn't sure if theoil I put in the cylinders would be too much and cause hydro-lock so I "blotted" for lack of a better word. Ladies, you know what that is

lol

Also, if you're not sure how much oil is in the engine and it starts looking squirrely from the dipstick, DO NOT CONTINUE TO PUT MORE OIL IN IT. What you should do is stop, read the capacity for the bike+filter, and count how much oil you already put in it.

On the Ducati it takes a while for the oil level to settle enough to get an accurate level reading from the sight glass. But my procedure is this when refilling: I put in slightly less than capacity (within .25 liter) , then run it to check seals, then let it sit for the oil to level out. Then top off as necessary.

Don't run the bike for long with low levels of oil if you try this!

intotherain · Sat May 12, 2007 4:48 pm

my bike never came with a manual and when I asked the seller how much oil to put in, he said, "sorry I have no idea, all I know is that its between .5 quarts and 1.5 quarts, go ask your bike shop, they should know". Its somewhere around .94 quarts but I don't know for sure.

Where is the spark plug?

From what I read, are these all the tools I should get:

Spark plug
3/8” drive spark plug socket
ratchet driver
spark plug gap gauge
rag for cleaning
rag for the oil

#7 Unread post by **Sev** » Sat May 12, 2007 4:52 pm

The sparkplug is in the cylinder head. Attached to the high tension lead you needed to find in order to hook up your tachometer.

intotherain · Sat May 12, 2007 5:36 pm

Sev wrote:The sparkplug is in the cylinder head. Attached to the high tension lead you needed to find in order to hook up your tachometer.

oh! I know exactly where that is-had to find it to get my speedo workin-. Thanks

BuzZz · #9 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Sat May 12, 2007 6:20 pm

This is not an attack or slander or nothin', but if you need help finding your spark plugs, you need!!! a service manual for your machine. You are going to seriously F-it up sooner or later, as evidenced by the oil fill adventure.

Barring that, have a mechanic work on the bike for you. Doing your own work is fine, but you need to know what your doing. Plus, it will give you all sorts of handy info, like how much oil you should be putting in it and how to correctly check the level.

A $50 manual is cheaper than a burnt motor or a thrown chain busting a case. Or a crash caused by something like the wrong air pressure in your tires or stuck throttle...

Sorry to sound all preachy and chit, but you're asking for trouble if you continue down this road without a map......

intotherain · Sat May 12, 2007 6:40 pm

1. There iiissss no service manual for my bike. I've asked the seller and he told me to mail the company. I emailed the company requesting a manual 4 months ago.

2. No mech will work on my bike. I've been to independent shops and bike dealers. They all say that they have had terrible experiences working on Chinese bikes.

3. And thats that. I'm done with this bike. There's a guy who'll take my bike for $300. He wants a non working beater bike, and thats what I have. I'm looking into some used GS500s and Ninja 500s at local shops. Thanks for the help. Seriously everything is breaking down on my bike. My entire front end cracked off the frame a while back and stuff