| Author | Message | ||
     Rubberdown |
I guess we all knew the new engine and platform would be somewhat more complex than the existing XB line .... ... but this is friggen redickulous  | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Here is what I received from my dealer service manager via email this morning: " Hi Harlan, The facts are starting to form on the concern. Buell does not have the bulletin yet released but the following was given to me by Buell Tech service for your oil level checking. Follow the procedure below as recommended until the bulletin comes out. With the 1125R upright, run at idle for 3 minutes. Then turn off the engine and let it set for 3 minutes upright. Check the oil in the upright position. The important part is keeping the 1125R upright the whole time to allow the oil to flow through the motor cavities to insure proper level. The tech was helpful and said sorry for the inconvenience until the bulletin comes out. Hope this helps for now. Bobby" | ||
| Mikej |
If it takes 6 minutes just to check the oil I think there is a problem someplace. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I think the official waiting period after the bike is shut down is 2 minutes, which makes the total time 5 minutes. But in any case the, important thing is that we have another dealer confirmation of the proper position of oil verification--upright. I have been curious from the start as to why the engine must idle for three minutes? What does this do exactly and will the bike tend to read higher or lower if the bike is shutoff immediately? | ||
| Mikej |
With the 'tubers you let it run for awhile to help scavenge any oil out of the lower sump regions which might have migrated there while the bike was sitting. I've got no idea how the oiling system is set up in the 1125R. | ||
| Baggermike |
the manual says to check oil every time you stop for gas, and now we got to do all this to check the oil, WOW you think they would make it simple to do, not so complex and time consuming? must be an easyer way. I can just see a group of 1125R's pulling in to a gas station sitting on there bikes waiting 3 minutes with the engines running, then shutting them off and looking stuped while they wait the next 3 minutes, then get off and pull the dip sticks out and clean them off and then stick them back in and again pull them out and check them, all while keeping the bikes upright all in harmony, just picture that in your head. Mike | ||
| Blake |
"then get off and pull the dip sticks out and clean them off and then stick them back in and again pull them out and check them, all while keeping the bikes upright all in harmony, just picture that in your head." A bit fanciful and over-dramatic, but essentially that is the the same scenario you'd see with a bunch of tube frame Buells. The manual's requirement to check the oil every time you fill up with gasoline is overkill. I don't know anyone who follows that guideline. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Sounds goofy. Probably CYA stuff. I'd do some experiments with the LONG procedure vs. idling on the side stand, idling 30 seconds, etc., and see if the results differ. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I think checking the oil everytime you stop for gas is WAY overkill. If you are not leaking any oil, I don't see why a once a week check wouldn't work. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I would check the oil a lot when new, to get confidence that it is not burning too much. Then, if there are no leaks and you are not burning excessive amounts, you can be confident running longer periods without checking. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Yes you are right with the new engine and all. | ||
| Baggermike |
I was being funny, I never check my oil at gas stations, just after taking a trip when I get home on my level garage floor. Mike | ||
| Doerman |
That's exactly right Scott. I checked frequently during breaking it in and then sporadically thereafter. Now at 1800 miles I am convinced it is not using any so I am not that worried about checking it often any more. No Nervous Nelly here ...  | ||
| Blake |
That would be a funny sight Mike. We could to a video for youtube and set it to some flowery operatic score.  Or instead of "Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit..." to Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, it could be "Check the Oil! Check the Oil!..." Sorry for missing the humor first go around.  I'm sure some will miss mine too. What can I say, I'm a big Bug's Bunny fan from wayyyyy back.  Check the oil! Check the oil! Check the oil! (Message edited by blake on January 15, 2008) | ||
| Blake |
That might be more appropriate to the 1125R than I had originally thought. Check out the artwork illustrating the Ride of the Valkylries... http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Ring28.jpg Cool. Those be winged horses with warrior riders? | ||
| Zac4mac |
Blake - After prepping for oil level check this morning, idling on the sidestand for 3 minutes, I redid it when I got home, but idled for 3 minutes upright, wait 2 minutes upright, check while upright. Result was within an eighth of an inch of the sidestand method. Z | ||
| Blake |
Do you know Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries? And no, not the Honda variety.  | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Blake - After prepping for oil level check this morning, idling on the sidestand for 3 minutes, I redid it when I got home, but idled for 3 minutes upright, wait 2 minutes upright, check while upright. Result was within an eighth of an inch of the sidestand method. ZaC, this seems to be contrary to the recent findings....upright oil levels are significantly higher on the stick. Did you ride for 10 minutes before the morning check? I assume you did that and more before the post-ride check. Is it possible that this skewed the findings? What am I missing here? | ||
| Zac4mac |
The difference is nil when idling or draining. Both times, measuring was done upright. Morning ride in to work - 12 miles, park, set sidestand and idle 3 minutes. Shut motor off, wait 2 minutes, stand bike upright, wipe, reinsert and measure oil level. Afternoon ride home - 12 miles, pull into garage, sit on bike, upright and idle 3 minutes. Shut bike off and stand there with bike upright 2 minutes, then wipe, reinsert and measure level while upright. The stick will come out dry if you try to measure while on the sidestand. Z | ||
| Donutclub |
My findings were similar to Zac. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Zac, I misunderstood your original msg. This is GOOD to know as we all know it is easier to let it idle on the sidestand rather than vertical. Anyone know why we need to let it idle for 3 minutes in the first place? | ||
| Baggermike |
I can not see idling for more than one minute and then waiting for one minute for it to settle and then check the oil, if you do you own oil changes and put 3 quarts in, then warm it up real good and then park it on level ground and shut it off wait a minute and take the reading, now you will know that it is right, then use that method every time you check the oil and you will know it is right. I will do my own oil changes and then check the oil after getting it heated up and will wait one minute and check the oil and will go by this method every time and it will be right every time. I think everyone is getting carried away with the oil change method, and just find the way that works for you. Mike | ||
| Brumbear |
i'm sticking with my XB case dismissed | ||
| Blake |
Anyone know why we need to let it idle for 3 minutes in the first place? The effect of the sump to engine & tranny oil passages, transverse oil passages, and maybe a small dipstick cavity in proximity to the effects of dripping oil may require some time for the oil to redistribute evenly and cease dripping on the dipstick? I'm with BaggerMike, I'd vry likely do my own experimenting to find an acceptably accurate but quicker method of checking the oil. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
i'm sticking with my XB case dismissed Great. See you on the XBoard. | ||
| Andella |
Have fun looking at my tail light for the brief glimpse of it that you catch Brumbear!!!! | ||
| Metalstorm |
As an XB rider who now has no choice but to stare at the tail light of an 1125R I must say that it is indeed the briefest of brief glimpses. Bigblock's 1125 doesn't just walk away from my 12S, it flat out gallops! | ||
| Sheridan_bueller |
Don't make Brumbear feel bad. When you ride with him, only use the first 3 gears in your 1125R. That will at least make the top end a little more even. This 1125R (mine) is WWWAAAAYYYYYY better than my XB9S ever tried to be. And I absolutely loved the XB! JJ | ||
| Brumbear |
If you want to go straight don't bye a buell and I was seriously interested in purchasing an R after riding one at inside pass but being that the little things on the bike like checking the oil seem to be a problem I will stick with my paid for xb for this year rather than go into hock. | ||
| Jedipunk |
Latest draft of service manual (H-D net) states oil is checked on side stand. |
