[Danwest]

This is one of those questions it's almost embarrassing to ask. When I bought the bike it didn't have the owners manual.

When checking the oil with the dipstick is the bike suppose to be brought up vertical or left on the side stand?

Should the dipstick be screwed all the way back in and then removed and checked or is it just inserted to where the threads start?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Spool]

Bike vertical, dipstick inserted just to where the threads start.

 

[Danwest]

Thank you for the prompt reply.

Dan

 

[TenDollarBill]

Simple, remove the dip stick, pick the bike and pour the oil into a measured canister.

 

[7xclm]

TenDollrBill are you off your meds again.

 

[TenDollarBill]

TenDollrBill are you off your meds again.

I must be, that's not how I do the motorcycle, it's how I do mr pick up truck

 

[7xclm]

HaHaHa.

 

[MikeB]

This is one of those things that has always baffled me. Why do manufacturers of motorcycles equipped only with a sidestand require oil level measurements when the bike is vertical? This goes for both dipsticks and sight windows. Any method of checking could be calibrated to account for the bike's lean angle.

It was particularly difficult with my late Vulcan 1600. Did you ever try balancing a 700-lb motorcycle with one hand while on your knees and bending down to peer at a sight window only inches from the floor?

I'm surprised the owner's manual didn't have a lawyerly disclaimer such as "To avoid being crushed while checking oil level do not let the motorcycle fall on you.":mrgreen:

 

[gat803]

It was particularly difficult with my late Vulcan 1600. Did you ever try balancing a 700-lb motorcycle with one hand while on your knees and bending down to peer at a sight window only inches from the floor?

That is what those little mechanic's mirrors on a flexible stick are for. That way the sight glass can be checked while sitting on the bike...

As fare as the dipstick goes...

Bike on side stand. Remove the dipstick. Wipe it off, and reinsert without screwing it down. Stand up the motorcycle, for a few moments, by whatever mean are best for you. Lean bike back over onto the side stand, and check the oil level on the stick. Notice how the residual oil is still visible on the dipstick?

Ta-dah!!

No reason to make things harder than they have to be... :wink:

 

[PACKY]

Just a thought. If the level is checked in the manner stated, then again when on the kickstand... could we not simply file a notch on the side of the dipstick indicating where the oil should be when on the kickstand? Maybe there is some technical fact that prevents this, I'm not much of a mechanic.

 

[gat803]

Just a thought. If the level is checked in the manner stated, then again when on the kickstand... could we not simply file a notch on the side of the dipstick indicating where the oil should be when on the kickstand? Maybe there is some technical fact that prevents this, I'm not much of a mechanic.

Depending on the particular model, when on the side stand the oil may not even touch the end of the dipstick.

That being said...Over the years, I have used this method on some bikes.

 

[MickeyGlass]

And then it hit me like a bolt of lightening!!! Aftermarket dipstick upgrades, with measurements calibrated for bike on stand..... brilliant, I tell ya.

 

[MikeB]

That is what those little mechanic's mirrors on a flexible stick are for. That way the sight glass can be checked while sitting on the bike...

Ta-dah!!

No reason to make things harder than they have to be... :wink:

I have one. It would not fit under the brake pedal in a position to get a good look at the sight glass.

Ta-dah!:mrgreen:

 

[sjef]

This is one of those things that has always baffled me. Why do manufacturers of motorcycles equipped only with a sidestand require oil level measurements when the bike is vertical? This goes for both dipsticks and sight windows. Any method of checking could be calibrated to account for the bike's lean angle.

It was particularly difficult with my late Vulcan 1600. Did you ever try balancing a 700-lb motorcycle with one hand while on your knees and bending down to peer at a sight window only inches from the floor?

I'm surprised the owner's manual didn't have a lawyerly disclaimer such as "To avoid being crushed while checking oil level do not let the motorcycle fall on you.":mrgreen:

To make it more confusing my Road King gets checked on the side stand but the Shadow gets checked when level. But the Shadow is a lot easier to change oil, one oil does all.

 

[jpr1968]

And then it hit me like a bolt of lightening!!! Aftermarket dipstick upgrades, with measurements calibrated for bike on stand..... brilliant, I tell ya.

And who would go to the effort of making ones for metric cruisers?

 

[h13man]

I guess leveling a bike is better than guessing the lean angle on the sidestand though checking a sight glass is a bit akward but Gat mentioned one option. How did we ever survived this winter w/o this thread. I guess the secret is to own a bike that doesn't use oil.