Re: overfilling a motorcycle engine.

I had my bike serviced by the local bike shop a couple of years back. They overfilled the oil by 2litres (the engine only takes 4litres). Thinking that they did the job correctly I rode the bike around all summer. I only noticed the extra oil when I changed it myself that autumn. What I did notice was that the bike seemed to run just fine with the extra oil but it seems to smoke more than it used to upon starting up. Probably a seal or a ring or something. I thought about complaining, but what would they do other than offer to redo the servicing, and I'm not having them touch the bike again (they overfilled the brake fluid as well). I've done my own servicing ever since.

James. 1979 Suzuki GS400, 9000kms.

Wonderful book.

You mean, THE LOCAL BIKE SHOP may have given the rings more oil than they were happy with. But I agree that a ring (most likely the left cylinder) is stuck.

Synthetic oil is all I run. I have done some high temperature riding (~2 hrs) and to no avail. The smoking isn't that bad and one of these days I'll get around to rebuilding the top end of the engine. That should clear things up.

wrote

Greetings.

First some apologies:

My understanding is that, if you over fill a motorcycle with oil, the oil covers too much of the gears. The gears, in turn (pun!), will cause the oil to froth, which will prevent the oil from doing whatever it was meant to do.

The reason for not adding too much oil to your bike is not that it won't run swell afterwards, but that it won't run swell afterwards for as long as you might wish.

As to how much oil is too much oil, I've no idea. Life is, however, too short for such worries. Open the drain bolt, let out a bit of oil, close the drain bolt, problem (if there was one) solved! (That's what I did! )

Happy motoring!

Cordially, Richard Kanarek

P.S. When you discover you've let out too much oil, add new oil unless you're absolutely sure that no dirt fell into your drain pan with the oil.

further tests look to have eliminated the engine.

if i kill the engine and pull the clutch at 30mph and coast I can feel the vibrating sensation.

leads me to believe the problem can only be... Wheel bearings or chain / sprocket related or output shaft on gearbox related.

back to the garage this week...

ss

It has had new chain and sprockets within the last month - this was partly because I thought that that was causing vibration and...they were as you have said shot - the chain had a number of tight spots in it. if any thing the new chain / sprockets has made it feel worse and so....now suspect the bearing in the sprocket carrier.

ss.