Actual Oil Capacity of the CB1100???

[GoldOxide_imp]

Ha, me too, Redbirds. However, this thread made me a little nervous. When I got back from my last ride, I took a quick look. All good.

Did you check it:

* While the engine was hot enough?
* On side stand?
* On center stand?
* Upright on both tires?
* Upright on both tires with rider perched?
* While on an odd number on the clock hour hand?
* While the moon is 33% waxed as viewed from Cairo?

Did you check it:

* While the engine was hot enough?
* On side stand?
* On center stand?
* Upright on both tires?
* Upright on both tires with rider perched?
* While on an odd number on the clock hour hand?
* While the moon is 33% waxed as viewed from Cairo?


Well, I decided to do it right. So first, since my garage ceiling is finished, I pulled out the original plans to determine which were the most structurally load-bearing beams. Did the correct measurements to determine their locations, and installed a block and tackle. Then, using some 30-gauge rope, I centered the bike under the apparatus, attached the rope to both ends of the handlebars, attached a third line to the rear rack to triangulate the load, and lifted the bike upright, making sure to reduce tire compression on the ground to 1/8".

Checking my stopwatch, after exactly 30.00 minutes had passed after completing a 10.4 mile warmup run (the distance from my garage to the nearest highway, and following it two exit ramps up, and two ramps back, returning to the garage), I wiped the oil sight glass with a German microfiber towel (anything less would be foolish and might create micro-scratches on the sight glass)

I then took readings at 60 second intervals over the next eight minutes, to account for any variation that may have been caused by final drainage from the upper part of the engine, condensation, and contraction of the oil due to cooling over the measurement period.

Mind you, I had to move both cars out of the garage for this, so something I really don't plan on doing more than two or three times per week.

[Jeeves_imp]

I hate the sight glass and shining a light in the fill cap does not help.

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!

[Nachodaddy]

Yesterday I installed the beautiful machined oil-filler cap made by Forum member Greg Couch and I know that my oil level will always be perfect now. Thanks, Greg

[Ollie]

I dunno but i can't see that glancing at the level between two marks on a sight glass is more difficult then pulling a dipstick, wiping, inserting it (or inserting and screwing it in?) then pulling it back out to check where the dry/wet mark is between two lines on the dipstick? And yes adding 4 qts (especially w/o a filter) overfills it.

[the Ferret]

I hate the sight glass and shining a light in the fill cap does not help.

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!
I dont understand. How would your experience have been any different with a dipstick?

If you put in 4 qts and it was too high on the dipstick, you would have still had to drain some out. If it was still too high on the stick you would have had to drain out some more. If you drained out too much you would have still had to put some back in. If not enough you still would have had to put more in before finally getting it right.

Stick or window, they are both just measuring devices. Doesnt change the amount that goes in.

[peterbaron]

I hate the sight glass and shining a light in the fill cap does not help.

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!
I dont understand. How would your experience have been any different with a dipstick?

If you put in 4 qts and it was too high on the dipstick, you would have still had to drain some out. If it was still too high on the stick you would have had to drain out some more. If you drained out too much you would have still had to put some back in. If not enough you still would have had to put more in before finally getting it right.

Stick or window, they are both just measuring devices. Doesnt change the amount that goes in.

Yeah, I’m with you, .enough, lllll
. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!
I dont understand. How would your experience have been any different with a dipstick?

If you put in 4 qts and it was too high on the dipstick, you would have still had to drain some out. If it was still too high on the stick you would have had to drain out some more. If you drained out too much you would have still had to put some back in. If not enough you still would have had to put more in before finally getting it right.

Stick or window, they are both just measuring devices. Doesnt change the amount that goes in.
^^+1^^

[Jeeves_imp]

I hate the sight glass and shining a light in the fill cap does not help.

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!
I dont understand. How would your experience have been any different with a dipstick?

If you put in 4 qts and it was too high on the dipstick, you would have still had to drain some out. If it was still too high on the stick you would have had to drain out some more. If you drained out too much you would have still had to put some back in. If not enough you still would have had to put more in before finally getting it right.

Stick or window, they are both just measuring devices. Doesnt change the amount that goes in.

Yeah, I’m with you, the sightglass involves too much fiddling about to get the level to be “in spec”. I put in 4 qts (no filter change), and it appeared over-full. Warmed it up, still to full. Drained some out, not enough, drained some more, drained too much, put some back in, not enough, put some more in, not enough, finally got it right. Appears, on my bike anyway, that a no filter oil change take 3.75 qts (not 4) to get the level right in the sight glass. Gimme a dip stick! Or, am I a dip stick? LOL!!!
I dont understand. How would your experience have been any different with a dipstick?

If you put in 4 qts and it was too high on the dipstick, you would have still had to drain some out. If it was still too high on the stick you would have had to drain out some more. If you drained out too much you would have still had to put some back in. If not enough you still would have had to put more in before finally getting it right.

Stick or window, they are both just measuring devices. Doesnt change the amount that goes in.
Hi ya Ferret, guess it comes down to the discomfort of getting my decrepit 65 year old body down on hands and knees, bowing my head to the ground, and shining a flashlight into that tiny sightglass. I don’t mind sitting on a small stool to check a dipstick, but nearing laying on the cement garage floor to check level is a bit much. Maybe I need to use a mirror or something…

I had a 2004 Shadow w/ a dipstick for 10 years, and never had any discomfort changing or checking oil level.

J

[the Ferret]

that makes a lot of sense. Thanks

[Nachodaddy]

Right there with ya, my friend. I'll be 82 my next birthday and a lot of my care on my motorcycles is done lying on the floor, from which it is not so easy to get up again. When someone tells you they are "getting too old for a motorcycle," it usually isn't because they can't ride it, it is all the other stuff. And the eyes don't see so good anymore, etc, etc.

[peterbaron]

Frank, you doing very good for your age…. don’t give up and motorcycle keeps you, others and myself fit, in good spirits and alive