Dip Sticks and such

[macla1100]

I've got an '81 XS1100H Venturer, and you check the oil by looking at the "window" near the bottom of the engine case. I was wondering if anyone has an idea for a dipstick to check oil level when the bike is sitting on it's centre stand or when it's on it's side stand. Made a rough one from a plastic rod and marked it just after an oil change when I knew for sure that levels were correct. Anyone got any better ideas, would sure appreciate hearing from you.

Bob M.

[fredintoon]

I use a mirror

Hi Bob,
bloody stupid optic, can't see the level worth a darn. And with my sidecar you can't get your head in there to see the thing at all even if the bike is always upright so that if you could see it
the level would be accurate.
I got this neat mirror on a telescopic stick in my Xmas stocking a while back.
I keep it on the sidecar dashboard but it'd fit in a tank bag too.
Just stop, take the mirror from stowage, stretch out the handle and hold the mirror down to see the oil level in the little porthole. You don't even have to bend over, let alone get your fingers oily.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[Wildkat]

Yamaha has them available

for less than $5, but I think there are some tips on this site to make your own. You can use the search to find the threads that could help you out a bit.

[mro]

'81 XS1100H Venturer??????

Venturer , thought they came out in 83/84?

Hey Wildkat, that "dip stick" is for middle and final drive, have not seen one for crank case.


mro

[John]

"They" don't make one..."You" have to do that. I guess you could make one after you change the oil, and refill the crankcase.

[Pain]

Re: '81 XS1100H Venturer??????

Originally posted by mro
Venturer , thought they came out in 83/84?

The Venture came out in 83 IIRC.

The Venturer was an 81 standard with factory hardbags and a larger gas tank. There was the 11, and an 850 version.

[Wildkat]

Oops

Hey Wildkat, that "dip stick" is for middle and final drive, have not seen one for crank case.

You are absolutely correct Sir. I keep thinking I have seen one for the crankcase somewhere... but maybe it was all a dream... or a dream within a dream. Much too deep for me...

[macla1100]

Dip Sticks and such

Whoa up a sec people. I know about the Yamaha supplied measuring sticks for the middle and final drives. What or rather "who" I was hoping would reply was one of you who replied about where I could get another oil filler cap .. lost mine .. and don't ask how .. I still can't believe I drove off and forgot to re-install it after topping the oil off .. anyway in one of the posts someone mentioned that they had made a dip stick to check oil levels, seems they were selling it for 5$ US and I was hoping "that" rider would answer and let me know what he used to make it. I've got my own ideas on what to do. But why reinvent the wheel if someone else has done it already.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Macla,

They are still available from Yamaha or BikeBandit:

20: PLUG,OIL 22633-001 $12.32
21: O-RING 359181-001 $3.89

T.C.

[Czekus21]

It'd be nice if someone made an oil,dipstick,thermometer that would work on the XS.

[Jeff]

Well...... for the "techies" out there........ here's a little piece of tech that could be used to create a permanent digital dipstick. Its probably overkill since all you would need to sense would be FULL, LOW and OVER. For a simpler version, just sense the FULL range and light a CHECK OIL led if out of range.

Electronic Dipstick

[Trikerneil]

Have a look on my website HERE and click on the tech-stuff link on the left, then scroll to the bottom of that page.
May be of use.

[mro]

Good mods Trikerneil

Dip Stick, should answer macla1100's question........


Washer mod
30/7/00:- I'm convinced now, this is the cheapest, easiet and most effective thing to get rid of that midrange flat spot (doesn't spoil the sound either)

Hope I remember this next time I run across straight pipes on an XS.



mro
btw, cool site