Before I Panic......low oil?

[blue giant]

I checked the oil level in my 79 standard to night and was surprised to find it down to only a 1/4 way up into the window. I rebuilt the engine over the winter and have just started to ride the bike and have only put 250 miles on it. Should a rebuilt engine use oil as it breaks in? Should I change the oil and filter now instead of waiting until I have 500 miles on it?

Thanks,

Paul

[Paintman]

Oil

Hey paul yes a rebuilt engine will use oil till it gets broke in. hard to say how much ive rebuilt alot of em and everyone is different. the one in my truck hasnt used a drop in 3 K miles.how nay miles do you have on it now ? i usualy will change over i first run 250 miles depends alot on what kinds of rings you used.


John

[tarzan]

I have never rebuilt a motorcycle engine but I have rebuilt quite a few car engines.Sometimes they do use a little oil till the rings seat in. If it is not smoking and compression is good.I wouldnt worry at least I had at least 500 miles on it.When I rebuild an engine I run the engine for about an hour first time then change oil in it and go 500 miles till the next.I think the first one gets a lot of the tiny metal chips from initial breakin and any lint and dirt from assembly out.

[thewiz]

Just curious ...

How extensive of a rebuild was it? New barrels and pistons, etc? Tell us a little about what you did and how you went about it. How does it run?

And yes, new rings can take a few hours to seal up correctly so some oil useage is expected. Don't know what Yam. recommends but mostly I run a non-detergent oil to break in with. Doesn't have the protective additives of detergent oils so the rings can bite into the cylinder walls a little better and seal up quicker.

[Ivan]

Modern day practices use a technique called "plateau honing" which very closely replicates a broken in cylinder on the microscopic level. Basically if the machinist that honed the cylinders did it correctly, you shouldn't have to worry about the cylinders needing a break in time. The oil rings may need some time, depending on the design.

You didn't say how extensive the rebuild was, and how much of it was done by whom. One common mistake on engines, although it may not be applicable to the 1100, is overlapping the ends of the oil ring spreader. Neophyte mechanics will have a tendency to put the hump on one end of the spreader over the end hump on the other, because most generally they fit pretty well. This doesn't give the oil rings the necessary pressure on the cylinder walls to seal, and the engine ends up using oil. (ask me how I learned this ) Most engines are designed such that the spreader butts up end to end instead of overlapping.

[blue giant]

Complete teardown, new crank and rod bearings, new pistons and rings, cylinders lightly honed, head and valves were cleaned and new valve seals installed. Compresion tested after 50 miles all 4 were 140-150 psi. I'm pretty sure this is all part of the breakin process.

Thanks gents, I'm going to do an oil and filter change tonite and keep an eye on the level more closely.

Paul

[egsols]

Hey Paul,

I don't know what it is with these bikes but I now check my oil before every ride (along with my tire pressures, know what I mean Verne ) Sometimes the oil is perfect for many miles, other times it needs half a litre (No leaks, my garage floor is clean)

Craznuk has the same issue with his, uses a lot of oil on some rides, hardly any on others.

[hamjam]

Hi Paul
may I agree with everyone's postings ;-)
yes it is normal , also your fuel consumption will get better after 5 or 6 K
have fun .
Jim

[blue giant]

Thanks Ernie,


I know it ain't leakin' 'cause my garage floor is clean too!

Maybe I'm leaning a little too hard on the throttle!

Know what I mean Verne?



Jim Varney left us far too soon!