Any Harm in Leaving Cases Empty of Oil?

[IanDMacDonald]

Okay, okay . . . hear me out for a second before you stone me to death. My engine currently sits in my basement hung from the joists above awaiting parts and paint. Valve lash has been set, therefore no-more movement of the crank is anticipated prior to engine installation next month. I wanted to empty the engine and middle drive while the engine was out, so I could replace the clutch springs and loosen some bolts that May/May not have oil behind them, and then re-fill after engine installation. Maxiumum time empty would be a month. Maybe this sounds like a bad idea as I type this

[jetmechmarty]

The internal parts are likely coated with oil. Draining it isn't going to hurt anything unless you forget to fill it before you start it.

[DGXSER]

Mine has been empty for at least a month. I have also had mine open and working on it for a while, and yet to get the oil filter installed.

As to which cases have oil behind them, well, that's all of them except the clutch adjustment cover, timing cover, and alternator cover. Most likely, pulling the bolts with out oil behind them, will likely not even get them loose enough to worry about it. Typically you have to hit the case with a rubber mallet a few times to break the seal of the gasket to remove them, so not likely you will get seepage or issues removing the screws.

[Schming]

Ian, in '06 I drained my '80Gs oil to remove the pan for refinishing and the bike was on what you see in the pic:



Today, still with no oil, but together for only a year,waiting for a new dress, this is how she sits:



In all that time, with the pan off, the internals were wet with oil and slightly dripped.
Now, on a warm humid day, when I'd open the cool garage and the metal sweat I got flash rust on the cams that I wasn't aware of, as I had a small towel covering the valve train. I promptly used crocus cloth and cleaned the oxidation off the cams and oiled them and the cylinders. That was still a few years before I got working on the bike again.

When I finally get to fire her up I'll fill her with oil, take the plugs out, disconnect the coils and turn her over til I get pressure. No worries.

JAT, unless you had loosened your MD drain bolt while in the bike, you may have to use an impact gun, mine was a real bugger to crack loose.

Oops. . . gotta go. . . think I see some stones coming !!!

[MPittma100]

Empty Cases

Good idea to go ahead and pull the oil pan and clean it up. Pull the spark plugs and mist the cylinders with oil or a spray lubricant and reinstall plugs.

After you eventually fill with oil, spin the motor over (without starting) electrically or manually to prime the system. Make sure to fill the oil filter housing with oil prior to spinning.

An engine draining for this long with the pan removed make take a little more than normal oil to refill. I would consider pouring in that extra .3 of a quart (4 quarts total) on the initial refill.

Mike

[Bonz]

That's cream puff treatment compared to what some 20+ year barn-finds look like inside I am sure. How many barn finds are out there and running? PLENTY! My thought is don't sweat it in the least,

Carry on.