Riders Of Vision

General => General Board => Topic started by: YellowJacket! on September 25, 2008, 04:29:12 PM

Title: Oil Change Today
Post by: YellowJacket! on September 25, 2008, 04:29:12 PM
Well, its not a big event for anyone none the less but it is the thrid oil change for YJ.  The first was when I first got YJ and I changed it after a couple days of riding.  The good news was that while the oil was quite dirty, there were no metal shavings or anything unusual.  Did the First Official oil change last year and again, the oil, while very dirty, was normal.

Todays oil change represented about a year of hard riding and stop and go traffic.  My fun and commute rides.  Again, the oil did not contain any shavings or grit. So, I guess I can proclaim YJ's motor as in very good shape.

I ended up using Valvoline 20W-50 4 Stroke "Specially Formulated for Wet Clutches".  First time I used it, so I'll see how it goes.  Also had a bit of trouble finding an oil filter.  Local parts shop had the 04 fram but not the 05.
Ended up going to the local Yammy Stealer and forked over 10.00 for a filter. Ouch.  But, I did get a new Filter housing O-ring for only a dollar and change.

The good news is that surprisingly my local dealer can still get A LOT of parts for the Vision.  The girl working the parts counter was pretty interested in it - we had a long talk about it, ROV and getting parts and she went down a very long parts list on her computer showing me what was still available and not. - At a price of course.

David
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: Brian Moffet on September 25, 2008, 04:59:20 PM
Quote from: YellowJacket! on September 25, 2008, 04:29:12 PM
I ended up using Valvoline 20W-50 4 Stroke "Specially Formulated for Wet Clutches". 

Do let us know, I need to change my oil soon.

Thanks,
Brian
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: h2olawyer on September 25, 2008, 05:11:38 PM
Even though I normally go less than 4,000 miles a year, I do 2 oil changes a year.  Often the second one is when I add a stator change to the mix.   ::)  I'm doing an oil change (including stator) either this evening or tomorrow.  I always get my oil filters from the dealer & get the O-ring once a year whether it needs it or not.  Like David said, they're inexpensive.  Will be using some semi-synth - kind of depends on what I can find.  Bel-Ray and Silkolene seem to be the easiest to find around here - kinda spendy but I know they're both good quality.  Stator is a Tim Parrott unit.

H2O
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: jasonm. on September 25, 2008, 07:15:25 PM
if you go further than 2500 miles on any oil change. You are killing the engine because the oil has been sheared down by the tranny gears to water and the oil can accumulate many micron bits of dirt that the filer cannot catch. And that it is abrasive.  A few studies have been done, i.e. a 20w50 after 2500 miles is a 20w30 or less no matter for dino oil and quality synths. shear to about a 20w40.  NO, the oil filter does not get all the dirt out.  I can tell when an oil thins after many miles...shifting gets stiff. Meaning change it NOW!  These engines turn so many rpm that you cannot treat these like your car.  I change mine minimum 2 or 3 times a year, no matter the miles. Never going more than 2k / change.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: Rick G on September 25, 2008, 08:54:44 PM
I always change mine at a maximum of 2500 miles . Jason you correct , the shifting gets stiff when the oil starts to fail and thin out. I no longer ride to work or any other short runs on the Vision. That's why I bought  the XL350 . Its air cooled and has ball bearing mains and rollers in the rod . while it doesn't  have a replaceable oil filter it has a centrifugal filter on the right end of the crank. Periodically I have to remove the clutch cover and disassemble the filter to dig out the compacted dirt and grit.
I buy filters 6 at a time and do 2 or 3 changes a year, I change the O ring as needed.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: Aelwulf on September 25, 2008, 09:26:38 PM
Once done with the starter clutch bolts I'll be finishing what'll be the second oil change on mine I've done on it.  Looking at using Rotella 5w-40 I think it is, same I'm going to try with the truck and Mean Streak as well to see how it does.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: YellowJacket! on September 25, 2008, 09:28:05 PM
Shifting issues was the primary reason I changed my oil today.  Was missing gears and making clicking clunking noises when I shifted over the last couple days.  Knew that was a sign for an immediate oil change.

Forgot to mention that after a relatively spirited ride - the one I posted about the right turn stumble - other than the stumble, shifting etc, was great.  Bike seemed to start better (probably psychological) and run better (psych too) but I feel good and the main thing, shifting, is better...not to mention that I will continue to extend the lige of my bike some more.

David
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: Rick G on September 26, 2008, 02:49:59 AM
Auto zone is carrying  Valvoline 20 50 synthetic motorcycle oil (wet clutch compatible)  for 9.98  a quart . but for that price I might as well get Amsoil. Last time around I put  Valvoline 20 50 mineral motorcycle oil in it, but I'd like something better, but I have a problem with  40.00 oil changes.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: h2olawyer on September 26, 2008, 03:01:20 AM
$50 with a filter.  At least that's what I spent today.   ::)  And, that was for semi-synth!

H2O
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: Rick G on September 26, 2008, 03:10:20 AM
I buy my filters 6 at a time, with my former employees discount .I wish I liked there oil better, I could get a discount on that too. but All they have in a synthetic is 0 40.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: YellowJacket! on September 26, 2008, 08:34:39 AM

Got mine at advanced Autoparts for 3.99Qt.

David
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: kwells on September 26, 2008, 04:06:01 PM
reminds me I need to change mine...Sprint has seen some miles this yr.  15w50 Rotella T for that one though.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: ironb12s on September 26, 2008, 05:21:40 PM
I run AMSOIL 0W30 Severe Service in all of my vehicles, cars go for 20K, bike goes for 10K per change.  That nomenclature is now the Signature Series 0W-30, and I have a preferred customer membership.  Yah, it ain't in the Vision, but it will be.  And the Bandit hasn't complained even a little, with 64K miles using the AMSOIL.  Last change was at 60K, same time that I took it off the road for the 60K mile maintenance.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: Rick G on September 26, 2008, 05:45:42 PM
Call me old fashioned , but I'm not going to run  0 or 5 wt oil in a bike designed for 10 40 , or in hot climates 20 50,  I've had it all explained to me, but i just don't buy it . The reason their using "water " oils in cars is to reduce friction and therefore up mileage. 
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: ironb12s on September 26, 2008, 06:12:14 PM
I forgot to add:

YMMV

;)
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: zore on September 28, 2008, 11:01:50 AM
I changed mine last Sunday on all my bikes.  I think I took it to 7000 miles and the oil was a bit dirty. 

I remember the first time I changed the oil on the monster.  Little needle bearings popped out.  No noise, no explanation.  I ended up replacing the cases after I broke them and never could find the source.  Must have been a friday afternoon bike and they dropped extra parts in it.
Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: kwells on September 28, 2008, 01:17:08 PM
that's gotta be a bit troubling zore.  needle bearings are just small enough to get into some precarious places.

Title: Re: Oil Change Today
Post by: zore on September 28, 2008, 02:09:47 PM
It was.  It had a magnetic drain plug so I did catch them all in 3 oil changes or so.  I put like 15000 miles on it like that.