Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insane..

I'm really beginning to regret getting into the hobby of being my own mechanic cause it is costing me a lot of grief as I learn what not to do the hard way. Sorry in advance for the long story. I just want to be thorough so I don't screw up again.

Anyhow, I got my carbs all sync'd and everything (after rebuilding them) and the bike ran perfectly. I decided I needed to do an oil change before riding it regularly since it hadn't got one for the last year. I dropped all the oil by removing the filter since I couldn't find the drain plug my manual was talking about (??), replaced the filter (including new O-rings), put it back together and started adding oil. Evidently this is the part where I am a retard. I can't seem to read the oil level window for the life of me as this is the second time I've put in too much oil. I even waited for a few minutes between quarts to let it settle.

Anyhow, long story short it wasn't running well (but was running) and obviously had too much oil so I started syphoning it out using a pump that I had primed with oil to make sure I didn't contaminate the case. Two problems here...

1. I took out almost a whole quart and never saw anything in the window.
2. Looked almost exactly like the oil I drained that had been in there for a year.

After taking oil out I started it and it seemed much happier (wasn't shuddering and trying to die). But I still wanted to look into the fact that the oil was nasty looking which I was going to do today. I went out today to ride it to work (only 2 miles away) and it wouldn't start at all. It gave a quick turn of it's own but then just sat there cranking. I'm assuming it still has WAY too much oil in it.

SO! What I am thinking of doing is dropping the filter again, dropping the middle drain plug this time (didn't know about it before) and hoping to get everything out. Putting 2 quarts in it (I was told an oil and filter change requires 2.5). Running it, then checking the oil level again. Hopefully this will at least let me get the right amount of oil in it. Then I'll change the oil again in another 200-300 miles to try and clean the engine out.

That sound like a good idea? Will that fix the "hydro-lock" I've caused or do I have to to more work? Thanks a lot for your help guys.

 

Oil drain plug is directly behind the filter on the bottom. It sounds like you had quite a bit left in there. May want to check and see how much you got out when you drained from the filter. Obviously that wasn't all of it and would cause the overfill and dirty oil. Don't know about your overall solution to the issue of running it with too much. I'm still pretty new at these bikes and bikes in general myself. My $.02.

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

Hmm...I'll look again but I didn't see anything there... If that's the case I'll definitely be doing it over again. A guy I work with was mentioning it not starting might just be the plugs getting fouled so I'll have to check that too... Ugh, I hate screwing up simple tasks.

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

the plugs do foul easy.......try putting in a can of seafoam or engineflush in her to REALLY clean out the engine......just let it idle for about 5 min then change oil. sounds like there is a lot of sludge in there......if its buitup on the bottom of the engine yu would get higher than normal oil levels.

what bike do yu have?

 

Don't Touch the Middle Gear Drain Plug.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE IT.
Ignore ALL Non-Yamaha Factory written instructions concerning that Middle Gear Plug.

Leave it alone unless you plan on pulling the engine, splitting the cases and overhauling components requiring removal from the cases.
It's NOT a maintenance function.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LOOK for the Oil Drain Plug.
Use a flashlight or a shop light so you will be able to see it and remove it later.

The DRAIN PLUG is set on the CENTER of the Lower front case.

Look directly above the exhaust collector ... on the center line behind the Oil Filter ... right in the center ... just above the two center exhaust inlets to the collector.
The Exhaust Collector is designed to allow access to the Drain Plug and deliberately fashioned to let the draining-out oil drip-off without falling on the collector.

You will see a 19 mm Hex-head Plug ... (Most have a Phillips screw in the center of the hex) ... that is the Drain Plug.

Remove the Drain Plug to let out the oil.

 

Alright, thanks for the info about the middle gear drain. I have a 1981 XJ550 Maxim if it makes any kind of difference. I'll take a look at this when I get home. Thanks a lot.

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

The 550 doesn't have a middle gear or middle gear drain, we are chain driven. The oil drain is right below the oil filter and in front of the exhaust collector.

 

"What's a chain?" : )

 

It's whats inside the saddle bags of a Harley! thats why they all have them.
at least thats what I tell my co-worker who rides a Sportster!

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

hmmm sounds like yu never got all the old oil out to begin with if yu never removed the drain plug..........ummmmm ahaaaaaaa :wink:

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

The drain plug is not hard to find. It's right behind the filter. Try cleaning the little sight window off-you'll be amazed at the difference it makes. Long and short of it; if you've drained all the oil, the sight window will show bright, shiny aluminum inside (with a now-clean sight glass) and won't begin to darken up until the new oil rises to the proper level (about 3/4 up the sight glass). Good luck, let us know what happens!

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

Fair enough. I didn't see anything to the effect that it was only on shaft driven versions in the thread I saw saying to remove it, nor that it shouldn't be touched, so thanks for telling me.

Kinda sucks when searching before you post ends up giving you bad info...

 

We're all gettin' giddy 'cause the good bikin' weather's back.

Pretty soon it will "Ride to go cool-off season"

Nice.

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

Well thought I'd come back and fill out the conclusion. I found the drain bolt under a bunch of caked on oil/grease. Drained all the oil, cracked the oil filter to let it drain a bit too. Cleaned the plugs while I let it drain. Closed it all back up and filled it with oil (MUCH easier to see through the window now). And now it runs fine again and the oil in the window looks a LOT better. I'll probably change it again in a month or two though just as cheap insurance since it was so nasty before. I also put some seafoam in the gas to try and clean up the oil and what not a little more.

Oh, and thanks for the help and for not flaming me too badly. 8)

 

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness". Glad you found the bolt! Sorry but most of us see the little sucker hanging down there without issue. I guess it never occured to us that anything might have caked up and obscured the whole bolt! Big sigh of relief. Keep the rubber down bud, enjoy the ride.

 

Re: Won't start after oil change (too much oil)...going insa

Get the caked crud off too. It's not helping your cooling any.