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help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 1:39 pm
by Blake Sobiloff
My A13's been using a fair amount of oil recently, and I'd noticed
that oil was weeping past the inner case gasket, so I assumed that
that was where the oil was going. So, this morning I planned to
replace the gasket in preparation for spending Memorial Day weekend
riding forest roads up near Eureka, CA.
While cleaning up the underside of the engine in preparation to drain
the oil I noticed that the clear plastic collection bottle from the
airbox was unusually dark. I pulled the plug and some oil came
dripping out. And dripping out. And dripping out.
It appears that the full length of the drain tube was completely full
of oil and then some, as about 1/4 quart of oil eventually came out.
When I initially noticed I was losing oil I was having to replace
about 2 oz. every 100 miles. Most recently, however, I've used about
7 oz. per 100 miles.
Oddly enough, aside from the footpeg vibration that I've been coping
with for about 15K miles, the bike seems to be performing just fine.
This includes my regular 30 mile (each way) commutes on the highway,
where I maintain 5K to 6K RPM. I can't smell or see any smoke from
the exhaust, nor is there any significant darkening of the rear fender
aside from the normal light amount of carbon soot. Power is fine and
I'm still getting around 48 MPG, and the bike starts quickly and
easily, too. Used oil analysis hasn't detected elevated levels of
wear metals.
So, any ideas what's going on? Maybe a cracked ring?
I'm really bummed, as I was tremendously looking forward to getting
some off-road time and motorcycle camping over Memorial Day. Now,
however, I'm not sure I have the confidence in the bike to make the
trip.
--
Blake Sobiloff
http://www.sobiloff.com/>
San Jose, CA (USA)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 3:29 pm
by Michael Nelson
Have you installed the PCV mod? It helps to control oil usage via the
airbox. I have the Mercedes version of the mod installed on my bike and the
airbox stays dry and the bike doesn't use any oil. I also have the
Thermobob installed, which also helps to reduce oil consumption.
Michael
--
"Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open
manhole and die." -- Mel Brooks
San Francisco, CA
help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:11 pm
by Wayne Blackburn
Mine does the same thing if I keep the oil level at the top of the site glass.
Try not overfilling the oil level. I also run a 16/42 gear for mostly highway use.
keeping the RPM's below 5000 also helps keeps oil usage down.
I'll be going to deals gap tenn next weekend, And the above gear will be the ticket
--- On Sat, 5/10/08, Blake Sobiloff wrote:
From: Blake Sobiloff
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Help! Motor oil in the airbox
To:
dsn_klr650@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2008, 2:39 PM
My A13's been using a fair amount of oil recently, and I'd noticed
that oil was weeping past the inner case gasket, so I assumed that
that was where the oil was going. So, this morning I planned to
replace the gasket in preparation for spending Memorial Day weekend
riding forest roads up near Eureka, CA.
While cleaning up the underside of the engine in preparation to drain
the oil I noticed that the clear plastic collection bottle from the
airbox was unusually dark. I pulled the plug and some oil came
dripping out. And dripping out. And dripping out.
It appears that the full length of the drain tube was completely full
of oil and then some, as about 1/4 quart of oil eventually came out.
When I initially noticed I was losing oil I was having to replace
about 2 oz. every 100 miles. Most recently, however, I've used about
7 oz. per 100 miles.
Oddly enough, aside from the footpeg vibration that I've been coping
with for about 15K miles, the bike seems to be performing just fine.
This includes my regular 30 mile (each way) commutes on the highway,
where I maintain 5K to 6K RPM. I can't smell or see any smoke from
the exhaust, nor is there any significant darkening of the rear fender
aside from the normal light amount of carbon soot. Power is fine and
I'm still getting around 48 MPG, and the bike starts quickly and
easily, too. Used oil analysis hasn't detected elevated levels of
wear metals.
So, any ideas what's going on? Maybe a cracked ring?
I'm really bummed, as I was tremendously looking forward to getting
some off-road time and motorcycle camping over Memorial Day. Now,
however, I'm not sure I have the confidence in the bike to make the
trip.
--
Blake Sobiloff
http://www.sobiloff .com/>
San Jose, CA (USA)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:14 pm
by Blake Sobiloff
On May 10, 2008, at 1:29 PM, Michael Nelson wrote:
> Have you installed the PCV mod? It helps to control oil usage via the
> airbox. I have the Mercedes version of the mod installed on my bike
> and the
> airbox stays dry and the bike doesn't use any oil. I also have the
> Thermobob installed, which also helps to reduce oil consumption.
Hi Michael! Thanks for the response. No, I haven't done the PCV mod,
but I might look into it--I was talking with my riding buddy up in
Ferndale and he had a similar thought. I do have the ThermoBob
installed.
The thing that concerns me is why would this suddenly start happening
at 26K miles without a change in how the bike is run or configured? I
don't have any ideas.
--
Blake Sobiloff
http://www.sobiloff.com/>
San Jose, CA (USA)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:17 pm
by Ed Dobson
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote:
>
> My A13's been using a fair amount of oil recently, and I'd noticed
> that oil was weeping past the inner case gasket, so I assumed that
> that was where the oil was going. So, this morning I planned to
> replace the gasket in preparation for spending Memorial Day weekend
> riding forest roads up near Eureka, CA.
>
> While cleaning up the underside of the engine in preparation to drain
> the oil I noticed that the clear plastic collection bottle from the
> airbox was unusually dark. I pulled the plug and some oil came
> dripping out. And dripping out. And dripping out.
>
> It appears that the full length of the drain tube was completely full
> of oil and then some, as about 1/4 quart of oil eventually came out.
> When I initially noticed I was losing oil I was having to replace
> about 2 oz. every 100 miles. Most recently, however, I've used about
> 7 oz. per 100 miles.
>
> Oddly enough, aside from the footpeg vibration that I've been coping
> with for about 15K miles, the bike seems to be performing just fine.
> This includes my regular 30 mile (each way) commutes on the highway,
> where I maintain 5K to 6K RPM. I can't smell or see any smoke from
> the exhaust, nor is there any significant darkening of the rear fender
> aside from the normal light amount of carbon soot. Power is fine and
> I'm still getting around 48 MPG, and the bike starts quickly and
> easily, too. Used oil analysis hasn't detected elevated levels of
> wear metals.
>
> So, any ideas what's going on? Maybe a cracked ring?
>
> I'm really bummed, as I was tremendously looking forward to getting
> some off-road time and motorcycle camping over Memorial Day. Now,
> however, I'm not sure I have the confidence in the bike to make the
> trip.
> --
> Blake Sobiloff
> http://www.sobiloff.com/>
> San Jose, CA (USA)
SWAG: For the footpeg, have you looked into the idea of adding weights
to the footpeg or frame to dampen or tune-out the footpeg vibration.
ED
help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:18 pm
by Blake Sobiloff
On May 10, 2008, at 2:49 PM, Wayne Blackburn wrote:
> Mine does the same thing if I keep the oil level at the top of the
> site glass
>
> If I dont keep it all the way to the top, Oil us is ai most neel
>
> Try not overfilling oil ,And try keeping the RPM's down some.
>
> I also went to a 16/42 gear for mostly highway use.
>
I've been filling the bike per the Eldon Carl method (i.e. slightly
higher than what the sight glass would indicate is full when the bike
is straight up-and-down) for over 15K miles and this is the first time
I've had this happen, so I'm not sure that that's the problem here.
Regardless, it is currently using enough oil to take the level down
far below the bottom of the sight glass, so it doesn't seem to stop
using oil even with a low level of oil.
Thanks for the thoughts, though, Wayne!
--
Blake Sobiloff
http://www.sobiloff.com/>
San Jose, CA (USA)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:21 pm
by Blake Sobiloff
On May 10, 2008, at 3:17 PM, Ed Dobson wrote:
> SWAG: For the footpeg, have you looked into the idea of adding weights
> to the footpeg or frame to dampen or tune-out the footpeg vibration.
Interesting idea, Ed! I may have to resort to that eventually, as I'm
rapidly running out of other ideas. I'm going to take both side cases
off and again check the timing of the counterbalance weights, as that
would seem the most likely culprit. But, if they're both spot-on, I
give up.
--
Blake Sobiloff
http://www.sobiloff.com/>
San Jose, CA (USA)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:22 pm
by Wayne Blackburn
Ok I'll bite what is a pvc mod
Here I was,thinking I had done all the mods
--- On Sat, 5/10/08, Ed Dobson wrote:
From: Ed Dobson
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Help! Motor oil in the airbox
To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2008, 6:17 PM
--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogro ups.com, Blake Sobiloff wrote:
>
> My A13's been using a fair amount of oil recently, and I'd noticed
> that oil was weeping past the inner case gasket, so I assumed that
> that was where the oil was going. So, this morning I planned to
> replace the gasket in preparation for spending Memorial Day weekend
> riding forest roads up near Eureka, CA.
>
> While cleaning up the underside of the engine in preparation to drain
> the oil I noticed that the clear plastic collection bottle from the
> airbox was unusually dark. I pulled the plug and some oil came
> dripping out. And dripping out. And dripping out.
>
> It appears that the full length of the drain tube was completely full
> of oil and then some, as about 1/4 quart of oil eventually came out.
> When I initially noticed I was losing oil I was having to replace
> about 2 oz. every 100 miles. Most recently, however, I've used about
> 7 oz. per 100 miles.
>
> Oddly enough, aside from the footpeg vibration that I've been coping
> with for about 15K miles, the bike seems to be performing just fine.
> This includes my regular 30 mile (each way) commutes on the highway,
> where I maintain 5K to 6K RPM. I can't smell or see any smoke from
> the exhaust, nor is there any significant darkening of the rear fender
> aside from the normal light amount of carbon soot. Power is fine and
> I'm still getting around 48 MPG, and the bike starts quickly and
> easily, too. Used oil analysis hasn't detected elevated levels of
> wear metals.
>
> So, any ideas what's going on? Maybe a cracked ring?
>
> I'm really bummed, as I was tremendously looking forward to getting
> some off-road time and motorcycle camping over Memorial Day. Now,
> however, I'm not sure I have the confidence in the bike to make the
> trip.
> --
> Blake Sobiloff
> http://www.sobiloff .com/>
> San Jose, CA (USA)
SWAG: For the footpeg, have you looked into the idea of adding weights
to the footpeg or frame to dampen or tune-out the footpeg vibration.
ED
____________________________________________________________________________________
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help! motor oil in the airbox
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:28 pm
by Blake Sobiloff
On May 10, 2008, at 3:22 PM, Wayne Blackburn wrote:
> Ok I'll bite what is a pvc mod
> Here I was,thinking I had done all the mods
Most recent thread is at http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22662
>; the original thread is at http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=13526
>.
--
Blake Sobiloff
http://www.sobiloff.com/>
San Jose, CA (USA)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
705 big bore kit .... and is there a 737 coming?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:37 pm
by Michael Nelson
On Sat, May 10, 2008 at 01:35:59PM -0700, Randall Marbach wrote:
> I know that Schnitz Racing has offered a 685 kit for a while and has
> recently released the 705 kit. Has anybody out there been using the 705
> kit? If, so how has the performance/realiability/oil consumption been? For
> the money, is the 705 that much better than the 685?
I have a cylinder and head at Schnitz right now waiting for Cary to put the
705 kit in and do his Stage-2 headwork (porting, larger valves). It'2 the
setup Eagle Mike, Patman and Holycaveman are running, and they are all
really pleased with it.
No doubt though, the 685 is the best bang for the buck. It's costing me
$345 more to go with the 705 than the 685, and Cary said to not expect big
HP numbers compared to the 685. What the 705 does offer though is a lot
more low end and midrange torque, and even less vibration than the 685 (the
forged piston in the 685 weighs 84 grams less than the stock 650 cast
piston, and the 705 piston weighs less than the 685. Longevity should be
really good with the 705 & Stage-2 head. The larger valves are stainless,
the piston is a quality forged one, the rings are better quality, and the
cylinder sleeve in the 705 is a custom-made cryogenically treated one
that'll probably outlast a stocker 3:1.
I should have my stuff back from Schnitz around the end of the month. Heck,
the wallet-lightening alone should give a significant performance boost!
Michael
--
"Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open
manhole and die." -- Mel Brooks
San Francisco, CA