new battery failure

[transalp 1]

Oil change time on my US spec. 2009 KLR650. I won't get into what oil I just used except to say it was motorcycle specific, name brand and 10W-40. It's been discussed before. So, this is just one more $0.02 worth. The engine case says the bike holds 2.5 liters. I drained the engine until no more dripped out. Then I leaned the bike to the right and left and a small amount more came out. Once stopped, I installed a new filter and put the drain bolt back in. The oil I use comes in quart bottles. That's 0.946 liters each. I poured in two bottles or 1,892 milliliters. 2,500 - 1,892 = 608 ml to go before full, yes? The sight glass was full, no bubble to the top at approx. 2,000ml. Using a ratio-rite cup, I poured in another 500ml and started the bike. After a short idle period and time after shutdown for run down of the oil, it still showed no bubble whatsoever in the sight glass. Doohickeys, subframe bolts, inaccurate sight glasses.... these things could've been remedied LONG ago by the manufacturer. Geez. eddie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Richard Decker]

Remidies change tooling, tooling changes cost money... Why mess with it if 99% of the people that buy them will never complain? But I agree 100%, dagsnabit Kawi, I wouldnt have had to bust those knuckles when I changed out my doo-hick-ey... Did you measure on the side stand or standing upright? -Rich

On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 2:43 PM, transalp 1 wrote: > > > Oil change time on my US spec. 2009 KLR650. > > I won't get into what oil I just used except to say it was motorcycle > specific, name brand and 10W-40. > It's been discussed before. So, this is just one more $0.02 worth. > > The engine case says the bike holds 2.5 liters. > I drained the engine until no more dripped out. Then I leaned the bike to > the right and left and a small amount more came out. > Once stopped, I installed a new filter and put the drain bolt back in. > The oil I use comes in quart bottles. That's 0.946 liters each. > I poured in two bottles or 1,892 milliliters. > 2,500 - 1,892 = 608 ml to go before full, yes? > The sight glass was full, no bubble to the top at approx. 2,000ml. > Using a ratio-rite cup, I poured in another 500ml and started the bike. > After a short idle period and time after shutdown for > run down of the oil, it still showed no bubble whatsoever in the sight > glass. > > Doohickeys, subframe bolts, inaccurate sight glasses.... these things > could've been remedied LONG ago by the manufacturer. > Geez. > > eddie > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- - Rich Decker Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[transalp 1]

I measured the oil level with the bike standing upright. With 100% stock suspension, tires,etc... there's no oil visible in the sight glass at all when the bike is over on the kickstand. eddie

----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Decker To: transalp1@... Cc: KLR650 list Sent: 7/7/2009 5:57:38 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] oily subject Remidies change tooling, tooling changes cost money... Why mess with it if 99% of the people that buy them will never complain? But I agree 100%, dagsnabit Kawi, I wouldnt have had to bust those knuckles when I changed out my doo-hick-ey... Did you measure on the side stand or standing upright? -Rich On Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 2:43 PM, transalp 1 wrote: Oil change time on my US spec. 2009 KLR650. I won't get into what oil I just used except to say it was motorcycle specific, name brand and 10W-40. It's been discussed before. So, this is just one more $0.02 worth. The engine case says the bike holds 2.5 liters. I drained the engine until no more dripped out. Then I leaned the bike to the right and left and a small amount more came out. Once stopped, I installed a new filter and put the drain bolt back in. The oil I use comes in quart bottles. That's 0.946 liters each. I poured in two bottles or 1,892 milliliters. 2,500 - 1,892 = 608 ml to go before full, yes? The sight glass was full, no bubble to the top at approx. 2,000ml. Using a ratio-rite cup, I poured in another 500ml and started the bike. After a short idle period and time after shutdown for run down of the oil, it still showed no bubble whatsoever in the sight glass. Doohickeys, subframe bolts, inaccurate sight glasses.... these things could've been remedied LONG ago by the manufacturer. Geez. eddie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[transalp 1]

PS: I also wiped out the oil filter cavity before installing the new filter. I found no particulate matter in the cavity or in the old filter iself. Early on, I was finding tiny metal "flakes" like so much glitter along with other debris. Today was the third oil change and things look quite good now. eddie [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[ocpianoman]

I've read in this group how the KLR tends to boil batteries dry with lots of fast riding (the regular vented type)and indeed this happened to me on my last trip, so I replaced the battery with an AGM type, one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SEALED-BATTERY-Moto-Guzzi-BREVA-YTX14AHL-BS-2YR-WARRANT_W0QQitemZ400060139010QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5d25714602&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245 The price was right at $65 shipped, but it failed in less than a month. Anybody had a similar experience with a sealed AGM type battery? Now I'm wondering if my Regulator/Rectifier has gone out. Anybody had that happen? The Suzuki GS bikes are famous for failed RRs and burned up stators as a result of the failed RR, but I didn't think the KLRs had that problem. The battery came with two year warranty so we'll see if I can get some satisfaction from eBay seller, named "motobatteries". Other than that my A14 (2000) has given me 10k miles of very reliable service since I replaced the head with a used one from an '05. Got 35k on the odo now. Checked the valves before my trip and they were all in spec, on the loose side. Did the doo adjustment too. Next time I'll pull the cover and check the spring, maybe even replace it with a radial.