Not another oil thread

[mstrmac]

I read all the oil posts and then some. So this is not a oil thread but a specific question regarding when the sight glass oil level should be about half.

After you get 4 litres out and 4 litres in or 4.2267528 Qts. in your TB:

1) Should the level be half?

2) Should the level be half in the sight glass after you start the engine for a few minutes then stop and view?

Thanks

mstrmac

[gregp]

The correct oil change quantity is closer to 3.5 liters. 4 will cover the sight glass totally and may give you some over-fill issues.

[mstrmac]

Thanks i will be careful. Are you saying after engine shut off the sight glass is half or are you saying with a cold engine the sight glass is half?

[13]

I just did my S3 for the million'th time 2 days ago: I fill the filter SLOWLY (if the filter is upright on a TB suggest doing this too); install filter; double check mentally at least that drain-plug is tight (without stripping); fill oil with bike level (wood block under kickstand almost levels bike, careful not to knock bike over); fill oil to about 3/4 into sight glass; replace oil fill-plug; start engine for minute or so to work oil through oil passages...

This usually puts oil at about half way mark in glass. Sometimes I'll go for a short ride, or, let it sit for a few hours or overnight... to answer question, then I top off to "under" high level mark in sight glass. After another short ride check level isn't too high (if it is, you can drain a little out through the drain plug). This sounds like alot but once you're doing it isn't much. I can never seem to drain ALL the oil out, so am content that it takes a little less than spec'd to fill, but am extra cautious not to overfill. Hope this helps!

Btw, on mine, with a cold engine, it's just under the high mark...

[gregp]

Originally Posted by 13

I just did my S3 for the million'th time 2 days ago: I fill the filter SLOWLY (if the filter is upright on a TB suggest doing this too);

The Thunderbird series does not have a screw on type filter. They just have a pleated paper cartridge element.

[gregp]

Originally Posted by mstrmac

Thanks i will be careful. Are you saying after engine shut off the sight glass is half or are you saying with a cold engine the sight glass is half?

I believe that with the engine cold and sitting for a while the level should be 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up the sight glass with the bike straight up and down.

[Monty]

I put my TB on its mainstand(on level ground) and fill it until there's a small bubble at the top of the sight glass, run for a couple of minutes and check if it needs a top up, i just make sure i can see a small bubble in sight glass.

[DaleE]

I've often wondered: is the sight glass half empty or half full?

[gregp]

Originally Posted by Monty

I put my TB on its mainstand(on level ground) and fill it until there's a small bubble at the top of the sight glass, run for a couple of minutes and check if it needs a top up, i just make sure i can see a small bubble in sight glass.

Is the "Mainstand" you refer to the kick stand (side stand) or the Center Stand? I presume that you are refering to a center stand, which most of us do not have as they did not come stock on these bikes. Hence the request for an accurate fill quantity.

[Gdsila]

The Haynes Manual (and possibly the Triumph manual) have some mis-prints.
The correct oil amount is 3.75 liters.
Which is just about 1 US gallon (3.79 liters)
4 Liters will over-fill and your bike will weep/leak .