80 GS550e oil change and nothing in the sight glass?

[Bobbys 94]

Bought a 1980 GS550e from the original owner a couple of weeks ago and today I was replacing the clutch fiber discs and changing the oil at the same time. I drained what ended up being
3.5 qts of oil, it should only take 2.7 to fill according to the manual. I replaced the filter and removed the oil pan as well. Lots of crud in the pan. I believe most of the crud was 43 year old clutch plate particles no metal bits. Filled the oil with 2.7 qts of 10-40w oil and started the engine and let it run for a couple of minutes. Shut it off and waited 5 minutes or so and saw No oil in the oil level window on the side of the case. Did I miss something?

[Nessism]

Are you checking with the bike on the center stand? Is the sight glass sufficiently clear to see through?

2.7 quarts strikes me as not enough...but that's what the manual says. I had two different 550's in my past, and thought they used far more. My memory ain't the best, though.

If you are sure that the oil is under the window, and not over (an easy mistake to make), then the only reasonable path forward is to slowly add more oil and watch the sight glass closely.

[Big Block]

Does the case have a measurement cast into it. Like 3800ml for instance?

[Bobbys 94]

Does the case have a measurement cast into it. Like 3800ml for instance?

Yes, 2400ml which is 81.135oz or 2.7 qts

[Bobbys 94]

Are you checking with the bike on the center stand? Is the sight glass sufficiently clear to see through?

2.7 quarts strikes me as not enough...but that's what the manual says. I had two different 550's in my past, and thought they used far more. My memory ain't the best, though.

If you are sure that the oil is under the window, and not over (an easy mistake to make), then the only reasonable path forward is to slowly add more oil and watch the sight glass closely.

Sight glass is clear and I'm checking it while on my lift, straight up.

[Nessism]

Just a thought.... The 2400 ml ...2.7 quarts.....may very well be for an oil change without draining filter cavity / changing filter.

My GS 1100E has 3200 ML embossed on case near oil fill cap. I changed oil and filter last week. Added 3200 ML.....no oil in sight glass. Proper amount (for my GS) With Filter Change is 3600 ML.

The factory Suzuki manual says 2.7 quarts when changing the oil along with the filter.

[Grimly]

It doesn't have a cooler (factory or aftermarket), does it?

[Big Block]

Interesting. Sight Glass has the final ruling though for me, no matter what.

[Bobbys 94]

It doesn't have a cooler (factory or aftermarket), does it?

No oil cooler, bone stock

[Bobbys 94]

I've done my own maintenance on my bikes for over 50 years and this just has me stumped.

[Burque73]

What would be the harm in adding oil until you see it in the sight glass? Seriously, where would excess oil go, out the breather into the airbox? The previous owner had 3,5 qts in there plus whatever the filter sucked up. They must have known it took more than expected.

I did a forum search for "sight glass" and a few threads came up where people said the same thing. Usually it was the position of the engine while being checked. One member had the engine upright, left to right, but without wheels it was tilted either too far forward or back.

[Bobbys 94]

What would be the harm in adding oil until you see it in the sight glass? Seriously, where would excess oil go, out the breather into the airbox? The previous owner had 3,5 qts in there plus whatever the filter sucked up. They must have known it took more than expected.

I did a forum search for "sight glass" and a few threads came up where people said the same thing. Usually it was the position of the engine while being checked. One member had the engine upright, left to right, but without wheels it was tilted either too far forward or back.

When I got the bike home after buying it I noticed the oil was above the full mark on the side cover, above the top of the window. I put about 50 miles on it before I did the oil service, you would think that the extra quart would have blown out of the breather into the air box but it was clean.
I do have the bike strapped down to my lift by the handle bars. Is it possible that the tilt forward is enough to cause this reading? It's late and I will relieve the straps in the morning to see if that's the issue, but I don't normally tie them that tight because it has the wheel cradle. A little more oil than specified shouldn't hurt anything but, a quart to much is Too much.
Thanks for everyone's help with this

[Bobbys 94]

Wasn't the tie downs so I added 10oz over the 81 oz recommendation and it's in between the L and F line. I can sleep now.

[Nessism]

Sight glass is clear and I'm checking it while on my lift, straight up.

It needs to be on the center stand. The rear wheel will be above the front, so in effect, the bike will be aimed downhill.

[Bobbys 94]

It needs to be on the center stand. The rear wheel will be above the front, so in effect, the bike will be aimed downhill.

I can do that Ed. I'm waiting on parts to arrive so I have time to let the lift down and put the center stand down. But just my thought is the sight glass is towards the rear of the clutch cover so if the rear wheel is up and the bike is aimed downhill that would cause the oil to flow forward away from the sight glass, IMHO.