Oil Sight Glass

[zuluwiz]

I have a 81 GS850 and I can't tell the oil level looking through the sight glass in the clutch cover. I know these darken with age, so my questions are: how do I clean it? Or can I clean it? Does the clutch cover need to be removed, or can I clean it while it's mounted? Or does it need replaced, in which case where do I find one? Or do I have to replace the clutch cover entirely? This would be a good time of year to attempt this. Anybody else have this problem? (there's got to be someone.)

 

[Nessism]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-DR1...h=item286f5f14e4:g:56wAAOSwmUdUXR4q:rk:3:pf:0


For more information try this...

Click "Advanced Search"
Type SIGHT GLASS into search field
Toggle "titles only"
Search...
Start reading various threads talking about this topic. That's how I found the information for the part posted above.

Good luck

 

[Boriqua]

I had a hard time seeing mine clearly until this past summer when I used Lucus oil which must be laden with cleaners because when I changed my oil suddenly my sight glass was clean. Certainly not as sure a fix as new or a good cleaning but it did work for me. It was an unintended plus.

 

[Gorminrider]

bah! I hate these. New oil can't be seen when bending down from the seat. I mean, putting the bike on the centre-stand with travelling luggage in some mountain gasstation when you Need to check? Ridiculous. I know why Suzuki did it; because you can't get a dip-stick down straight on the bikes that have them. I bent up a piece of coathanger to work.

 

[bwringer]

I had a hard time seeing mine clearly until this past summer when I used Lucus oil which must be laden with cleaners because when I changed my oil suddenly my sight glass was clean. Certainly not as sure a fix as new or a good cleaning but it did work for me. It was an unintended plus.

Thank you for supporting our football stadium!



(No seriously, Lucas oils are pretty darn good stuff. Good fork oil, too.)

 

[Boriqua]

Thank you for supporting our football stadium!



(No seriously, Lucas oils are pretty darn good stuff. Good fork oil, too.)

Happy to do it!! Even now with my winter blend (10w40) the engine sounds smooth as hell, shifting is better than ever and it just makes me and my bike happy! Yea its expensive but .. hey my bike is worth it.

 

[850 Combat]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-DR1...h=item286f5f14e4:g:56wAAOSwmUdUXR4q:rk:3:pf:0


For more information try this...

Click "Advanced Search"
Type SIGHT GLASS into search field
Toggle "titles only"
Search...
Start reading various threads talking about this topic. That's how I found the information for the part posted above.

Good luck

Would I need to drain my oil to install that?

 

[bwringer]

Would I need to drain my oil to install that?

No, if you put the bike on the kickstand, all the oil runs to the left side and you won't lose any when you remove the clutch cover. Let the bike sit on the kickstand for an hour or two beforehand, and it's a pretty clean operation.

That said... I'm honestly not 100% sure whether you absolutely have to remove the clutch cover (and thus also have to replace the clutch cover gasket) to replace the sight glass.

Perhaps someone else could weigh in who's done it that way. I've only replaced these when the clutch cover is off for other reasons, so it's dead easy to knock the old one out and push the new one in.

Mainly, I'm not sure whether you can consistently pry the sight glass out without breaking the glass.

If you slather your clutch cover gasket with a thin layer of plain grease, you'll be able to re-use it several times.

Also, you don't have to get everything from fleaBay, ya know; check the part price at your local Suzuki dealer or favorite source for Suzuki parts.

 

[850 Combat]

No, if you put the bike on the kickstand, all the oil runs to the left side and you won't lose any when you remove the clutch cover. Let the bike sit on the kickstand for an hour or two beforehand, and it's a pretty clean operation.

That said... I'm honestly not 100% sure whether you absolutely have to remove the clutch cover (and thus also have to replace the clutch cover gasket) to replace the sight glass.

Perhaps someone else could weigh in who's done it that way. I've only replaced these when the clutch cover is off for other reasons, so it's dead easy to knock the old one out and push the new one in.

Mainly, I'm not sure whether you can consistently pry the sight glass out without breaking the glass.

If you slather your clutch cover gasket with a thin layer of plain grease, you'll be able to re-use it several times.

Also, you don't have to get everything from fleaBay, ya know; check the part price at your local Suzuki dealer or favorite source for Suzuki parts.

Thanks. I honestly didn't expect a thoughtful and useful response. I thought I was just asking a silly question.

 

[chuck hahn]

Seafoam cleaned saight glass on a buddies 82 GS1100GL. Worth a shot to dump a few ounces in and take it for a good ride.

 

[Boriqua]

Wow learned some new stuff in this thread. Didn't know you could use seafoam in the crankcase and didn't know all that oil would slosh to one side on the sidestand. I guess you could potentially do clutch work without losing the oil?

 

[Guest]

I guess you could potentially do clutch work without losing the oil?

Dirt bike guys regularly pull clutches just by laying the bike on its side. I have never done that to mess with my GS clutch, but it should also work fine there as well.


Mark