WARNING- Dipstick !
After market chrome dip sticks can unscrew and come apart dropping the bottom into your crankcase !!!
Check yours ! make sure it is tight or put lock tight or use a plastic one !
I have actually bought a plastic one to leave in my toolkit. I still use the top chrome part but will use the plastic to actually check the oil from here on out - don't want to repeat my weekend again.
the story -
Not sure if this is the right spot for this but....
I was about to depart on an 8 person ride to Wisconsin for a Cheese Curd festival (yeah, any excuse to ride)
I went to check my oil with my stylish aftermarket chrome dipstick and to my horror.... the bottom half (business end) of the dipstick was gone !!
I thought it broke off but after retrieving it, it turns out it screws into the top and must have just vibrated itself loose.
Instead of riding on this glorious weekend. I ripped apart my engine to find that damn 1/2 piece of metal.
Stans previous postings / pics were invaluable and I don't think I would have attempted without them.
radiator, exhause, part of the frame, pegs, etc, all had to come off.
I kept thinking that I should have replaced the primary gear when in there ( I did not)
turned out to be a two day job for me as it took me 2.5 hours to get one of the Frame hex nuts off and then when re-assembling everything, I lost a bolt someplace behind the left side engine cover. Took me three hours to find where the bolt was, then to get the cover off. Ended up breaking one of the five mounting points as I did not wait a couple more minutes for Stans advice (shoulda waited) See my other post in engine and exhaust ( I think) gotta know about those clips !!! bottom half has a small nut and a couple pull of mount points but the top two, in addition to pulling off, have clips.
be forewarned !!
Check yours ! make sure it is tight or put lock tight or use a plastic one !
I have actually bought a plastic one to leave in my toolkit. I still use the top chrome part but will use the plastic to actually check the oil from here on out - don't want to repeat my weekend again.
the story -
Not sure if this is the right spot for this but....
I was about to depart on an 8 person ride to Wisconsin for a Cheese Curd festival (yeah, any excuse to ride)
I went to check my oil with my stylish aftermarket chrome dipstick and to my horror.... the bottom half (business end) of the dipstick was gone !!
I thought it broke off but after retrieving it, it turns out it screws into the top and must have just vibrated itself loose.
Instead of riding on this glorious weekend. I ripped apart my engine to find that damn 1/2 piece of metal.
Stans previous postings / pics were invaluable and I don't think I would have attempted without them.
radiator, exhause, part of the frame, pegs, etc, all had to come off.
I kept thinking that I should have replaced the primary gear when in there ( I did not)
turned out to be a two day job for me as it took me 2.5 hours to get one of the Frame hex nuts off and then when re-assembling everything, I lost a bolt someplace behind the left side engine cover. Took me three hours to find where the bolt was, then to get the cover off. Ended up breaking one of the five mounting points as I did not wait a couple more minutes for Stans advice (shoulda waited) See my other post in engine and exhaust ( I think) gotta know about those clips !!! bottom half has a small nut and a couple pull of mount points but the top two, in addition to pulling off, have clips.
be forewarned !!
