New (2000) GZ owner with oil level questions

[johnd]

To Water Warrior and others,
Thanks for the suggestions. I took a drinking straw and probed the fill hole and the straw will go only about six inches or so then hits obstructions so I can probable rule out the baster/suction attempts. Since you have done this by laying on the right side of your bike can you please furnish the proper socket size for the drain plug? I promise myself I am back on the diet today.
The HD guy who obviously overfilled it was real nice and this was his wife's first bike. She bought big HD too and this is how I got the GZ. Perhaps he took too good care of servicing it for her. But they are nice folks and I am happy for anyone to get the ride they want. I am scared to riide the bike as is, insured, plated, and all, so I have been just looking at it and waxing it.
Thanks,
Johnd

[Moedad]

Originally Posted by johnd

...the straw will go only about six inches or so then hits obstructions so I can probable rule out the baster/suction attempts.

So was there no oil on the straw when you pulled it out, sort of like how the oil level on a dip stick in a car would look?

[bonehead]

Try taking the generator cover off. When I did my valve adj. it was leaned on the stand and a little oil came out. If you unscrew the cover maybe all of the excess will come out. Gen cover is on the lt side with the big flat head slot.

[mrlmd1]

The straw is rigid and may not go around a bend or obstacle in there, You could try a length of softer vinyl tubing, like from a fishtank or similar to see if it will get down to the oil.
Like Moedad asked - was the straw wet with oil? Are you sure there's any in there if you can't see any level or bubble on top?

[Water Warrior 2]

Here is a "real messy" way to remove some oil. Never had to do it but it will give you a reason for more cleaning and polishing. Disconnect the spark plug, remove the oil filter cover and oil filter. Now push the starter button with the key turned on. This might pump enough oil out in a short time. The down side is the mess unless you can think of some way to capture the oil. I say this partly in jest and partly in seriousness. If I remember correctly the oil enters the area filter from the center hole in the casing and it might be possible to use a straw or the like to direct the oil into a container. A lot of IFs but maybe it will bring forth more ideas.

[alanmcorcoran]

Not sure if this is going to be any help to you at all, but i am pretty sure i overfilled my oil (all by myself!) and, although the bike continued to run, and I can't be 100% sure of cause and effect, I strongly believe this contributed to an eventual hosing of the carburetion system leading to rough idling, stalling and a significant drop in gas mileage. I am not a mechanic though and the two events could be unrelated. Ultimately, after three trips to the Suzuki dealer, they were able to clean up the problems and got everything back to normal.

I don't think it's that big a deal to just drain the oil and redo it. Except for maybe, the "no over filling" it part. I don't remember what the size was on the drain plug but I believe it was metric and I had a wrench that was an exact fit. There were some obstructions under there (maybe the frame?) and I think I ended up using a short socket or perhaps a crescent. There are two "heads" under there that are close together and the same size - make sure you go after the one that is the oil drain.

[Water Warrior 2]

A socket, a short extension and a 3/8th inch ratchet should do the trick. Seems to me those where the tools needed on Lynda's GZ. The short extension will keep your knuckles away from the frame etc.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

I don't remember what the size was on the drain plug but I believe it was metric

ALL nuts/bolts on a Suzuki are metric! :cool:

[alantf]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

a 3/8th inch ratchet should do the trick

Strange Like I said above :- On a Suzuki, all nuts/bolts are METRIC. :whistle:

[bonehead]

I'm sure he was talking about a 3/8 inch drive ratchet.