Oil sight glass change

[robbo]

It's impossible to view the oil level on my pals FZS600. How easy is it to change the sight glass.

[BBROWN1664]

Are you sure the oil level is not just way too high?

Try tilting the bike way over to the left and get someone else to keep an eye on the sight glass.

[darrsi]

Mine's the same, can't see a bloody thing whatsoever anymore.

So i played about with an empty sump, gradually pouring over 3 litres in whilst watching the glass and there was no change at all. Now i just put in a bit more when new and ignore it 'til next time. Fortunately it doesn't leak and i have never needed to top up between 4000 mile changes, so i'll just let it be. Looks more trouble than it's worth to change.

[darrsi]

The shrinking font thing still not been sorted out then!!! 

[Fazerider]

You may be able to improve it by taking the cover off and cleaning the inside of the glass with a cotton bud soaked in brake cleaner. It helped with mine anyway.
So far as I could tell, the glass isn't designed to be removable, nor is it sold separately from the cover.

[robbo]

Thank you all for your replies.I'll pass on your advice and recommendations.

[unfazed]

Just to correct an error, the sight glass is listed as a spare part  4H7-15361-00,

You could always drop the sump as you should be able to clean it from there.
If it is that bad it might be worth cleaning the sump pan and pick up screen while you at it..

[fazersharp]

I wonder what is the cause of this, mileage ? oil filter used ?, oil used ? type of riding- commute in heavy traffic perhaps.
Did it slowly happen or was it a case of only noticing it on the next change.     

[His Dudeness]

I'd guess it's mostly from used oil sitting in the engine for a long period. The older the oil is (in terms of mileage) the more combustion contaminants it has in it. And the older it is the more the additives are used up. There's additives for keeping the contaminants suspended in the oil so if they're used up and you have a lot of contaminants from the oil being old when you park the bike the contaminants are going to be released from the oil settle on the inside surface of the engine. That would be my guess.

[unfazed]

 
Which is why dropping the sump would be a good idea

[Fazerider]

Just to correct an error, the sight glass is listed as a spare part  4H7-15361-00,

You could always drop the sump as you should be able to clean it from there.
If it is that bad it might be worth cleaning the sump pan and pick up screen while you at it..

I stand corrected. Forgot the sight glass was mounted on the crankcase rather than the cover so looked in the wrong place on AJ Sutton's website!
I also can't swear as to whether I cleaned it via the side with the clutch removed or from underneath when I had the sump off.

[fazersharp]

I'd guess it's mostly from used oil sitting in the engine for a long period. The older the oil is (in terms of mileage) the more combustion contaminants it has in it. And the older it is the more the additives are used up. There's additives for keeping the contaminants suspended in the oil so if they're used up and you have a lot of contaminants from the oil being old when you park the bike the contaminants are going to be released from the oil settle on the inside surface of the engine. That would be my guess.

That would also be my thoughts but I dare say that darrsi would say that he changes the oil regularly and before it actually needs doing so there must be other factors involved.

[unfazed]

Changing the oil regularly we will only sloe down the inevitable. Cannot beat a regular good fast spin of 20 miles or more to burn all the crap away and prevent it happening

[darrsi]

Don't forget though, when i'm not riding, the bike is on the side stand, so oil doesn't even touch the glass.

[fazersharp]

Don't forget though, when i'm not riding, the bike is on the side stand, so oil doesn't even touch the glass.

Ah Ha ! maybe that's it ----- used everyday to commute and then left 12 hours on the side stand hot oil vapours drying on the glass and building up. I keep my bike on the centre stand and the glass is kept wet.

[daviee]

anyone tried a engine flush through the engine to see if that cleans it

[darrsi]

Thought about it but with oil i'm always worried it may flush too well and create a leak.

[unfazed]

Take it for a blast up the M4 to Bristol and back that will sort it 

[Jules-C]

I changed the glass on my kawasaki when I cracked it by accident.  It's just a firm push fit but the problem is getting the old one out without risking getting a small piece of broken glass.  Since the kawasaki one was already broken I could just lever it out with a screwdriver and doing it on sidestand didn't even have to drain the oil.