2 Newbie Problems

Hey guys, I'm obviously a noob to the whole bike thing. Today My uncle and I changed the oil but somehow missed the drain plug (like i said, a noob) so the oil wasn't completely drained. Well, on the ride home, I blew oil all over my back tire, chain, swingarm, etc. I'm going to assume that we overfilled it. Does this sound right? There's no other leaks on the bike, so I'm guessing it just overflowed out the transmission. Is this where the overfill safety is or is there no such thing on our bikes? Should I check anything else as I go? Is there anything else I should worry about? I'm going to be draining the oil tomorrow (completely this time) and then filling it properly.

Another question: When the bike is running, I cannot put it into neutral unless I'm rolling. Not a problem obviously when it's turned off. Is this anything to be concerned about or is this normal? Right now, I want the clutch to engage a bit sooner than it is, but I'm afraid if I adjust it, I'll never be able to use neutral. Am I doing something wrong? Hopefully you guys can help me out.

By the way, the bike in question is an '82 XJ550 Maxim with 13,600 miles on it.

 

how did you change the oil without draining the old first? did you change the filter?

 

You spewed oil all over the rear tire?!?! Jesus, be careful leaning! The spewing oil is NOT normal.

step 1. Check oil level. Now. Put the bike on the center stand (this takes a little practice) on the right side of the bike, there's a sight glass to check the oil level. It should be just underneath the rear brake lever. The level should line up between the two marks next to the sight glass. If it's overfilled, let some out.

There are two oil drain bolt on the maxims: one slightly under the oil filter housing and one further back from that. The second one is virtually unnecessary. At this point, you need to check both to make sure they are on and tight. If you were spewing oil anywhere, you need to stop riding the bike until you know:
A. There's oil still left in it &
B. Where the leaking oil is coming from.

Start with that and I'm sure the rest of the guys will chime in soon.

 

wizard: Yeah, we took the filter off first and that's it. We didn't touch the drain plug underneath. (the 19mm bolt)

BlackRig: I'm cleaning up the tire before I take it in to have new rubber put on.
I can't really see in the sight glass. It's pretty dark. That's what I checked first.

I know the oil isn't coming from the heads or anything up top. It seems to be coming from the transmission right at the chain.

 

Drive:

Go back to square one and be sure that you didn't over fill the bike.
Drain the Oil
Look on the front of the engine
Below and behind the Oil Filter.
Right in the middle ... just above the two center inlets to the exhaust system.
There's a 19mm Drain Plug there.
Take that out and let ALL the Oil drain out.
Work with the bike on the Center Stand.

Sometimes that 19mm Hex has a Screw Head inn the middle of it.
Leave that screw head in.
Use a 6-Point 19mm Socket to undo the Drain Plug
There's a little magnet on the inside of the drain plug.
Wipe it off.

Let the bike sit with the drain plug out for 30 Minutes in case it was overfilled to give the oil captured in the crankcase baffle time to leak out.

After ALL the Oil drips out ...
Put the Plug back in.
Put in 1 Quart of Oil and look in the Oil Window on the side of the Bike near the Rear Brake Lever.
You should see the Oil you are putting in ... in that window.

Put in another 1/2 Quart.
The Oil Level inn that window should begin to rise.
Add more Oil while watching the Level rise in the Window.

Keep an eye on the Bubble in the window.
Fill the Engine with new Oil until the Bubble gets pushed right to the TOP of that window.

Add tiny bits of Oil until that Bubble disappears then STOP>
Put Oil Fill Cap on Engine
Run Bike for 5-Minutes
Shut down.
Watch Oil Level in Window
IF ... Window shows Oil Level returns with NO Bubble ...
You are done.
IF ... after a few minutes of waiting for the Oil Level to return to the TOP of the Window with NO Bubble ... it Does NOT ... and, there is a little Bubble

Add a tiny bit more Oil until the Bubble disappears.

The ONLY Drain Plug for Oil is the 19mm Hex on the front of the engine case in the center above the two middle inlets for the exhaust collector.

DO NOT take out any other Drain Plugs.
It could lead to a disaster.

If there is any confusion at all ... PM me and I'll give you my phone number and walk you through the process over the phone.

 

The sight glass is a little deceiving until you can actually see whats happening I found. I still sometimes have to lean the bike toward the left to see the level drop so I know where i am. Maybe my sight glass is dirty.

My throttle is gonna come off in my hand doing that one day :lol:

 

Just take a trio of Q-Tips ... Spray 'em with Windex and swab the whole outside of the Oil Level Viewing Window clean.

It really pays to have the Oil Level Window clean ... because it makes for a real quick and easy way to check the Oil before you start the Engine.

Just pop it up on the Center Stand and have a look at what's going-on!

 

By the way it would make sense to take the clutch cover off and clean the window with a QTip Before you put new oil in - otherwise you will have another spill when you take the cover off.
And since you will be taking the cover off now is the golden chance to get the clutch adjusted just right. The trick I found for getting the Neutral to select is to have the clutch adjusted perfectly, there are lots of great posts on this forum on the process of adjusting, I remember reading one that RickCoMatic herein had written. Then you will be able to get that little green light on whenever you want it. New oil of the right type (20 50) will also help the wet clutch function better as well.

 

Get the right amount of clean good Oil in it.

Once you get the Clutch Adjusted ... that Neutral situation will take care of itself!

Lets get our act together slowly.

Crawl. Walk. Run ... then, fly!

One step at a time.
You are making progress already!

 

As we speak, the old oil is draining. (God it looks awful.) I will soon be filling it properly with the Yamalube 20w50 I picked up today. I'll let you all know how it goes!

 

Oh man, what a difference! She runs excellent! The top end is quiet, the transmission is finding neutral easier and the clutch action is so much smoother! Thanks a ton, guys. This forum rocks!

 

Now you have to learn how to adjust the Clutch Cable to get the Maxim Throw-out for the Clutch so you don't have a fight getting in to Neutral.

Begin with the Cable Slack Adjustment up on the Perch.
There's a locking wheel and an adjustment.
Loosen the Locking wheel and turn the adjustment until the slack is all out of the cable.
Not too much or the Clutch will slip.
Get as much out as you can and get the Cable tight as a guitar string.

That should get you shifting better and finding Neutral without a fight and will save some wera and tear on the shift forks.