Oil Change

Hi there, I have searched high and low and can't seem to find a write up on changing the oil on the XJ. I have an 81 XJ 650 maxim and due to our shitty canadian government my bike budget has significantly decreased for the spring so i'm trying to do as much at home as I can. I've changed oil on 4 wheel vehicles and 18 wheel vehicles but never 2 wheel and the videos on youtube i've found have many a comment saying they are doing it wrong so if anyone knows of a write up or a reliable video for changing the oil on the 81 xj650 maxim it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

Its out there.
If you want to save #, I hope they have the Shell Rotella T4 at your Canadian Tire Stores.
there is a sticky thread on the how to for oil choices.

Warm up bike
Drain oil
If doing oil filter, pull filter off.
Make sure you see the washer on the bottom of the old oil filter and use it for the new one.
There is some concern about after market O rings w/ the different oil filter and if you should get a new one, re use the current one or buy one seperatly. Some Filters come with them some don't.
I'll say this, changing the oil and not the oil filter is better than doing nothing!
when putting filter back its hard to put any oil in there so soak the filter w/ oil first, then put some oil in there the best you can before filling. This is not Hyper critical but will help w/ the dry chatter you get when starting the bike after an oil change.

The big thing is HOW you check oil level.
For consistency, I have learned from the guys here to do this.
I add just under 3qt to start.
Start bike and let it warm up at least 10 mins on center stand.
Stop bike (look at the sight glass, its likely looking low) and leave for an hour. Come back and look at sight glass (good chance its moved up) , then add in a little at a time till half way up.

 

Everything Melnic said....

And I'll just add, make sure you have a properly fitting 6 point socket on the filter bolt. They can be tight and you don't want to strip the head on that one.

 

Everything @Melnic and @Roast644, I would add:

First, if you have experience doing maintenance on other machines, this should be no problem.

I would recommend the Wix filter (comes with new 0-rings), Wix part number 24934.

To make sure you get all the o-rings, springs, washers, and doo-dads in the correct order, refer to: https://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/oil-filter-assembly-install-detail.130464/

 

that Shell Rotella, it doesn't say its for motorcycle engines, in fact it says Heavy Duty Diesel engines, are you sure its ok for wet clutch engines,
just askin,

 

Look on the back of the Rotella and ist should say that it is JASO/MA certified. That's for motorcycles.
What is the JASO standard?
The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (JSAE) developed the JASO T 904 standard to classify oils by their ability to provide good wet-clutch lubrication and performance, helping enthusiasts select the right oil for their motorcycles and dirt bikes.

 

What I post is the go to for many here (which is where I learned it).
I have put it in 3 bikes now and clutch/starter work great.

https://www.xjbikes.com/forums/thre...oil-for-a-wet-clutch-motorcycle.43702/page-10

 

Thank you all for the reply's a ton of great info, once my bike is back together (painting tank) I will hunt down the parts and take a crack at it. I'm sure it'll go good but it's the little things I don't know like the o-ring washers etc. and I would have likely filled it so sight glass was full, I didn't know that it is only supposed to be half. Thanks again everyone.

 

What they done bad? Bike related or just the usual tax burden..

 

The sight window should be at least at 1/2 but better to be full with just a bubble at the top if level on the center stand. Point is you cannot just fill to the appropriate level because once all the oil settles you will be overfilled.

 

Yes it is has a hight zinc content been using last two years works great .

 

Yeah, just usual tax burden, and cra is on a huge debt collection mission and are aggressively going after everyone especially anyone with write offs and business expenses.

 

Is there an overflow, I feel like I read that somewhere, I had some leaking and when I checked my oil last summer it was right to the top of the glass.

 

I have not experienced it but I believe if over filled you will get some spewing out at the top of the gear box cover on the left side in the back is a vent hose going to the airbox.