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oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:32 pm
by Dominick
Hey Gents,
My recently purchased 2009 KLR has 11,000 miles and was burning a little oil this summer and my oil sight glass was broke so I kind of had to guess how much oil to put in based on the sound of the engine and the feel of the shifter. Anyway, I had it in the shop for some minor repairs and they told me the top half of the engine would need to be re-done in another 10K miles; seals, valves, etc... A couple days after getting it back from them it started smoking more out of the exhaust then usual, and was harder to start... then oil started dripping from the breather tube near the front of the back tire... Has anyone ever seen this happen before? Also, does anyone have a trust worthy mechanic near Fayetteville, NC they can reccomend?
Thanks in advance!
-Dominick
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:09 pm
by James Douglas
Although I am far from expert how is a sight glass "broke"? Dirty? Not
able to see? 2009 with 11K needs a top end?
>
> Hey Gents,
>
> My recently purchased 2009 KLR has 11,000 miles and was burning a
> little oil this summer and my oil sight glass was broke so I kind of
> had to guess how much oil to put in based on the sound of the engine
> and the feel of the shifter. Anyway, I had it in the shop for some
> minor repairs and they told me the top half of the engine would need
> to be re-done in another 10K miles; seals, valves, etc... A couple
> days after getting it back from them it started smoking more out of
> the exhaust then usual, and was harder to start... then oil started
> dripping from the breather tube near the front of the back tire... Has
> anyone ever seen this happen before? Also, does anyone have a trust
> worthy mechanic near Fayetteville, NC they can reccomend?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> -Dominick
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:31 pm
by ron criswell
Oil sight glass broke? Top half of the engine being redone? Mine runs great at 54,000 miles with no big problems. Whaddaya been doing with this bike?
Criswell
Sent from my iPad
On Sep 21, 2011, at 4:32 PM, "Dominick" wrote:
> Hey Gents,
>
> My recently purchased 2009 KLR has 11,000 miles and was burning a little oil this summer and my oil sight glass was broke so I kind of had to guess how much oil to put in based on the sound of the engine and the feel of the shifter. Anyway, I had it in the shop for some minor repairs and they told me the top half of the engine would need to be re-done in another 10K miles; seals, valves, etc... A couple days after getting it back from them it started smoking more out of the exhaust then usual, and was harder to start... then oil started dripping from the breather tube near the front of the back tire... Has anyone ever seen this happen before? Also, does anyone have a trust worthy mechanic near Fayetteville, NC they can reccomend?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> -Dominick
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:05 pm
by Dom
Well, I bought it with 9k on it... And he admitted to riding very hard. I'm not an expert either apparently. The oil sight glass just doesn't read accurately. I am note sure it needs to be rebuilt that is why I am trying to find a really good mechanic that can open it up and give me a good assessment. I'd try myself but I'm inexperienced and friends that work on their own bikes are saying that 4 strokes r a lot harder to work on. I'm stumped for now.
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 21, 2011, at 6:31 PM, Ron Criswell wrote:
> Oil sight glass broke? Top half of the engine being redone? Mine runs great at 54,000 miles with no big problems. Whaddaya been doing with this bike?
>
> Criswell
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Sep 21, 2011, at 4:32 PM, "Dominick" wrote:
>
> > Hey Gents,
> >
> > My recently purchased 2009 KLR has 11,000 miles and was burning a little oil this summer and my oil sight glass was broke so I kind of had to guess how much oil to put in based on the sound of the engine and the feel of the shifter. Anyway, I had it in the shop for some minor repairs and they told me the top half of the engine would need to be re-done in another 10K miles; seals, valves, etc... A couple days after getting it back from them it started smoking more out of the exhaust then usual, and was harder to start... then oil started dripping from the breather tube near the front of the back tire... Has anyone ever seen this happen before? Also, does anyone have a trust worthy mechanic near Fayetteville, NC they can reccomend?
> >
> > Thanks in advance!
> >
> > -Dominick
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:38 pm
by John Biccum
Hi Dom
One possible cause for the oil coming out of the breather tube is that the bike has been overfilled with oil. I find it interesting that the oil puking problem began right after the dealer worked on the bike.
If it were mine I d dump all the oil out, change the filter, then add the correct amount of clean oil. If you cannot read the oil sight gage I d start with a measured 2.5 quarts of oil, slightly less than the 2.5 liters the factory specifies for oil capacity. In my experience 2.5 quarts is just about the right amount to fill the bike to the middle of the sight glass following a standard oil and filter change. I suspect that 2.5 liters specified would be required for a bring the oil level to the middle of the sight glass on a completely dry engine but you will never get *all* the old oil out during an oil change.
I d change the spark plug and clean the rear fender area just behind the exhaust outlet on the muffler. Then I d ride the bike for a hundred miles. During those hundred miles I d monitor the fender area for soot from burning oil. After the hundred miles I d pull the spark plug and examine it for evidence of oil burning.
If the bike is burning a *bit* of oil I d pull the right cover and replace the sight glass then would just monitor the oil level and add as required. If the bike is truly burning a *lot* of oil it is probably time for a KLR685 kit. When the head was off for the 685 kit I d leak test the valves, and if no evidence of leakage was found I d strongly consider leaving the valves alone.
If the leak test suggests the valves are leaking or if you have money to burn then replace the valves when you are in there. Options for the valves include new stock valves, new oversized stainless valves and even grinding and reusing the existing stock valves. KLR stock valves are nitride coated so I d avoid grinding the valves since the grinding operation exposes softer metal once the black nitride coating has been ground off. So if you have to replace the valves you may as well go with the oversize stainless valves; the new piston that comes with the 685 kit has clearance in the piston crown for these oversize valves.
I would be deeply skeptical of the dealer s advice to tear into the top end based on the evidence at hand at this point.
From:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dom
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 8:05 PM
To: Ron Criswell
Cc:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Oil dripping from breather tube
Well, I bought it with 9k on it... And he admitted to riding very hard. I'm not an expert either apparently. The oil sight glass just doesn't read accurately. I am note sure it needs to be rebuilt that is why I am trying to find a really good mechanic that can open it up and give me a good assessment. I'd try myself but I'm inexperienced and friends that work on their own bikes are saying that 4 strokes r a lot harder to work on. I'm stumped for now.
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 21, 2011, at 6:31 PM, Ron Criswell > wrote:
> Oil sight glass broke? Top half of the engine being redone? Mine runs great at 54,000 miles with no big problems. Whaddaya been doing with this bike?
>
> Criswell
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Sep 21, 2011, at 4:32 PM, "Dominick" > wrote:
>
> > Hey Gents,
> >
> > My recently purchased 2009 KLR has 11,000 miles and was burning a little oil this summer and my oil sight glass was broke so I kind of had to guess how much oil to put in based on the sound of the engine and the feel of the shifter. Anyway, I had it in the shop for some minor repairs and they told me the top half of the engine would need to be re-done in another 10K miles; seals, valves, etc... A couple days after getting it back from them it started smoking more out of the exhaust then usual, and was harder to start... then oil started dripping from the breather tube near the front of the back tire... Has anyone ever seen this happen before? Also, does anyone have a trust worthy mechanic near Fayetteville, NC they can reccomend?
> >
> > Thanks in advance!
> >
> > -Dominick
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:29 am
by albatrossklr
Hi Dominick,
the closest GOOD KLR mechanics I know are at Fox's in Roxboro...I do my own work, but i've heard good things about the mech's at Fox's
albatross
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dominick" wrote:
>
> Hey Gents,
>
> My recently purchased 2009 KLR has 11,000 miles and was burning a little oil this summer and my oil sight glass was broke so I kind of had to guess how much oil to put in based on the sound of the engine and the feel of the shifter. Anyway, I had it in the shop for some minor repairs and they told me the top half of the engine would need to be re-done in another 10K miles; seals, valves, etc... A couple days after getting it back from them it started smoking more out of the exhaust then usual, and was harder to start... then oil started dripping from the breather tube near the front of the back tire... Has anyone ever seen this happen before? Also, does anyone have a trust worthy mechanic near Fayetteville, NC they can reccomend?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> -Dominick
>
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:32 am
by Eric J Foster
"One possible cause for the oil coming out of the breather tube is that
the bike has been overfilled with oil. I find it interesting that the
oil puking problem began right after the dealer worked on the bike."
Finally, some sanity. Once again, start with the cheap fixes.
E
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:34 am
by skypilot110
dump the oil and pour in the correct amount. Also pull the breather drain line off at the breather and hose it out from the top down with wd40 then let it drain well before puting it back on. Run it out and see if the leak comes back. If it does the dealer is likely correct. If not the dealer is full of it.
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Dominick" wrote:
>
> Hey Gents,
>
> My recently purchased 2009 KLR has 11,000 miles and was burning a little oil this summer and my oil sight glass was broke so I kind of had to guess how much oil to put in based on the sound of the engine and the feel of the shifter. Anyway, I had it in the shop for some minor repairs and they told me the top half of the engine would need to be re-done in another 10K miles; seals, valves, etc... A couple days after getting it back from them it started smoking more out of the exhaust then usual, and was harder to start... then oil started dripping from the breather tube near the front of the back tire... Has anyone ever seen this happen before? Also, does anyone have a trust worthy mechanic near Fayetteville, NC they can reccomend?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> -Dominick
>
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:44 pm
by Dom
Thanks guys for all the help I am going to change the oil/plugs this weekend/clean the breather and I will let u know if it works. Fingers crossed!
-Dom
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 22, 2011, at 6:32 AM, Eric J Foster wrote:
>
> "One possible cause for the oil coming out of the breather tube is that
> the bike has been overfilled with oil. I find it interesting that the
> oil puking problem began right after the dealer worked on the bike."
>
> Finally, some sanity. Once again, start with the cheap fixes.
>
> E
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
oil dripping from breather tube
Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:39 am
by dooden
Sorry long shift and hitting the Whisky

But what Breather tube ? Bottom of Airbox ? Mine dripped one time and happen to be oil dripping off the air filter from a obviously whisky induced filter cleaning and oiling with something that sucked. Only thing I use now is Chainsaw Baroil to oil the filter. it sticks !!!
Dooden
A15 Green Ape
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Dom wrote:
>
> Thanks guys for all the help I am going to change the oil/plugs this weekend/clean the breather and I will let u know if it works. Fingers crossed!
>
> -Dom
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Sep 22, 2011, at 6:32 AM, Eric J Foster wrote:
>
> >
> > "One possible cause for the oil coming out of the breather tube is that
> > the bike has been overfilled with oil. I find it interesting that the
> > oil puking problem began right after the dealer worked on the bike."
> >
> > Finally, some sanity. Once again, start with the cheap fixes.
> >
> > E
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>