New Guy with questions

[TrapperAH1G]

Hello all, just got my 2000 Std Thurs and been taking short rides getting used to it.  I, like all sane riders, LOVE the bike.  Been going over the owner's manual and shop manual getting acquainted with certain things, but have a couple of questions & hope this is the right place for that.

Checking oil:  stood her upright and the oil level was about half an inch above the full mark.  Uh-oh, rode her home like that!  No big deal I guess cause I change all fluids when I buy a new bike.  Changed the oil and filter, letting her drain for about 45 minutes.  Put in 3.9 qts, fired her up to warm up, shut her off and waited a couple of minutes.......oil level was about half an inch over full!  ??????

Left side cover:  Is this cover really this hard to get off?  Feels like someone super glued the grommets!  Doesn't want to budge and I don't want to break it.

I'll have more questions and hopefully some input the longer I'm riding this beautiful machine.  BTW, I'm in the Soviet State of Washington if anyone wants to meet up sometime.

Thanks, ride safe, stay healthy.

Paul

[Gondul]

3.9 quarts is correct... are you screwing in the dip stick?  If you are, you should not.

As far as the cover the rubber may have hardened, squirt with lubricant of choice and then carefully rock it at the grommet... you can easily snap the tap at he front.  I usually hold that down with one hand and get my fingers behind the corner and slowly pull out and forward.

[Bighead]

3.9 quarts is correct... are you screwing in the dip stick?  If you are, you should not.

Either this or it has an aftermarket dip stick or the wrong dip stick.

[gordonv]

BTW, I'm in the Soviet State of Washington if anyone wants to meet up sometime.

+1 on the answers already.


You might like to add your location to your profile, make it easier to find you and others. Check out the local forums, Northwest Valkyrie Riders and the BC chapter. We've an annual Rally planed for Sept 17.

You should be able to get in touch with others there.

[Chrisj CMA]

Try checking the oil on the side stand. It really doesn’t matter where the oil lands on the stick if you know you put in the right amount and on the side stand will be easier.  Right after you change the oil wherever it lands is normal for your bike

[Chrisj CMA]

I checked my oil today. While laying on the floor cleaning stuff under the bike I noticed NO OIL on the floor under the motorcycle. Therefore I deduced that all the oil I put in last time was still inside the crank case. Saves from getting fingerprints on the chrome dipstick and the more terrible risk of a drop of oil dripping on something I would then have to take apart to re-clean 

[John Schmidt]

Re. the dipstick, as stated....don't screw it back in when checking the level. To remove the side covers w/o breaking anything, pull out on the back end first and swing it slightly outward then forward. Once off, you'll see the small tab it hooks into and the tab on the cover with a small raised rib. If you try to pull straight off it will break that front tab.

[CoreyP]

Bought my bike with a broken front tab, it's held on with a zip now.

[TrapperAH1G]

Thanks all.  Don't screw it in; no oil shows on the dipstick when on the side stand.  Noticed today the dipstick handle says Cobra on top and there's a set screw at the bottom of the handle.  Didn't have the allen wrench at the time, will loosen it and see if I can move the "stick" part further in the handle.  If not, will make a mark where the oil is now and use that as reference.

First, a little info, then more questions - 2000 Standard with 39K miles.  Runs really well.  Has Dyna 3000 module (don't know about timing mods yet), 6 into 6, Avon Cobra tires standard size & fairly new with 33 and 36 pds.

Questions: 

Riding 2 up today & it really is a hard ride over bumps.  Tried settings 2, 3 and 4 with same results.  Seems there's no give at all in the forks or the shocks.  Don't know if the forks were ever changed or rebuilt, pretty sure the shocks are OEM.  Comments or suggestions?  Handles well on the twisties and highway.....tho it does seem to want to track ruts and snakes.  Seems mileage is too low to need new shocks or fork work.

I have a "whistling" noise in the 20 to 40 mph range, goes away if rpm's go up.  Seems I recall reading about something like this when I was researching Valks before I bought.

Thanks again.....

Oh, I'd like more info on the Sept 17 meeting.  I think I can make that, I live along I 5 about 90 miles south of Seattle, little town called Toledo.

[CoreyP]

I would say your forks aren't stock. Mine seem to be and they are too mushy for me. I did replace the rear shocks which made the forks feel not so good. Bike still handles well but I get too much dive in the front end. If you're not getting a decent amount of dive I would say the forks have been stiffened up in some way.  My rear shocks progressives were riding on all spring, they certainly weren't stiff. 

BTW my bike just went over 40K a few weeks ago.

[gordonv]

Thanks all.  Don't screw it in; no oil shows on the dipstick when on the side stand.  Noticed today the dipstick handle says Cobra on top and there's a set screw at the bottom of the handle.

The manual says to stand the bike upright/level, and place the dip stick into it's hole.

But as you mentioned, you've an aftermarket. So what did the previous owner (PO) do?

Chrisj recommended with a known amount of oil in the engine (fresh change out), do it on the side stand. He also pointed out, with no oil under the bike, it can't be leaking (he parks his in the living room).

In the end, do what's right for you. If the dip stick is adjustable, adjust it so you can verify your oil, your way.

[Madmike]

Try checking the oil on the side stand. It really doesn’t matter where the oil lands on the stick if you know you put in the right amount and on the side stand will be easier.  Right after you change the oil wherever it lands is normal for your bike

just add .... and it has run and settled so whatever the filter retains is in it..... to be safe..

[Madmike]

Bought my bike with a broken front tab, it's held on with a zip now.

bit of a hijack but I just fixed two with replacement tabs I made from 1/8" aluminum plate and glued on for now with hot glue.  I think they will be okay when they prove out I can remove the hot glue and epoxy the tabs on.

[Madmike]

Hello all, just got my 2000 Std Thurs and been taking short rides getting used to it.  I, like all sane riders, LOVE the bike.  Been going over the owner's manual and shop manual getting acquainted with certain things, but have a couple of questions & hope this is the right place for that.

Checking oil:  stood her upright and the oil level was about half an inch above the full mark.  Uh-oh, rode her home like that!  No big deal I guess cause I change all fluids when I buy a new bike.  Changed the oil and filter, letting her drain for about 45 minutes.  Put in 3.9 qts, fired her up to warm up, shut her off and waited a couple of minutes.......oil level was about half an inch over full!  ??????

Left side cover:  Is this cover really this hard to get off?  Feels like someone super glued the grommets!  Doesn't want to budge and I don't want to break it.

I'll have more questions and hopefully some input the longer I'm riding this beautiful machine.  BTW, I'm in the Soviet State of Washington if anyone wants to meet up sometime.

Thanks, ride safe, stay healthy.

Paul

If you haven't already done so check out the shop talk section as it has lots of info and will give you an idea of mods etc that people do to help make the bike even better.

[Led]

I use the Mobil 1 5w/40 Diesel oil in mine.  It comes in a 4 quart jug.  Just dump the entire thing in, and run it.  Screw the "3.9" crap.  NO ONE is THAT accurate in filling them!!  Whether it be a tad under or a tad over.

As long as there are no massive oil leaks, and it does not smoke like a 1970's two stroke.........just fill it with 4 quarts, and go out and ENJOY it!!!

Happy to have you aboard!

[yrunvs]

I use the Mobil 1 5w/40 Diesel oil in mine.  It comes in a 4 quart jug.  Just dump the entire thing in, and run it.  Screw the "3.9" crap.  NO ONE is THAT accurate in filling them!!  Whether it be a tad under or a tad over.

As long as there are no massive oil leaks, and it does not smoke like a 1970's two stroke.........just fill it with 4 quarts, and go out and ENJOY it!!!

Happy to have you aboard!

Hey Led,    my son and I are riding across Wisky from TC, mn next wednesday going to catch the Manitowoc ferry to Michigan and then head for the Mich. upper pen.

[hubcapsc]

Been going over the owner's manual...

Left side cover:  Is this cover really this hard to get off?

There's a page in the owner's manual about the order in which
to pull the corners of the side covers to get them off. I sometimes
refer back to it if I haven't taken one off in a while, they're real
expensive, if you can get them. I've seen people yank their
side covers off like they were made out of carbon fiber, it gives
me the willys  ...

-Mike

[Ken aka Oil Burner]

I was referred to this video when I first got my Valk. It shows the proper way to remove side covers. If the grommet is dry as a bone, they can seem like they don't want to come off.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtwMOm804Hc

[TrapperAH1G]

Dipstick wasn't adjustable...and it wouldn't budge from the Cobra handle.  Yeah, my 3.9 qts was "empty that gallon jug and whatever is left after letting it drain into the engine for a while is the .1 I don't need"!  I leveled the bike and removed the dipstick, noted where the oil level was and, using a dremel, made a new circle on the stick for reference.

I'll check out the mod references, but I know I want 'boards for the driver, probably the heel/toe shifter and I'm going to mod the brake pedal.  It has pegs on the crash bars and I'll probably change those to some that mount closer for my short legs.

BTW, this has the Dyno 3000 tuner, but the PO had no paperwork on it.  Online it talks about enhancing performance and "maybe" mileage?  Anyone have this and can comment?

PO isn't around, retired and moved to Panama.  Sister in law handled the sale.

Riding tomorrow again.

[Chrisj CMA]

Dipstick wasn't adjustable...and it wouldn't budge from the Cobra handle.  Yeah, my 3.9 qts was "empty that gallon jug and whatever is left after letting it drain into the engine for a while is the .1 I don't need"!  I leveled the bike and removed the dipstick, noted where the oil level was and, using a dremel, made a new circle on the stick for reference.

I'll check out the mod references, but I know I want 'boards for the driver, probably the heel/toe shifter and I'm going to mod the brake pedal.  It has pegs on the crash bars and I'll probably change those to some that mount closer for my short legs.

BTW, this has the Dyno 3000 tuner, but the PO had no paperwork on it.  Online it talks about enhancing performance and "maybe" mileage?  Anyone have this and can comment?

PO isn't around, retired and moved to Panama.  Sister in law handled the sale.

Riding tomorrow again.

Just for grins. Double check that you didn’t buy a five qt jug.

[TrapperAH1G]

Nope....gallon jug!  Also, got the covers off today.  They are tighter than the covers on my Shadow Tourer by quite a bit....slow steady pressure and they pop right off.

Thanks all!