Question to the knowledgeable

[Aries]

I just finished a ride with buddy who also has a Valk. At the tail end of our ride, I noticed that it looks like someone had sprayed the back of saddlebags and rear fender with w10-40. I inspected both his pipes and noticed that after wiping the inside of the " drivers side " pipe, I had an oil residue on my finger. My thought is that his pipe is misting oil with the exhaust. I checked his dip stick and it looks like he has oil up to the center divider on the flat portion at the bottom of the stick. Neither of us has the original owners manual so I'm not exactly sure where the stick would read for the proper amount of oil. The bike sounded fine throughout the 60 mile ride. Any idea's?

[Momz]

Was the choke left on?

[hubcapsc]

Check his plugs, particularly #6... a failing petcock can send raw gas down
there in the vacuum line. I helped my buddy Gary fix a really-failed petcock
a few years ago and raw gas spewed all the way out the end of his
exhaust pipe  ... starting the bike in the grass left dead spots where the weep
holes on the bottoms of the exhausts are    ...

Maybe your buddy has a kind-of-failed petcock, not as far along, and
raw gas plus exhaust products seems oily?

-Mike

[Aries]

Hubcap, without a manual, I'm somewhat handicapped. Which plug are you calling number 6? Facing forward on the bike, is that the furthest one forward on the left located behind the fork? What am I looking for, fuel on the plug?

[BradValk48237]

Check the shifter seal...... its common for them to go bad after while.... easy fix.....

B

[Patrick]

#6 is rear most cylinder on shifter side. If it has an OEM petcock you'll see the vacuum line.

[hubcapsc]

Hubcap, without a manual, I'm somewhat handicapped. Which plug are you calling number 6? Facing forward on the bike, is that the furthest one forward on the left located behind the fork? What am I looking for, fuel on the plug?

Left side at the rear. It has a vacuum line running from the intake runner
to the petcock, that's the only one like that...

If your problem is like Gary's, you'll have five nice looking
plugs and #6 will be "icky"...

-Mike "that's a technical term..."

[Chrisj CMA]

Drivers side?  #6 can be identified by the number six on the sparkplug wire

[BobB]

I checked his dip stick and it looks like he has oil up to the center divider on the flat portion at the bottom of the stick. Neither of us has the original owners manual so I'm not exactly sure where the stick would read for the proper amount of oil.

To answer that, the oil level is checked with the bike upright, not on the side stand, and not screwing in the dipstick...

[Jess from VA]

Several things can leak, then blow back down the bike while riding.  So look forward of the discovered residue.  

Besides the above:  Front forks, rear shocks, overfilled rear end out the vent, brake and clutch fluid, coolant.  

Then there's puddles of stuff that splashes up.  

[Grumpy]

I agree with Jess, check the forks, they can spray oil quite a distance. I lost a seal going to inzane in Michigan, first thing I noticed was my left shoe was oil coated.

[Pappy!]

#2 for the shift shaft seal.

[Aries]

Everything ahead of the exhaust is bone dry. It's definitely coming from the exhaust pipe. When sitting still and idling, I can almost see the spray coming out as I throttle up the bike. That has to rule out quite a bit. What's left?

[Rio Wil]

Please answer the question as to was the bike standing up or on the kickstand when checking the oil level.....dip stick screwed in or not?

[Aries]

Rio,

  The bike was in fact on its side stand and screwed in when I originally checked it. I just now let the bike cool down for a few hours and stood the bike upright and unscrewed the dipstick. Cleaned it off and reset it in the hole without screwing it in. The whole flat portion at the base of the stick was covered in oil when removed. I think someone else may have hit the nail on the head with the pet-rooster being the issue. I just pulled plugs 6, 5, 4, and 3 to inspect. 5, 4, and 3 were dry while 6 was slightly wet.

[Rio Wil]

If I remember correctly, the mark in the middle of the flat portion is full (4 quarts), if the entire flat spot is covered you have about a quart too much oil!!!......

[Aries]

Rio,

  Do still have the manual for your bike? I would like to confirm your assessment. The oil was just changed last week.

[Sorcerer]

To check the oil, bike standing straight up, dipstick NOT screwed in. Stock dip stick will have 2 marks on it to show high/ low level.

[Jess from VA]

Fascinating!

I only thought there was a single center mark on the OE dip, so I went out and checked mine (replaced with TelTru).  Indeed there is a low and high mark, but I always check oil changes with an OE dip, and 4 qts is right at the center mark.... every time.

So if your dip (bike centered, oil settled, dip inserted but not screwed in) is wet with oil over the whole flat blade of the tip, I would agree with Mr. Rio, there are five qts in it, one too much (less any blown out).

Now I am wondering if the oil change was conducted with one of those 5-qt jugs, instead of a 4-qt jug?  Any chance the empty jug (culprit) is still lurking around?

You can get a qt out  (+/-) pulling the drain plug for a few moments and sticking it back up in.  Then wipe hands.  Then check again.

It's also time to drain the dragon drool tube (blow-by) under the bike.  Bet it has more than the normal teaspoon of goop in it.  (tube with plug and spring clip)

[Patrick]

The dipstick will have a low and full mark on it. If you need to drain some oil, the easiest and least messy way is to remove and empty the oil filter then reinstall it.

[Aries]

Jess,

  You used the term " blown out ".... blown out from where? Im still trying to figure out what is blowing out from the exhaust when I throttle up.

 Also, I'm located in Northern Va. Do you know any Valk owners close to this area?

[hubcapsc]

Anything other than a black rubber (oem) dip stick may or  may not have
marks at the right place...

-Mike

[Ramie]

Has he changed the rear drive oil lately?  To much oil can blow out the vent on the rear drive.

[Aries]

Yes, the drive oil was changed with synthetic as well.  But I don't think that's would show up because I see the " spray " even while the bike is sitting on the stand and idling. Once I hit the throttle, I can see whatever it is blow out through the exhaust. It actually lightly stained the driveway.

[Jess from VA]

Jess,

  You used the term " blown out ".... blown out from where? Im still trying to figure out what is blowing out from the exhaust when I throttle up.

 Also, I'm located in Northern Va. Do you know any Valk owners close to this area?

Yes I do.  Me.  I'm a mile north of Ft Belvoir off Rt 1 (Richmond hwy) - 22309

I am at your service.  Use the PM system to send me a number and I'll call you.  If you want.

Or, my Email is on my profile. 

[Sorcerer]

If you are showing above the full mark, it may be gas in your oil. Pull the dip stick and give it a good sniff test. If it smells like raw gas you have a float/seat or a petcock that's bad.

[Aries]

Sorcerer,

  Oil definitely smells like gas

 Jess,

  22306 here, basically right up the road from you. I'll be in touch

[Jess from VA]

OK.

If it's gas, order one of these.  And get one for yourself.  I've needed two (for two bikes).
http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/honda/HP-16953-MBZ-B51.html

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/petcock.htm

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/partspetcock.html

Many replace the OE with this.
http://www.amazon.com/Pingel-Power-Flo-Petcock-Forward-1311-CH/dp/B000GZHZ48
http://www.pingelonline.com/motorcycle-fuel-valves/1311-ch.asp

Some reading material.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,37577.0.html

And obviously another oil change will be in order.