Add oil sight glass

[Zenermaniac]

Has anyone ever added an oil sight glass to a small block? What problems does it entail?

[Huzo]

Has anyone ever added an oil sight glass to a small block? What problems does it entail?

Do you mean something like a V85 ?

[Zenermaniac]

Do you mean something like a V85 ?

Can’t say - I haven’t seen a V85. Only a couple Guzzis in my area. Many of my previous Jap bikes had oil sight glasses and I wondered about adding one to my ‘17 Roamer. It would be a lot easier when you just want to do a quick check. I’ve seen various sight glasses on industrial supply web pages and got to thinking.

[Zenermaniac]

Maybe I should think less and go ride. Lol.

[Huzo]

Maybe I should think less and go ride. Lol.

Not necessarily mate.
I consider my V85 and Norge to be better bikes than as I bought them after modifications and I met a Guzzi engineer in Mandello recently that did not disagree. But it’s all in the fun.
Do both.
Think a lot AND ride more….
Don’t be reluctant to make the changes you want, it’s your bike.

[Cam3512]

I’m all for fiddling to make improvements, to a point.  But cutting a hole in your block to install a sight glass is just nuts.  Where would you even begin to place it so you can read the proper oil levels (high, low)?  As mentioned earlier, what if it doesn’t stay put? 

Move on, or buy a bike with one.  Granted, they’re very convenient.  But stick to your stick.

[kballowe]

The V7 850 has a sight glass. 

[Kev m]

I don't see the ROI personally.

BUT - that's cause I don't have a machine shop.

I mean we've been told that the block is essentially the same cast on the V7/V9 as the V85 - like the V85 has (for no other reason) and unused open passage through the middle of the block where there's an engine mount on the V85.

But wait wait wait? Is the site window in the block or the pan on the V85?

If it's in the Pan couldn't you in theory buy a spare pan to drill and tap for a glass?

Or buy a pan from a V85 to see if it can be made compatible?

I believe there's a pretty big lubrication system difference between the two, but again IF it is true that the block is the same maybe there's a road to accomplishing this.

I can at least see the draw.

And if we're talking drilling an oil pan the "risk" is a lot less than the block no?

[Moparnut72]

My Triumph has a sight glass but no dipstick. It's a real pain as it doesn't have a center stand. I have to put it on my lift so that the bike is level to be able to check the oil. I don't have anyone handy with a modicum of mechanical expertise to help me. Maybe this winter I could get a spare filler plug and devise some type of dipstick.
kk

[Kev m]

My Triumph has a sight glass but no dipstick. It's a real pain as it doesn't have a center stand. I have to put it on my lift so that the bike is level to be able to check the oil. I don't have anyone handy with a modicum of mechanical expertise to help me. Maybe this winter I could get a spare filler plug and devise some type of dipstick.
kk

I love the sight glass on our Duc. No center stand on that either...but the glass is on the upside of the bike when it's on the side stand. So I stand crouch on the right, pull gently on the bar until it is upright and instantly see what I always expect since it doesn't burn a drop between oil changes. Very convenient. I'd check the oil way more often in the smallblocks if it was the same.

[Canuck750]

I was riding with my sons in New Mexico about six years ago when my older son dropped back and it was a few miles before we stopped and turned around to find him at the side of the road, near the only gas station in any direction on an Indian reservation. His KLR 650 would turn over but would not start. I quickly found the problem, the oil sight glass had fractured and the oil was pumped out in seconds. No compression, the engine was destroyed. After a very long and ridiculously expensive towing trip we got back to Phoenix. In due course I pulled the motor apart, seized piston, seized cams, valves, etc, utterly destroyed motor, never seen anything like it before or since.
A rock had been kicked up and probably ricocheted off the crash bar to find the sight glass, what’s the odds?
I like the ease of viewing the oil level through a sight glass but I am happy to not have one on any other bikes I regularly ride. The only other bike I own with a sight glass is my 1974 Benelli 650S.

[Stretch]

I was riding with my sons in New Mexico about six years ago when my older son dropped back and it was a few miles before we stopped and turned around to find him at the side of the road, near the only gas station in any direction on an Indian reservation. His KLR 650 would turn over but would not start. I quickly found the problem, the oil sight glass had fractured and the oil was pumped out in seconds. No compression, the engine was destroyed. After a very long and ridiculously expensive towing trip we got back to Phoenix. In due course I pulled the motor apart, seized piston, seized cams, valves, etc, utterly destroyed motor, never seen anything like it before or since.

And I was gonna use my KLR as an example of a bike with a convenient sight glass.....
Crash bar installation is scheduled for this winter, too!   

'Course my BMW K75S, and my Triumph Trophy both have oil sight glasses, too.

                                                     -Stretch

 

[bad Chad]

A bit of sanity needed here.  I too have a Roamer, no sight glass.   No doubt, sight glasses are great, the 78 Suzuki had one, and that 44 years ago!

But punching a whole in your motor to put your own Rube Goldberg in, are you whacked??

I have had 4 Guzzi2 big block, 2 small, and none of them used, essentially any oil.     I have pretty much stopped checking the oil level.  After an oil change, I’ll check it after a 100 miles or so, if it’s still up, and it always is, I forget about it until the next year.

[mechanicsavant]

Ive two small blocks , A V7II 7 a V7/850 . One w/dipstick , one w/sight glass . I find the dipstick easier to use . That said I bought an extra dipstick type cap & have it on the 850 ! The levels agree between the two bikes .

[larrys]

Akin to drilling a hole below the waterline of a perfectly good boat.
Larry

[Kev m]

Akin to drilling a hole below the waterline of a perfectly good boat.
Larry

So many bad analogies ... 

... unless you meant to install a bow thruster. Then yes, that would be the similar. 

[Alfetta]

I recommend filling your bike to the level you want to run. then let it sit on the side stand overnight. In the morning pull the dipstick and mark the oil level with a band of white paint.

Now the bike oil level is inspect able while on the side stand, requiring no assistance or leveling...

[bad Chad]

So many bad analogies ... 

... unless you meant to install a bow thruster. Then yes, that would be the similar. 

Wrong again Grasshopper.  It’s a fine analogy.   I’m willing to bet that the number of folks who have personally drilled a whole in their boat to install a bow thruster, is equal to the number who have installed a sight glass, ZERO!

[Cam3512]

Just checked, the glass in in the block.

[Kev m]

Wrong again Grasshopper.  It’s a fine analogy.   I’m willing to bet that the number of folks who have personally drilled a whole in their boat to install a bow thruster, is equal to the number who have installed a sight glass, ZERO!

The number of people who "personally" drill a "*HOLE" in their hulls vs the number of people who modify their engines has nothing to do with the crappiness of the analogy.

The analogy attempted to deride the concept of drilling a boat hull as stupid on its face, but it is obviously not.

Now as I said in the beginning of this thread I don't really see the ROI, but I get the interest and concept. I would think it more realistic IF indeed the glass was in the pan and not the block as Cam just confirmed, but alas I have seen enthusiasts (some here) attempt (and pull off) much more complicated things.

I don't have a dog in this hunt as I don't do machine work. But again it's not a crazy concept on its face. It might not be even possible on a given block, but not crazy in and of itself.

Maybe a couple of the curmudgeons around here could at least give the guy a chance without just outright dismissing it.

Dirk has at least one spare block these days. Maybe when he's done with one someone could examine it closer to examine feasibility.

[LowRyter]

My Triumph has a sight glass but no dipstick. It's a real pain as it doesn't have a center stand. I have to put it on my lift so that the bike is level to be able to check the oil. I don't have anyone handy with a modicum of mechanical expertise to help me. Maybe this winter I could get a spare filler plug and devise some type of dipstick.
kk

Same is true for my Duc but I do have a rear stand.  When I'm traveling I need someone to hold the bike level since the bike uses a quart for 4-5k miles.

I've seen guys that are able to grab the bike by the fork and peg and do it themselves.  I tried to do it but my courage gave up before my strength, the thought of a bike falling me freaked me out.  I'll bet there guys here that can do that.

[Dirk_S]

Dirk has at least one spare block these days. Maybe when he's done with one someone could examine it closer to examine feasibility.

Happy to hand this paperweight off for R & D. The wear marks at the thrust washer seats make it all but useless to me.

[SIR REAL ED]

So many bad analogies ... 

... unless you meant to install a bow thruster. Then yes, that would be the similar. 

Amen!   

As Yoda would say, you gotta learn to conquer your fear!

on the plus side, if anyone drills a hole in their boat hull, or their engine cases and sinks the boat or trashes the engine, they'll have a great story to tell for the rest of their life!!!

maybe the could even post something on the internet.......   

Now that I think about it, there is no down side......

I wonder if the engine on the Titanic had an oil sight glass......   

[SIR REAL ED]

I recommend filling your bike to the level you want to run. then let it sit on the side stand overnight. In the morning pull the dipstick and mark the oil level with a band of white paint.

Now the bike oil level is inspect able while on the side stand, requiring no assistance or leveling...

Winner winner Chicken dinner.

I've done this on several bikes where the manufacturer recommended an oil checking procedure that required you to run the engine a specified time first, then shut off the engine, then wait a specified time, prior to checking the oil.

But I would recommend using a file or a hacksaw to cut a notch in the dip stick.  Not sure how long the paint would last.

[SIR REAL ED]

The number of people who "personally" drill a "*HOLE" in their hulls vs the number of people who modify their engines has nothing to do with the crappiness of the analogy.

The analogy attempted to deride the concept of drilling a boat hull as stupid on its face, but it is obviously not.

Now as I said in the beginning of this thread I don't really see the ROI, but I get the interest and concept. I would think it more realistic IF indeed the glass was in the pan and not the block as Cam just confirmed, but alas I have seen enthusiasts (some here) attempt (and pull off) much more complicated things.

I don't have a dog in this hunt as I don't do machine work. But again it's not a crazy concept on its face. It might not be even possible on a given block, but not crazy in and of itself.

Maybe a couple of the curmudgeons around here could at least give the guy a chance without just outright dismissing it.

Dirk has at least one spare block these days. Maybe when he's done with one someone could examine it closer to examine feasibility.

amen again.

You have summed up most of the internet perfectly in one post.

That's why we all keep going back.  If you don't learn something new from others, at least it is an entertaining mode of interaction.

[Huzo]

Maybe a couple of the curmudgeons around here could at least give the guy a chance without just outright dismissing it.

Now THAT is fair..
My comment was that I wondered as to the possibility of fitting the glass with enough integrity so as to preclude the chance of it falling out, with immediate and disastrous consequences.
However upon reflection, if you were to get a donor engine and take the piece out where the glass was fitted and weld it into your own bike, that could be dressed and finished to look ok…(presumably).
The level of the oil when properly replenished, would need to be plotted to determine the sight of the modification, but it would at least be sound mechanically.

I’ve done similar things that had to be abandoned….
Remember this ?


That was to get the speedometer accurate on my V85 and it did, but there was an unwanted side effect.
Point is..
If I had reduced my speedometer error to zero, my efforts would have been lauded. Our guy should be supported because he is interested enough to try and improve his lot, instead of just coping with what he was given.
That is what sets us above BMW riders, who get a flat tyre and have to call for someone to come and fix it.
Good on you for pondering the feasibility of such a venture, my only reservation was the risk/reward ratio.
But I’m reminded of guys back in January 2016 who said to me …..”Why do you need wire wheels on your Norge…?”
My reply ?
“I do it because I can and you can’t…”
That’s horribly arrogant but in the majority of cases true.

I would bet my arse that if our guy pulled it off, he’d have guys here PM’ing him asking to swap their hole-less pan for his holey (sic) one.
It happened with my low resistance throttle drum on the ‘85.

I’ve switched my response a bit and am with Kev on this.

[Kev m]

Now THAT is fair..
My comment was that I wondered as to the possibility of fitting the glass with enough integrity so as to preclude the chance of it falling out, with immediate and disastrous consequences.

I believe they are readily available to purchase with threaded inserts.

[Huzo]

Amen!   
I wonder if the engine on the Titanic had an oil sight glass......   

Yes it did SRE…
That’s why it sunk, the iceberg cracked the glass and the water dribbled in…

[Huzo]

I believe they are readily available to purchase with threaded inserts.

Did not know that Kev.
A better idea for sure.
You know Kev, some people learn to run from a problem…
Some learn how to defend and face it, that’s why your belt is a different colour than most….

[SIR REAL ED]

Now THAT is fair..
My comment was that I wondered as to the possibility of fitting the glass with enough integrity so as to preclude the chance of it falling out, with immediate and disastrous consequences.
However upon reflection, if you were to get a donor engine and take the piece out where the glass was fitted and weld it into your own bike, that could be dressed and finished to look ok…(presumably).
The level of the oil when properly replenished, would need to be plotted to determine the sight of the modification, but it would at least be sound mechanically.

I’ve done similar things that had to be abandoned….
Remember this ?


That was to get the speedometer accurate on my V85 and it did, but there was an unwanted side effect.
Point is..
If I had reduced my speedometer error to zero, my efforts would have been lauded. Our guy should be supported because he is interested enough to try and improve his lot, instead of just coping with what he was given.
That is what sets us above BMW riders, who get a flat tyre and have to call for someone to come and fix it.
Good on you for pondering the feasibility of such a venture, my only reservation was the risk/reward ratio.
But I’m reminded of guys back in January 2016 who said to me …..”Why do you need wire wheels on your Norge…?”
My reply ?
“I do it because I can and you can’t…”
That’s horribly arrogant but in the majority of cases true.

I would bet my arse that if our guy pulled it off, he’d have guys here PM’ing him asking to swap their hole-less pan for his holey (sic) one.
It happened with my low resistance throttle drum on the ‘85.

I’ve switched my response a bit and am with Kev on this.

Well said.

Everything that one is afraid to do, or at least a task that one perceives as a high risk of failure with large costs, one will often call stupid. 

But when the other guy pulls it off successfully, we all, at least secretly admire that skill and daring.

Obviously, millions of oil sight glasses have been successfully installed in engines and even brake master cylinders!!!

No magic required!  Just due diligence.