Add oil sight glass

[SIR REAL ED]

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….

Agreed.

Huzo and Kev M are among two of my favorite Wild Guzzi posters!

Weird, but when you type that out, it seems like a low bar to clear....   

[bad Chad]

No, that’s where you’re misguided Kev.  It is crazy, you are right about ROI being abismal, however.

Sure, someone who knows what they’re doing, and has access to the right tools could do it, but clearly the OP does not, hence his questioning here.

You know the old saying, tossed about fairly often round these parts, “just because it can be done, doesn’t mean it should. “

[Huzo]

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

If the boat was PERFECTLY good, he wouldn’t perceive the need to bore the hole…
But it isn’t.

[SIR REAL ED]

Now that the seed has been planted.

Has anyone ever installed bow thruster in their Moto Guzzi?

I'm assuming it would require drilling a hole in the engine to get the bow thruster as close as possible to the center of gravity......

[Huzo]

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!

There might be some who’ve bored half a whole Chad.

[bad Chad]

The only boring going on here is this conversation!

[SIR REAL ED]

There might be some who’ve bored half a whole Chad.

I know some half-assed people who have bored many holes!   

[SIR REAL ED]

If I was going to install a bow thruster in a boat hull, I'd install it ABOVE the water line so there would be no chance of leakage!

That was easy!

[Huzo]

Now that the seed has been planted.

Has anyone ever installed bow thruster in their Moto Guzzi?

I'm assuming it would require drilling a hole in the engine to get the bow thruster as close as possible to the center of gravity......

If I’m in the mood for any thrusting, it’s usually more towards the stern…

[Huzo]

The only boring going on here is this conversation!

On the contrary Chad, you make it fun…

[Kev m]

No, that’s where you’re misguided Kev.  It is crazy, you are right about ROI being abismal, however.

Sure, someone who knows what they’re doing, and has access to the right tools could do it, but clearly the OP does not, hence his questioning here.

You know the old saying, tossed about fairly often round these parts, “just because it can be done, doesn’t mean it should. “

OK, you're not wrong about most of that.

But an expert is just a newbie who didn't give up.

You can't fail if you never give up.

[bmc5733946]

For those interested:    https://www.mcmaster.com/sight-glass/

McMaster Carr seems to have everything!

Brian

[LowRyter]

Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

I understand that the dipstick is aimed the topped oil at the center.  So regardless of being on the side stand, full will still show full.  Now when the bike gets a little low it might not be as low as the dipstick indicates since the center level angle has dropped from the oil consumption.   

[Huzo]

Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

I understand that the dipstick is aimed the topped oil at the center.  So regardless of being on the side stand, full will still show full.  Now when the bike gets a little low it might not be as low as the dipstick indicates since the center level angle has dropped from the oil consumption.

Yes mate that’s true.
If you were going to commit to the job, you’d wait ‘till the bike needed an oil change and get it up to temp.
Bring it back and let it cool on the centrestand (I’d suggest).
Drain the oil and drop the pan.
You’ll be able to see the level on the inside from the grubby oil and presumably plot the position of the sight glass from there.

[vintagehoarder]

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 got an extendable mirro with three LED lights on it so I can sit on the bike and look at the sight glass FYI.  Little akward but it works.

https://www.amazon.com/Telescoping-Lighted-Flexible-Inspection-Viewing/dp/B01D4QMUVI/ref=asc_df_B01D4QMUVI/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312167978534&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7674694531903386784&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015669&hvtargid=pla-570628610831&psc=1

[Kaladin]

Those industrial sight glasses are often made for high pressure boilers, they should hold up in an oil pan.

[SIR REAL ED]

For those interested:    https://www.mcmaster.com/sight-glass/

McMaster Carr seems to have everything!

Brian

If it is in the McMaster-Carr catalogue, it is a sign from Heaven that it needs to be installed.

[Zenermaniac]

Entertaining discussions here. On further musing and measuring I don’t believe I can machine a place for a sight glass in frame. At this time there’s no good reason to remove the engine for something this major. If at some point I have the opportunity to do it I will probably go ahead. Call me what you want but don’t tell me I shouldn’t do something. My parents gave up on that decades ago. I did learn something on this thread. Until y’all piqued my curiosity to Google it I didn’t know what a bow thruster was - lol. In Appalachia a bow thruster is an oar.

[SIR REAL ED]

Entertaining discussions here. On further musing and measuring I don’t believe I can machine a place for a sight glass in frame. At this time there’s no good reason to remove the engine for something this major. If at some point I have the opportunity to do it I will probably go ahead. Call me what you want but don’t tell me I shouldn’t do something. My parents gave up on that decades ago. I did learn something on this thread. Until y’all piqued my curiosity to Google it I didn’t know what a bow thruster was - lol. In Appalachia a bow thruster is an oar.

good on ya brother.  Never let anyone tell you what you can and can not do!  Especially a bunch of clowns on the internet.

Asking for advice is always wise, but you gotta know how to separate the wheat from the BS!

Custom marks (or drilled holes) on the dipstick may be the easiest acceptable solution.  Only you can decide.

I added an "oil sight tube" to the oil tank on an Aprilia RXV550 (dry sump engine) which worked great, but still involves welding/machinng/fabrication.

Most of the fun of tinkering does not necessarily involve doing "what makes sense," but doing and creating what you want! 

[Huzo]

My very first post was in January 2016 in response to an established luminary saying you couldn’t get wire wheels into a Norge…
Well……Ummmmm.

[SIR REAL ED]

My very first post was in January 2016 in response to an established luminary saying you couldn’t get wire wheels into a Norge…
Well……Ummmmm.

You know what they say about Internet advice.....  You get what you pay for! 

It all boils down to priorities and desires. 

Plus those other pesky things like skillsets, time, money, resources, knowledge, blah, blah, blah.

Huzo, if you ever want to see an interesting threads of creative types, enter "ADVrider, some assembly required" into a search engine.

Some people, when they don't know that "a thing can't be done!"  They just go ahead and so it!

[V7Record]

I've thought about using the tube style sight glass and putting it into one of the oil pan extenders for the V7.  At least if that gets buggered, the pan can just be reinstalled and no loss other than a little $.  Wondering if the crankcase is pressurized enough that a vented version wouldn't work, in that case the top end of the sight glass would need to feed back into the engine.  Maybe a banjo bolt fitting somewhere?

[Huzo]

I've thought about using the tube style sight glass and putting it into one of the oil pan extenders for the V7.  At least if that gets buggered, the pan can just be reinstalled and no loss other than a little $.  Wondering if the crankcase is pressurized enough that a vented version wouldn't work, in that case the top end of the sight glass would need to feed back into the engine.  Maybe a banjo bolt fitting somewhere?

[Kiwi_Roy]

I have owned 7 different Guzzi's, each with a dipstick.
The dipstick enters the engine at an angle of about 45 degrees and dips below the surface mid-way across the sump
If you pull the dipstick on the side stand it will show the same level if you pull the dipstick with someone holding the bike Vertical
Because for any different quantity of oil at the mid point it will be the same level in the middle, try it with a glass of water.

[SIR REAL ED]

I've thought about using the tube style sight glass and putting it into one of the oil pan extenders for the V7.  At least if that gets buggered, the pan can just be reinstalled and no loss other than a little $.  Wondering if the crankcase is pressurized enough that a vented version wouldn't work, in that case the top end of the sight glass would need to feed back into the engine.  Maybe a banjo bolt fitting somewhere?

With no knowledge of the bike in question (look at me!  I'm an Internet Expert!)... I would suspect there is little to no pressure in the oil pan (does the bike have a crankcase breather?) other than downstream of the oil pump.  Since the banjo bolt fitting is downstream of the oil pump, the pressure there will be high!

I'd feed the uphill end of the oil site tube into a valve cover or a high spot on the engine case.

Patented Disclaimer:  "This opinion was posted with no knowledge of the bike in question!"

[Moparnut72]

I have '22 Bonneville. It has a sight glass that looks like a complete unit which is located in the side of the block. If you were to do this I would be darned sure you won't be drilling into a vital component and that the case is thick enough to support the part. The first time I drilled into the top of an old 4 cylinder Mercury outboard to add a fitting to eliminate a known steam pocket I was very nervous about it. The area in the block is blind so I couldn't see where I was going. It worked out for the best and now I do it to all my four cylinders. I want to add a dipstick to my Triumph, I don't like the sight glass. Too hard to see any thing and I don't have anyone to hold the bike up straight to look at it. It isn't in a gray location. I could check the oil while sitting on the bike with a dipstick. A project for is winter. Good luck, nothing ventured nothing gained. 
kk

[larrys]

So many bad analogies ... 

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

Having kicked around in the marine trades for over fifty years I've drilled many a hole below the waterlines of perfectly good boats. Swim platform brackets, trim tab installs, through hull fittings, underwater lights, and yes bow thrusters. My analogy was meant as, don't do it unless you have the necessary skills or engage the services of someone who does. Sorry you misunderstood. I should have been clearer in my statement.
Larry

[Kev m]

I have owned 7 different Guzzi's, each with a dipstick.
The dipstick enters the engine at an angle of about 45 degrees and dips below the surface mid-way across the sump
If you pull the dipstick on the side stand it will show the same level if you pull the dipstick with someone holding the bike Vertical
Because for any different quantity of oil at the mid point it will be the same level in the middle, try it with a glass of water.

This doesn't compute with my experience.

First I don't believe the dipsticks get to the lateral midpoint of the sumps, but I'll admit I haven't measured that yet.

What I DID do this morning was check my oil on the 2013 V7 Stone.

* On the side stand

* Then on the side stand with a 2x4 under the foot so the bike was just shy of upright.

I measured multiple times cold in each position.

I marked a cotton shop rag by placing the dipstick straight down on it, side-by-side for the different measurements.

The resulting oil stains were ~10 mm longer when on the side stand.

That represents at least the low to mid mark on the dipstick.

I can post photos later or tomorrow when I'm at my desk again (can't really do it well from this Google Pixel).

[Kev m]

Having kicked around in the marine trades for over fifty years I've drilled many a hole below the waterlines of perfectly good boats. Swim platform brackets, trim tab installs, through hull fittings, underwater lights, and yes bow thrusters. My analogy was meant as, don't do it unless you have the necessary skills or engage the services of someone who does. Sorry you misunderstood. I should have been clearer in my statement.
Larry

Mea-culpa for my misread. Then I was wrong and it was a great analogy.

I agree 100%

[SIR REAL ED]

This doesn't compute with my experience.

First I don't believe the dipsticks get to the lateral midpoint of the sumps, but I'll admit I haven't measured that yet.

What I DID do this morning was check my oil on the 2013 V7 Stone.

* On the side stand

* Then on the side stand with a 2x4 under the foot so the bike was just shy of upright.

I measured multiple times cold in each position.

I marked a cotton shop rag by placing the dipstick straight down on it, side-by-side for the different measurements.

The resulting oil stains were ~10 mm longer when on the side stand.

That represents at least the low to mid mark on the dipstick.

I can post photos later or tomorrow when I'm at my desk again (can't really do it well from this Google Pixel).

that is a great experiment and a great learning experience Kev!  you continue to be one of my WG heroes!

Something everyone who has any doubts at all about proper oil level should perform on their own bikes!!

I suspect the reason the manufacturers don't advise the simple procedure of checking the oil level on the side stand is due to the possibility of owners changing tires, fork tube position in the triple clamps, rear shock preload or the shocks themselves, modifying the side stand, etc.

I suspect that the procedure of checking the oil with the bike straight up is difficult enough that many owners never bother.