Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Bad depressed

Today I had the great idea to clean my chain. Put the stupid jack under it (I hate that jack) thought I checked to see if I was on anything other than frame. Jack it up and cleaned a little bit. Went to work and on my way I thought to myself that the valves were making more noise that usual. When I went to leave work I noticed oil everywhere. Looked at the site glass and no oil. Put four quorts in it. It was out of oil. I didn't make it too far when the oil light came on. Those idiot lights are the only problem with an otherwise great bike. I didn't see the light going to work. It was in the middle of the day. Now I hope I just mashed the oil filter and thats all, but after I got home, you could see an oil trail going out the driveway and down the road. I went 22 miles before I got to work.I think I just killed my bike.

I think you did also.

Hook up an oil pressure guage to the bike, change the filter, fill with oil and check the oil pressure cold and warm. You'll know pretty quick if it is ruined.

Good excuse to install a stroker kit if it is though. Usually lack of oil takes out the crank main and rod bearings.

Ouch. Maybe you'll be surprised and it will still be as good as ever, but I don't think that's very likely. Sorry dude.

There is the hope you didn't lose pressure before you shut it off. lack of oil will do tons of damage in a bike set up to oil the way ours is. Everything is fed by the pump not just the engine. If you did damage might be time to watch Pinwall for a whole engine. If the head was starved and the cam journals wore then the head is shot. The list of possible damage is endless.

There is always hope, but it does not look good. Spewing.

Al, these engines are tuff ******.You might be surprised, probably not but let us know what you find.

Not these bikes but I know of a guy who hooked the oil lines up backwards on and old Triumph and rode it several miles to Hermy's. Herm hooked the lines back the right way and the bike was fine for years.

I'm endlessly sorry to hear that. Do let us know what the end result is...I'm pulling for you.

Okay... so things don't sound so good. But, a few questions.

- Does the bike still run?
- If it runs is it noisier than usual?
- I take it you damaged the filter and not the crankcase. That true?
- Did it smell hot when you ran it low on oil?
- Did it actually NEED 4 quarts or was that overkill?

A while back the nut cap on my K&N oil filter de-laminated from the rest of the filter and oil spewed out all over before I noticed. It was all over the rear end of the bike and the road where I parked. EVERYWHERE!! I managed to roll into a Honda dealer, got fitted with new filter and oil and everything's okay. However, I doubt I lost as much oil as you.

Let us know... meanwhile I feel your pain.

It was still running when I shut it down - It is out or low on oil so it was making oil starved noises - I have not had a chance to look it over good yet. I am hoping it is the oil filter. will not know for sure till I have time to check it out - I can not smell real good but I didn't smell a hot motor - Yes it needed all 4 quarts.

Needing all 4 is not good since that's all it holds. Sorry to hear that. I would be devistated. My current finances wouldn't allow me to fix mine.

We're all pulling for you here! Hope you'll give us some good news tommorrow!

one saving grace buddy is the fact it still had oil to loose when you parked it at work....
so you never know you just may be a very lucky fellow ...
all the best for you with it

I hope your engine has survived. But I think you're already extremely lucky not to have dropped it with all that oil that must have been on your rear tire.

IT'S A MIRACLE ! Got my bike home this evening. It was leaking at the filter. Change the filter, cleaned it up, filled it with oil and rode it about 15 miles. No extra noises no loss of power no smoking. I am a very blessed man. I know I took some life out of her, but how do you go 22 miles with no or very little oil and the bike still acts like it never happened. If I was a betting man I would have lost a bundle. AM I HAPPY!!!

You are right about the back tire. it was wet with oil.

Happy for you hope it runs a long time for you.

Praise the Triumph Gods. Glad to hear you're probably alright there al.

Glad lady luck was on your side Al. Hope it keeps running well for ya!

AS I said, these engines are tuff SOB's

Another reason to ride Triumph

sweet!

Had to be the synthetic oil. I run the motorcycle Mobile 1 4xt 10w40 (i think thats right without looking it up, its early in the morning and i am still about half asleep)

Just reading this post now. I've seen motors run out of oil in the past. In my experience, if the rods aren't rappin you stand a chance. Either way, all I could think was that you're lucky you didn't wipe out on an oil soaked tire. I'm glad your motor survived but infinately more so that you didn't crash.

The position of the oil filter is the one thing I never liked about these bikes. I noticed it back in 03 when my friend first brought his BA over to show me when he bought it.I rode that bike and a couple weeks later bought my SM.Still kind of miss riding my chopper everywhere but the SM is much less up keep and I'm not as young as I once was so now working on the bike is work when I want to ride.