Oil tank Concern

[Bobber0071]

My bike oil tank was empty. I knew it just had oil change before I bought it. After starting it for the first time I have owned the oil tank is full and was not pulling down while the bike was running. Is the tank supposed to have oil while running or should it be empty. Ran the back for five minutes no horrible sounds  of engine damage actual ran great after kicking it for five minutes. Now starts on first kick. All pipes were hot to the touch all felt the same  So do I replace the oil pump drain all the oil and 3 1/2 of new and see what happens. I am new to a oil tank system use to looking in a sight glass and seeing the oil. Any help would be great.

[shinyribs]

I know when you first refill the tank after draining it not all of the oil will fit.It holds 3 1/2 qts but i was only able to put about 2 1/2 - 2 3/4 qts in mine.FSM calls to fill it up after your done,but i filled mine while running.Mine does not show low or empty while running.Just my $0.02 according to my limited experience

[Peterwh]

I would remove the filter, drain all the oil that's in there, replace the filter and fill with new oil and see what happens then.  Your post is a bit confusing in that you say that there is no oil in the oil tank but you also say it's not pulling oil down when running.  If there's no oil in the oil tank, how do you know it's not pulling oil down?  Unless you change the oil yourself and know exactly what you've done or if you observed the previous oil change yourself, you cannot be certain with a new bike what's been done.  I certainly would not run it again at all until you have this sorted.

[Bobber0071]

My bike does have oil. The oil tank was empty upon starting. After running it filled back up . Is this normal. Should the oil stay in the crank case or refill in the oil tank.

[Peterwh]

I've never checked mine that way but it doesn't sound normal to me.  My first thought is that the oil pump is passing and allowing the oil to drain into the sump when it is stood but then, if there was a fault with the oil pump, it wouldn't pump the oil back into the tank.  Having said that, my conclusion is that there's something wrong with the pump.  Fortunately, it's not hard to change the pump and, while I've never done it, I'm sure it can be done with the engine in the frame.

[Re-run]

Your bike runs what is called a "dry sump". What this means is that most of the oil should be in the tank with a little in the engine.
When you change oil, you drain your tank first, then remove the filter housing and and hit the kicker a few times or the starter and some more will spit out, then drain the sump. Be careful putting on the sump bolt as you can easily crack the threads. Use a new crush washer every couple of times too. Finger tighten and then snug jut a little more is what I do.

You then fill the tank close to the top and here is where people vary. Some use the starter but do NOT start the bike and slowly move the oil into the engine. Some use the kicker. As I just ran the bike, I just start it and idle it but do not rev it. After a couple of seconds, your oil level will drop and you can add more slowly.
I stop about 3 quarts and then go for a short ride. After that, you should have the room required to add a bit more oil.

Now oil should always be in the tank. If not, then your check valve is most likely shot. As long as your oil light works but does not come on, you have oil pressure getting to the switch. So oil should still be moving, just not staying in the tank as it should.

Short term is probably no big deal but you will not be able to check your level and thus will not know if your getting low or have too much oil.

So drain your oil at all 3 locations. Add to the tank till almost full. run bike and add oil till about 3.25 - 3.5 quarts. Run for a while and stop and let the bike sit a few hours. Check and see if you have oil in the tank.
If not, then you will need to fix or replace the check valve.

[shinyribs]

Awesome Re-run.Glad you're back.Where is the check valve located?On the pump itself?

[Peterwh]

The other risk with a faulty check valve is that of over-filling from thinking there's no oil in the system when, in fact, it's all in the sump.

[Re-run]

If I remember right, It is in 1 arm of the oil pump. Something termed oil leak stopper or something like that. I don't have my manual right now but I think that is where it resides.