Forums > Maintenance > oil change woes

Did you change your oil befor you parked / stored the bike? Believeyour owners' manual addresses things like that - "used" / "old" oil isnot like fine wine, it does not get better with age, fresh oil beforestorage is a good thing. Just my opinion, but I don't like sludge.

Don  

Hector,

Just since November?

Insert key and go.

Your battery might be weak, and I'd check all of the lube levels, tire pressures, etc.

I'd get a tank of fresh fuel into the bike as soon as you can, but two months sitting is nothing.

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

Thanks C, that's what I was thinking. The weather has been rather mild, the 1150R is stored in my heated garage and the BCR is on a trickle charge.

Running, my buisness has not been that liberating as i now have to make payroll to pay for expenses. i sometimes miss my salaried days, calling-in, personal days, vacation etc..

really, i like not having to answer to anyone though, but there are trade offs.

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Say Hector. I like the picture in the initial post better than the one of Freddie or Clem or whoever that is in your response.  As to the oil, it is best to freshen it prior to the layover as it removes the contaminents.  Over a long period of time, these will concentrate in certain areas and without regular running, will be free to raise havoc on whatever metal bit happens to be near them.  That said, 2 months isn;t really a significant layover so you really don't need to worry.  For that matter, if I recall, the manual calls for oil changes every 6K so 3K is more of a "mother hen" oil change interval.

Amen to the being your own boss part.  I'd quit this job if I could figure out who to quit to.  However, I do,mercifully, grant myself liberal vacation.

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jean

"there are trade offs"

I went 13 years self-employed after 12 years of ass-busting work to get to that point, working 12 hour days and weekends, with only a half-dozen vacations through the whole 25 year gig.

Two thirds of my time on this Earth is now gone.

But I got a lot of work done.

My oldest daughter is a stranger.

But I got a lot of work done.

Yeah . . . let's all consider for a moment the telling tale of trade-offs.

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

Yo Hector...where did you get that photo of my wife...!!

 :-)

p.s., burned some sta-bil off today in the 62 Deg. F weather today...nothing spectacular just another loop ride through the Upton Massachusetts State Forest...

Charlie, i hear what you're saying. i am trying to find a balance and have promised myself to find time for the people and things I love. i am sorry that your eldest is far from you, but at least you have her, however far she may be.

I pursued academics and a career in higher education, only to fnd that it is limiting and fustrating. As I have consulted with older and retired educators, most of them have regrets for staying in so long and not at least trying to srike out on thier own. now, they feel they are too old and tired. They collect modest pensions and have become limited in their scope on life. Some of them are very much characters and have a wealth of sound advice, encouragement, and terrific war stories.

all of them have echoed your caution with regard to the trade-offs and making time for myself. i use our luncheon meetings as a time relax, enjoy the social setting, stay involved in community projects and remind myself that there is more to life then earning a living. 

Thanks for the humbling reminder. I'll get out more, as the weather changes within the next couple of months. 

I try to spend time with my great nephews and nieces on weekends. This picture was taken when i returned from Canada. They provide a great joy and happiness to my sibs as the time marches on.

The caps are from Cabot's Trail, and the pink baseball cap is from my crossing into Nova Scotia

h

 

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Hector,

I'd like to meet you.

Sure you can make a good living self-employed, that's actually the easy part, but unless you're about to release the next big device for delivering media content to the masses, the chances of gathering enough wealth to make the sacrifices of self-employment really worth the effort, from a money perspective, are small.  It's a diminishing returns thing.  And it took me 25 years to learn that.

The real returns associated with self-employment are subtle and private to yourself.

You're a pirate on the open sea, not a sailor or an officer in someone else's Navy.

Feel the breeze and watch the horizon, Hector.  Laugh when it's time to laugh, gather when it's time to gather, dance when it's time to dance, and sleep when it's time sleep.  Don't waste your time counting treasure.

You've a great-looking bunch of kids there.  Be their Uncle Hector like there's no tomorrow.  It sounds like you're already there.  That's a good thing.

As far as I know, the only lasting thing we all leave behind are the memories in the minds of the people and especially the kid's we influence while we're here.

But WTFDIK.

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

Careers?  Businesses?

Work 40 hours.  Earn enough for a nice house and payments on THE WORLD'S FINEST MOTORCYCLE.  Play with the parrot and spoil the wife, then reverse.  Throw the woman across the back of the bike;   and ride, ride, ride. 

Try to remember what's actually important.  The end of days may come tomorrow.

Enough with my idiot profundities.    I'm gonna suit-up and jump on the 'LT.

 

TYPE LESS.

RIDE MORE.

---Steve 

 

Hector,

About that photo of the model . . . you think that's real motor oil?

Or some sort of nicely flavored syrup?

C

 

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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

Hey Charlie, it would great to meet up with you in the near future. i plan on making it to the mid-ohio races where I think you will run with the Thruxton.

I might also ride down to Austin for the the Kiwanis convention in July. so i am sure we will be able to meet sometime soon. 

With regard to the oily lady, it appears to be motor oil, although it could be chocolate. h

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If you ride only infrequently, an oil change is not needed just because you don’t exercise the engine and oil regularity. The TBN is an indicator of the oils remaining life and the health of the additive package. Good oils start at about 10 or higher. Once the oil TBN deteriorates to about 3-4, it should be changed. Remember, when you do ride, heat your engine fully to eliminate any moisture in the oil by riding normally for about 30 minutes. Short hauls will destroy the TBN quickly. If you ride only briefly, change your oil more often. This will insure that oxidizers and acids do not accumulate. 

As mentioned previously, a fresh fill of fuel is important, as well. Keep the tank filled during periods of rest to eliminate space for condensation. A bit of Techron also helps.

 

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Dennis

After decades of private practice, become a prof, take 3 months vacation every year (the good months) and change the oil every 2500 miles because it's cheap insurance and easy to remember.