Oil sight glass

[i-man]

Not really question as much as a hope that there is an alternative, but $40 dollars for a little piece of plastic (oil sight glass) !!??

 Cripes, what a rip job! I searched, so I'm sure I (and every other K-biker) is SOL, but is there a work around?

[Motorhobo]

My workaround has been a flashlight and my hands and knees -- the former I use to illuminate the thing and the latter I use to help me push my face in there and see if I can discern some kind of line through the brownish, murky haze. It works -- barely.

But considering it needs to be changed maybe once a decade 40 bucks isn't that bad. Which doesn't mean I intend to pay it...just means it's not that bad.

Someone mentioned some kind of dipstick I can't remember details. Anybody with a dipstick solution out there?

[Zipster]

As far as I remember, the dipstick solution won't work accurately due to the layout of the sump etc. Best change the sight glass!

[TimTyler]

If you remove the oil pan cover you might be able to clean the oil level indicator glass with some cotton swabs and carb cleaner.

[i-man]

that's interesting Tim.
i work with plexi glass sometimes, and I've gotten pretty good at buffing out scratches. I remember reading somewhere someone suggesting to push the oil sight glass out from the drain plug. Would it be possible to push the glass out, give it a good cleaning, then put it back in? why not, if it's a press fit?

[TimTyler]

Yes - It's a press fit, but I don't think you can remove, clean and replace.

The glass is mated to a polished metal reflector with holes in it that's about 1/4" behind the glass. They are joined by the rubber sleeve / seal. It would be nearly impossible to extract it from either side without destroying it.

Once you have access to the back side of the "oil indicator" you could try spraying it with cleaner and/or swabbing the surfaces through the holes in the reflector.

By the time you're done you will probably wish you would have just spent the $40 on a replacement.

[i-man]

'By the time you're done you will probably wish you would have just spent the $40 on a replacement.'

Story of my life!

[vintagemilano]

Time or money, you never have both at once....

[i-man]

I decide to just bite the bullet and buy the freakin' sight glass. Turns out it's a little most impressive an object then I had thought it was, so i don't feel TOO  bad about the $40.

[TimTyler]

Clean the mounting surface ring on the engine really well before your insert the new sight glass. Don't use any lubricant.

I think I tapped mine in with a socket. Be gentle.

[i-man]

Thanks Tim. I'll try to be gentle. I understand the new replacements are real glass instead of plastic glass?

[i-man]

so i leaned the bike over on it's side stand, in preparation for the removal of the sight glass, only to discover that I, and the previous owner as well, had over filled the bike. D'OH!

not only is the sight glass not opaque, it looks brand new!!!

I didn't look at the glass after I emptied it. then i just put in the recommended amount of oil without pay attention to the glass. For whatever reason this sent the oil level over the top of the sight glass, making appear to be opaque!

[Chaos]

Most new oil is usually translucent enough to see the backing through the sight glass.  Something like Kendall or Brad Penn may be dark enough to look black. 

[Zampano]

we're supposed to check the oil level ?!?  :yow   I check the street for black spots.

My site glass is foggy but I didn't realize they got to the point where you can't see the level even with a direct light (i use a small mag-lite). Despite every mechanic telling me that the rear main seal and oil/water pump seal were both "leaking like crazy" I have NEVER had to add a drop in the 2 years since they tried to ruin my day.

[i-man]

i'll give you a deal on a never use sight glass. Save me from having to return it to the judgmental BMW mechanic! He scares me! ; )

[K75c]

You can get the glass out very easy and re use it when you cleaned it, done this yesterday. Put the bike on the sidestand, put a medium flat screwdriver between the rubber and the glass,let the screwdriver rest on the coolfin underneat the glass. Gently apply some pressure downward on the screwdriver and the seal with glass will pop out. Clean the glass with thinner or benzin,i also put it in my ultrasonic cleaner. You can use a very tiny brush too. When its clean you apply some oil on the rubber, very little l, and push it back in. Then you gently hammer it back in place. It will look like new agian.

[TimTyler]

Uhhhhh.... 

Personally I would not re-use and I would not use oil on the seal when inserting the new sight glass.

If the sight glass pops out on the road, you'll lose all your oil very quickly.

Just sayin....

[K75c]

Yes that what i was thinking to, but it sits very tight. Use very little oil, a very thin film to let the rubber slide back in.

[TimTyler]

Mine slid in just fine without any lubrication 40k miles ago.

[K75c]

Ok, i will get it out ,tommorow,clean it and try to put it back in without some oil on the rubber.
I did put some miles on it like this  :riding:

[TimTyler]

Why not check with your dealer for a recommended practice first?

I know what worked for me, but I don't everything.

[K75c]

Dealers here dont want you to fix your bike,they want you to buy a new  gs1200 adventure or a k1600 :falldown:

[TimTyler]

I like this procedure:  http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/sightglass.htm

 Note #6:  "Clean the bore again with a decent evaporating solvent.  You do NOT want the surface oily."

[K75c]

Thanks, i read it, gonna change the oil for some spit or water to get the seal back in. :2thumbup: