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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through April 17, 2012 » Metmachex alloy tank - oil level with no dipstick « Previous Next »

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Ausx1er
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 04:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I’ve got an old (formerly) unwanted Metmachex alloy tank for an X1.

It needs a clean and polish but overall it looks OK.

There’s nothing wrong with the stock oil tank but I am considering outing on the Metmachex once I’ve polished it up.

The Metmachex tank has the original screw on cap. These caps never had a dipstick. I also see that American Sport Bike still sell these tanks with the following description:

Polished aluminium oil tanks for tube frame Buell models. Holds more oil than the stock tank, exact amount varies. Provides better cooling through increased conduction and surface area. Does NOT have a dipstick, but it's pretty easy to check the oil level by peering down in the hole.

Has anyone got one of these tanks on their X1 or another tuber and how do they find them?

Most importantly how do you check your oil level, especially since they’re supposed to hold more oil than stock?

Currently with my standard tank if I keep my oil level at exactly halfway up the dipstick it doesn’t puke too much oil but if fill it to say ¾’s full it just works its way reasonably quickly back down the halfway mark. So I’m just thinking that ‘finding’ the right oil level in a tank with no dipstick will be trial and error type approach.

Any feedback from tuber owners using these tanks would be appreciated.
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Jim2
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 06:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

No experience with that tank but I use a wooden dowel with a sharpie marks on it to check my oil level. One mark is used to line up the mark with the top rim of the oil reservoir. I hold the dowel so that the tip of my index finger is even with the mark. To check oil I push stick into reservoir until my finger tip hits the rim of the tank. The other mark is on the bottom of the stick where the oil on the stick will be when properly full. Of course, you have to determine where your marks go to start with and like you said, trail and error.
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Thylacine
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 08:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Put in as much as came out of your other one. as long as something is in there everything is fine.
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Loki
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 10:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I keep the oil level just below the return line entry point. with it on its kick stand.
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Outdoors
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 10:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It you get the level too high then the engine will self adjust out the breather line and you will know the happy level. Crude but works!
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Gusm2
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 10:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I´ve heard it said that its more bother than it´s worth on an X1 due to the routing of the battery cables and the oil pipes, in saying that I do have one on my M2 and keep the level about 1" below the filler neck.
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Blks1l
Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 - 11:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have 1 on my S1, and I would say I keep it a couple of inches down, it will to an extent find it's own leval if you over service it.
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Akbuell
Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 09:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Since my eyes are not what they were as far as seeing the level of clean oil on the polished dipstick of my X-1 .....

I took a piece of 0.080-0.090 aluminum sheet (mostly because I had a piece of it laying around) and cut it into a 'T' shape. That way I didn't have to worry about dropping it into the tank, and used the dip stick to locate the high and low oil levels. Painted white, works great.

IMHO, since the top of the new tank will be about the same place as your stock one, the oil levels should (big disclaimer here) be about the same as the stock tank, so transferring the levels off of the stock dipstick should work.

Hope this helps, Dave
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Jayvee
Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 12:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Could you please check something for me on the aluminum tank? The height from the body of the tank to the top of the cap when the cap in on in its 'working' position?
My Corbin seat pan prevents me from using either the Banke oil filler, nor another similar custom one. I wanted to get the oil tank, but would like to know if it will fit under the Corbin seat before a spend $500 or whatever they are now. ('Tis the Season...tax refund time!)
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Blks1l
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 12:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Jayvee I just measured a Metchamex tank that I got for my S3, it is 1 1/8 inch from the top of the tank to the top of the cap. I have the Banke cap on my S3 now with a Corbin seat and have no issues.
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Steveford
Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 06:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I drilled and tapped the center of the cap and used a Loctited allen bolt and nut for a dipstick on mine.
Make sure everything is good and clean before you use the Loctite.
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