Changing primary drive oil, ALOT came out...

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nidyanazo

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I opened the "Chaincase oil level plug orifice" as shown here:
Changing primary drive oil, ALOT came out...


and Alot of dirty oil came out. Way more than 7Oz. like the manual says is the proper ammount. I drained it through this plug because I can't find the "primary chaincase plugs" shown in the pic. Does my '71 have these? or am I blind? Isnt that plug supposed to be the level-check hole? So if the level is correct some oil will slowly seep out?

What am I doing wrong? How much oil should I fill up the primaty chaincase with? Sorry for all the newbee questions. :oops:
 
The oil level check plug is the lowest plug on the chain case cover. It is behind the brake lever and a normal (but large size) slot headed screw driver will remove the screw. I've never seen a commando without this screw.
 
Hey Rennie,
So the one that I opened, and got oil to drain from is the one in the picture marked "B"/"Chaincase oil level plug orifice"...It was a flat head screwdriver plug... But you are saying the one I need to open is back, behind the brake lever?
Thanks!
 
nidyanazo said:
Hey Rennie,
So the one that I opened, and got oil to drain from is the one in the picture marked "B"/"Chaincase oil level plug orifice"...It was a flat head screwdriver plug... But you are saying the one I need to open is back, behind the brake lever?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

The one labeled as "B" is the level plug. To drain the primary completly you have to place a pan under it and remove the center bolt and remove the cover to get all the oil out. Then reinstall the cover and remove "B". Then it will take about 200cc's of oil before it starts weeping out "B". When it's done flowing from "B" the primary is full.
 
Ok so remove the center bolt, then there's he "reverse" screw thing under it, remove it (how?) and pull the whole cover off? Thanks Chopped!
 
nidyanazo said:
I drained it through this plug because I can't find the "primary chaincase plugs" shown in the pic.
Click to expand...


I think maybe you have misunderstood what is shown in the pic?

As "primary chaincase plugs" is the drawing title: "Fig K6 Primary [edit]chaincase plugs"

The two lines that I think you have mistaken for lines leading to two plugs are in fact the main stand leg in the down position?
 
hahaha, now I see it! Wow that's funny! Thanks for the clarification!
Now, I ask you this...The primary chaincase cover is held on by just the one bolt (remove the "central fixing bolt" to uncover it?)

Thanks!
 
nidyanazo said:
The primary chaincase cover is held on by just the one bolt (remove the "central fixing bolt" to uncover it?)
Click to expand...




The manual says (section C13):



"Remove the centre sleeve nut which secures the outer chaincase and by rocking the chaincase slightly to clear the locating dowels top and bottom, lift the outer chaincase clear."
 
Here is an excerpt from the maintenance manual about removing the outer cover in its entirety:

broken link removed
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If there was too much oil in the primary case, look for evidence of the crank seal or crankcase-to-primary mounting bolts weeping. If you can't tell, and don't want to pull the primary drive off just to see, clean up the case and fill it with 7 oz of ATF.
If, upon inspection, the ATF is no longer red and is at a higher level, its been mixed with motor oil, which means replace the crank seal.
 
BillT said:
If there was too much oil in the primary case, look for evidence of the crank seal or crankcase-to-primary mounting bolts weeping. If you can't tell, and don't want to pull the primary drive off just to see, clean up the case and fill it with 7 oz of ATF.
If, upon inspection, the ATF is no longer red and is at a higher level, its been mixed with motor oil, which means replace the crank seal.
Click to expand...

I've replaced those crankshaft seals until I was dizzy. Finally put in a proper PCV valve and had no more oil leaks. The problem being that without a check valve in the breather line the crankcase is pressurized. An added benefit of a PCV valve is a gain in horsepower, albeit slight.
 
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