How much oil in a dry bike?

After a full engine rebuild including crank regrind and full rebuild of just about everything else today was the big day. Press starter (Alton) and cross fingers.
The motor runs and sounds ok but the oil level in tank seems low. I did put a pint (imperial) in the engine (through head) and 4 in the tank. The manual saysthe tank holds 5 (imperial) pints so as i have oil pressure and oil returning to the tank i assume the low level is due to the engine being dry inside (apart from oil use in assembly) plus all oil lines and filter being dry also.

My question therefore is what is the total amount the system would have in it?
Also can someone please tell me the correct length of the dipstick on oil tank cap an possition of marks on it? Just in case mine is not the correct one.

The bike is a 74 850 with side mounted oil tank. I did not drill the holes to drain the oil in the timing case as after much thought decided that the oil trapped in there would run into main crank case when bike was stood and so help lubricate cam on starting next time. So the system is as it left the factory.
Thanks.

toppy said:

The motor runs and sounds ok but the oil level in tank seems low.

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Since you're returning oil, you're fine. I would guess the center of the crank would take the bulk of the oil. I was getting pretty freaked out when I first started mine after replacing only the oil filter and all the lines. It just kept taking oil from the tank without returning until what seemed like an eternity (30-45 seconds?).

toppy said:

Also can someone please tell me the correct length of the dipstick on oil tank cap an possition of marks on it? The bike is a 74 850 with side mounted oil tank.

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Mine's the same year as yours; from the gasket surface is 2-5/8" to full, 3-1/4" to low (which is where I run mine).

Nathan

LOL just keep adding oil to tank til excess seen outside then when that stops check how far below factory dipstick it is for future reference. Dip sticks cam in longer and longer lenghts as model years progressed but general if oil just touching the tip you are about right just short of over fill. 2.5 qt or 10 pints is what most end up with but a qt low is no big deal, just less reserves if burning or leaking out. Forks are only place that should have more fluid put in than dip stick or level check plugs imply.

The tech digest that I have says 3 quarts, but that fills my tank pretty high and with the crankcase breather hose going in there, I think it may cause some spillage out the cap and out the oil tank breather hose. I have an early centrally located oil tank and 2 qts came up to just below the low oil mark. I added another half a quart and called it good just above the low oil mark. So I am at 2.5 quarts with no filter and the old style oil tank. If you have a filter, you probably need more than 2.5 to fill the filter and the extra oil lines

Just put 3.6 US Quart (3.4 litre) into mine with filter change and complete drain - level in tank after startup is just below return nozzle.
Volume includes thermostat and oil cooler above standard capacity.
Ta.

Hahaha! the mystery of missing oil.

I rebuild my Roadholders and put in the required 150ml of oil. Next fork oil change I measured what came out: 100 ml per side. No sign of a leak.

After 2 years of storage, the Commando's oil tank was almost dry. Figuring it had leaked down into the crankcase, I drained that but was still missing a bunch. WTF? There was none on the floor. After the first ride, the back of the bike was covered in the missing oil, flung out of the overfilled primary chaincase. I guess the oil had made its way to the crankcase, filled it up and leaked through the crank seal into the chaincase. Bit of a mystery since the bike does not burn or leak oil.

Manxman

Seem like it takes 2 3/4 quarts US. Enough left for a little top off in the season.