OIL CHANGE QUESTION

So my 1970 750 Commando has been sitting for 2 years. I am now waking it up. First thing i did which I had been meaning to do was removed my ANTI SUMP valve that was installed on my oil line by the prev. owner. So I removed all of the oil from the bike, removed the wet sump, replaced the oil line and Im ready to go..I then dumped 3 quarts of oil into my tank only to find that the oil tank was just filling up.....the oild was not draining into the lower portion of the bike. Is that normal, I dont want to kick my bike with no oil running through it. If I kick it and start it will the oil eventually begin to move through the bike as it should ??....Im confused here...I just havent changed oil for a while... Also should I use 93 gas in this bike ? Thnaks all : )

Bradcommando said:

I then dumped 3 quarts of oil into my tank only to find that the oil tank was just filling up.....the oild was not draining into the lower portion of the bike. Is that normal,

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The oil should stay in the tank at least for a while.

In most cases it will eventually drain to the sump over a period of time due to the clearances in the oil pump etc. and for some Commando engines that could be a matter of hours (which is the reason why owners often fit anti-drain valves) for other Commando engines that process may take several days/weeks/months for the oil to drain. Ideally the oil should be in the tank and not in the sump.

Bradcommando said:

I dont want to kick my bike with no oil running through it. If I kick it and start it will the oil eventually begin to move through the bike as it should ??....Im confused here...I just havent changed oil for a while...

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Instead of putting all the oil in the tank it would have been better if you had put maybe a pint of it the sump and poured a little oil into the head through the exhaust rocker adjuster openings which would then drain through the push rod tunnels and give the cam lobes and followers some initial lubrication.

Start up, and check that oil is returning to the tank-which should happen after a few seconds and don't worry if there's a certain amount of air returning with the oil as the scavenge is designed to pump more oil back to the tank than the feed side is capable of delivering to the engine.

Bradcommando said:

Also should I use 93 gas in this bike ?

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The 1970 owners handbook recommendation is for not less than 99RON octane. US 93 octane is approximately equivalent to 97 RON but our US forum members can probably give you more information about that.

Many thanks : ) I will fire it up in a bit, then hopefully go for a much needed ride.

At least squirt some oil into the rocker boxes so that it follows the push rods and turn the motor over a few times either by kicking or putting it in gear and rotating the wheel.

Buy the highest octane you can! We're chasing buffalos here, just because we might not get a chance to do it again!

Russ