Urgent oil level advice needed on xt400e

[mcleodclan]

Hey everyone.. Help! I've just bought a 1993 xt400e Artesia and have pulled in to a million bits to check her over ive fixed all the little issues so decided to change the oil and filter etc.. So drained the oil. Changed the filter. Cleaned the air filter replaced the plug drained the carbs drained the rank etc anyways.. I went to fill get up will oil and the dip stick is broken!! Now there us no sight glad cause it's a dry sump so help... I drained 2 liters out but yamaha say it should take 1.6 but one post on the net says 3 litres
Im lost can any one help
Please
Cheers
Matt

[mcleodclan]

Omg sorry I just proof read it lol sorry am on my ph in the garage didn't spell check

[pete-blen]

first thing get a new dip stick.....

never check the oil on a cold motor take it for a good 5k ride or
warm it up for a good 10mins then wait 5mins and check it...
oil drains down from the tank into the motor when left sitting....
with out filter change... 2.5L
with filter change ... 2.6L
Then warm up & check on dip stick ... add oil if low...
hold bike vertical while checking level...

You need to drain the tank & motor when doing a oil change...





..

[mcleodclan]

Thanks so much for that.. I just noticed there is 2.6 scratched on the frame.. How do I drain the oil tank?

[puddytat]

Should be a bolt down near the bottom of the main steering head down tube....?

[mcleodclan]

K guys drained the oil tank with little bolt on the frame and got 2 liters out if the tank so a total of nearly 4litres in total!!!
That's not rite is it? Now wen I refill it do I just pour the 2.6 into the rank and it works it's way into the engine? Does the oil do the gearbox to? Sorry for all the questions

[Tazz]

You can overfill dry sumps pretty safely. Would have thought 4L was pretty ambitious but if oil isn't coming out where it shouldn't be then no harm no foul.

I'd throw about 3L back in personally and then quietly ponder the rest of the dipsticks current where abouts.

[mcleodclan]

Cheers mate will do that.. Thanks everyone for your help

[pete-blen]

I'd throw about 3L back in personally and then quietly ponder the rest of the dipsticks current where abouts.


interesting question....
can it make it's way down the front tube to the oil out let ?... if it can .. is it big enough to block or restrict it...:confused:

maybe before you re-fill it... unscrew the oil line and see if it's there or it comes out...

[dino3310]

Doesn't the down tube have a screen at the bottom

[pete-blen]

Doesn't the down tube have a screen at the bottom

never cut one apart to have a look.. or had a need to remove the oil line..
so no idea... but it's more than possable there is...

[mcleodclan]

Well I put 3 litres on her.. Been for a short ride today seems fine.. I have to admit it's been a long time since I have riden an air cooled bike.. They do seem to make more noise than water cooled from memory. And no temp Guage? Do have to just guess re the temp.. I. Going to order a dips you asap. But also looking for a xt 600tank.. I don't k of of it will fit? I would presume it does... Any ideas? Bike also came with a drz400 exhaust that's sounds rather shit... Theres no grunt to the exhaust note. I had a look o side and it's been gutted but yea
Anyways thanks for all the help. I. Riding to work tomo so will post on how it went

[dino3310]

one of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Parts-Oil-Tank-Dipstick-with-Temperature-Gauge-/321584880746

[400sm]

Well I put 3 litres on her.. Been for a short ride today seems fine.. I have to admit it's been a long time since I have riden an air cooled bike.. They do seem to make more noise than water cooled from memory. And no temp Guage? Do have to just guess re the temp.. I. Going to order a dips you asap. But also looking for a xt 600tank.. I don't k of of it will fit? I would presume it does... Any ideas? Bike also came with a drz400 exhaust that's sounds rather shit... Theres no grunt to the exhaust note. I had a look o side and it's been gutted but yea
Anyways thanks for all the help. I. Riding to work tomo so will post on how it went

Yes I personally gutted that exhaust and opened up the airbox and rejetted the carb for the previous owner.
That 400 was choked up to the max and used to go like a turd, but now it goes well.
To get a better sound you can bore out the end cap.
I have a bored-out DRZ400 end cap that I tried on it, here in Napier.
I can swap it for your 20mm holed one if you arrange it.
The owner preferred the quieter end cap.


I did not do the oil on that bike, but I did put the pk screws in the flappy side-covers.

The fuel tank is heaps big, so don't create an unnecessary problem for yourself.

[mcleodclan]

Well I got a holesaw and did the exhaust mod and yep way better.. Am having trouble trying to find the covers that go on the side of the gas tank.. Goes well except for a head wind.. Ordered a hour meter/Rev counter to work out how many rpms in doing at 100ti c if changing the gearing might improve it.. As a side note.. Pulled header pipes off to find a exhaust leak.. The welds been ground off bit was so thin the headers were cracked.. Luckily my mate is foreman at an engineering place and tig welded them up and made them better than before
Any idea on why it seems to bog down with wot in a head wind but if you back off it comes good? What was done to the jetting?
Cheers matt

[400sm]

Well I got a holesaw and did the exhaust mod and yep way better.. Am having trouble trying to find the covers that go on the side of the gas tank.. Goes well except for a head wind.. Ordered a hour meter/Rev counter to work out how many rpms in doing at 100ti c if changing the gearing might improve it.. As a side note.. Pulled header pipes off to find a exhaust leak.. The welds been ground off bit was so thin the headers were cracked.. Luckily my mate is foreman at an engineering place and tig welded them up and made them better than before
Any idea on why it seems to bog down with wot in a head wind but if you back off it comes good? What was done to the jetting?
Cheers matt

It bogs down because it does not have the power to pull the gearing in a headwind, or up a hill.
This is fairly normal.
Try changing down to 4th.
You can go 1 tooth smaller on the front sprocket if it's a bother.

Carbs were pulled and main jets changed progressively about six times. No small task.
Mains were .98 and 1.05mm (factory), now are 1.30 and 1.25mm.

You can also try progressively taping over the air filter box inlet, to see if torque improves.

BUT, please realise, this bike is not a powerhouse and it now goes heaps better than it did as standard.
Don't expect DR-Z400 power or try to attain it.

[mcleodclan]

Hey thanks for that.. Yea I noticed a lot of tape In the air cleaner box I wondered how that got in the... Ok cool.. Yea I hear you.. I been racing a 2003 rm250 2smoker for the last few years so there's a huge difference in power. But I'm getting used to it. Drz400 still underpowered compared to what I'm used to but hey the xt is cool I like it just got to get used to it I guess.. Ok will try 4th..jyst don't want to over Rev it? Hard to know how many rm it's doing at this stage
And Hey thanks heaps for your advise mate I really appreciate it

[400sm]

Hey thanks for that.. Yea I noticed a lot of tape In the air cleaner box I wondered how that got in the... Ok cool.. Yea I hear you.. I been racing a 2003 rm250 2smoker for the last few years so there's a huge difference in power. But I'm getting used to it. Drz400 still underpowered compared to what I'm used to but hey the xt is cool I like it just got to get used to it I guess.. Ok will try 4th..jyst don't want to over Rev it? Hard to know how many rm it's doing at this stage
And Hey thanks heaps for your advise mate I really appreciate it

This particular bike revs very well. I was impressed.
Try it!

[mcleodclan]

K so Rev it like what?. Having no Rev counter is a pain i can't wait to get the taco. . So what's the red line for a 400? Seems these are quite a rare bike.... One quick question does the second carb cut in at half throttle?

[mcleodclan]

K so Rev it like what?. Having no Rev counter is a pain i can't wait to get the taco. . So what's the red line for a 400? Seems these are quite a rare bike.... One quick question does the second carb cut in at half throttle?

[400sm]

K so Rev it like what?. Having no Rev counter is a pain i can't wait to get the taco. . So what's the red line for a 400? Seems these are quite a rare bike.... One quick question does the second carb cut in at half throttle?

Normally one revs the bike until the power drops off. It's a "feel" thing. ( just like a motocross bike!)
The engine feels strong.
The 2nd carb is vacuum dependent for its opening.
It's a balance between revs and load, so throttle position can vary for it to open.
I used to be able to feel it come in only higher in the rev range, but now the transition is less apparent due to better jetting.
It had a big hole in the mid-range power before modifications were done.

[neels]

K so Rev it like what?. Having no Rev counter is a pain i can't wait to get the taco. . So what's the red line for a 400?
Just get one of these http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7GGHNNHT/title/torpedo7-hour-tach-meter

Got one on my DRZ400 and seems to work OK, just make sure you order a 4 stroke one otherwise you have to divide by 2 like I do, not sure if my cockup or theirs but mainly wanted the hour meter anyway so all good.

[mcleodclan]

Was this your old bike?

[mcleodclan]

Just get one of these http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7GGHNNHT/title/torpedo7-hour-tach-meter

Got one on my DRZ400 and seems to work OK, just make sure you order a 4 stroke one otherwise you have to divide by 2 like I do, not sure if my cockup or theirs but mainly wanted the hour meter anyway so all good.

Thanks mate

[400sm]

Was this your old bike?

It was my mate Edbro's bike.

[mcleodclan]

Just get one of these http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7GGHNNHT/title/torpedo7-hour-tach-meter

Got one on my DRZ400 and seems to work OK, just make sure you order a 4 stroke one otherwise you have to divide by 2 like I do, not sure if my cockup or theirs but mainly wanted the hour meter anyway so all good.

Thanks mate

[400sm]

I have a $12 rev/hour meter on my DRZ, from Aliexpress.
It has 3 compensation functions for various spark firings.
It works fine.

[mcleodclan]

Just get one of these http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7GGHNNHT/title/torpedo7-hour-tach-meter

Got one on my DRZ400 and seems to work OK, just make sure you order a 4 stroke one otherwise you have to divide by 2 like I do, not sure if my cockup or theirs but mainly wanted the hour meter anyway so all good.


It was my mate Edbro's bike.

Oh Cheers mate

[400sm]

Just get one of these http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7GGHNNHT/title/torpedo7-hour-tach-meter

Got one on my DRZ400 and seems to work OK, just make sure you order a 4 stroke one otherwise you have to divide by 2 like I do, not sure if my cockup or theirs but mainly wanted the hour meter anyway so all good.

If you have a 2 stroke rev counter I'm sure you would have to MULTIPLY the reading X 2 to compensate for a 4stroke that revs 2 times for every compression spark firing?

[neels]

If you have a 2 stroke rev counter I'm sure you would have to MULTIPLY the reading X 2 to compensate for a 4stroke that revs 2 times for every compression spark firing?
I think you could be right, I guess my brain just does it automatically now. :pinch: All I bought it for was the hour meter and to see how close I was getting to the 9k redline, answer being not even close, I suspect it would sound terrible if I did.

[400sm]

I think you could be right, I guess my brain just does it automatically now. :pinch: All I bought it for was the hour meter and to see how close I was getting to the 9k redline, answer being not even close, I suspect it would sound terrible if I did.

How high have you seen it rev?
I have seen 9200.

[mcleodclan]

Just get one of these http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7GGHNNHT/title/torpedo7-hour-tach-meter

Got one on my DRZ400 and seems to work OK, just make sure you order a 4 stroke one otherwise you have to divide by 2 like I do, not sure if my cockup or theirs but mainly wanted the hour meter anyway so all good.

Thanks mate