Oil level sight glass replacement

[Gc33]

Hi. I dunno if any of yas are interested. Recently I've been working on my 75 1000. I managed to get the sight glass out in one piece but on my other engine it shattered.
So I started looking for an alternative. I came up with a couple of options. One is from BMW. Perfect fit... Pricey but perfect. The other option I cannot confirm but from Suzuki's DL650 and 1000 Vstrom. I had a look at a mates vstrom.. Look as if it may be suitable. But I can say that the BMW one is spot on.

[Whiskerfish]

The oil level sight glass is a Oval about a inch tall by maybe 3/8's of an inch wide and is installed from inside the engine block down on the right side of the crankcase. I "think" what you show is a timing window that screws into the top of the crankcase. From the factory that is just a plug

BOLT, SPECIAL (25MM)

90008-443-000

Honda

Looks like this

s-l300.jpg

[Lucien Harpress]

Naw, you might be good. The glass looks oval from the outside but the actual window is circular (with the wiper in the middle).

I only know because I've done a bit of looking because mine leaks. But I'm not willing to split the cases...

[Gc33]

No.. It's not a timing window.... BMW's instal theirs from the outside... I am aware of the Honda's being installed from the inside. The 75s did not have a wiper in them.
76 onward did. And the 75 is actually made of thick material unlike the later wipers...
The photos I provided... Are 1...my old glass I removed.. And 2...the new BMW one.
The pic attached is from the website advertising the window...

[Gc33]

The oil level sight glass is a Oval about a inch tall by maybe 3/8's of an inch wide and is installed from inside the engine block down on the right side of the crankcase. I "think" what you show is a timing window that screws into the top of the crankcase. From the factory that is just a plug

BOLT, SPECIAL (25MM)

90008-443-000

Honda

Looks like this
s-l300.jpg

When you strip the engine you'll see the glass inside is actually what I've posted!

[Gc33]

Naw, you might be good. The glass looks oval from the outside but the actual window is circular (with the wiper in the middle).

I only know because I've done a bit of looking because mine leaks. But I'm not willing to split the cases...

Yes you are correct but the early ones did not have a wiper. My 75 engine doesn't... 76 does. And it is actually documented in this book if I recall correctly...

[Whiskerfish]

Very good. I have not looked at one in quite a while

[heraldhamster]

I've only seen two of them from the inside of the case. and neither of them seemed "removable"... but then, I guess if you're replacing it, it's okay if it shatters.

Are they actually glass or polycarbonate? ('cuz I've seen a Vetter polycarbonate W/S shatter)

[77Gowing]

Pardon my lymp levity, but I thought the timing window was an oil sight glass. When you look through it all you see are timing marks awash in hot oil.

[AussieGold]

here is the oil level sight glass from the inside. this one was so filthy, the PO decided to drill and tap a bolthole to maintain the oil level. drain the oil, refill until oil comes out the bolt hole. replace bolt. Aussie bush mechanic......

oil level bolt hole.jpg

here is the bolt on the outside of the crankcase

oil level bolt.jpg

here is the sight glass removed. it is fitted into a special seal. the seal has a metal ring, much like a speedometer or tacho has, to retain the glass and metal backing plate.

oil level glass seal.jpg

here is the seal that does the actual sealing. it appears to me to be specially made to accommodate the glass etc. I tapped it out from the outside using a small wooden dowel and small soft blow hammer.

oil level sight seal.jpg

and here is the glass from an early 75 with no wiper. it is approx 5 mm thick and very tough. definitely glass. once removed from the seal it is unusable. job well done Gc33 for taking the time to research a replacement . also for finding a source for engine bearings. especially handy info for those of us that don't have the luxury of picking up a used engine easily.

oil level sight glass.jpg

[heraldhamster]

Wow. well done AG!
good info. Thanks!

[Gowing]

Fascinating to see that glass. Makes me wonder why we don’t have some sort of dipstick.
The sight glass works perfectly and is cool. But none on Porsche,VW, BMW, Ural or Subaru.

[redglbx]

I really wish we had a “like” button, lot’s of good info here !

[CYBORG]

Fascinating to see that glass. Makes me wonder why we don’t have some sort of dipstick.
The sight glass works perfectly and is cool. But none on Porsche,VW, BMW, Ural or Subaru.

I DO HAVE a dipstick on my 78

[Sidecar Bob]

A sight glass has to be located low enough to show the top of the oil but on a 4 cylinder 'Wing that means it is in a difficult place to see and even worse when you add a sidecar on the right side. When I had the '77 with a sidecar checking the oil involved laying across the seat with my head hanging down between the bike and sidecar with a light, a screwdriver for the wiper and a brush to clean off the dirt on the outside of the sight glass.
In those days I didn't need glasses to see close up but now I would need one hand to keep me from falling, another for the brush and screwdriver and one more to keep my glasses from falling off so my '83 has a dipstick too.