Ooops...Sight Glass Fell inside

[CoolBeans]

Hello to all who read the following. Sight glass fell inside the engine. How I did such a bone head move is besides the point. Any suggestions of how to proceed to get it out? I have a tentative plan of action however...I don't want to make a bad situation worst! I have a 2002 R1150R. Thanks!

[towerworker]

Pick the bike up, hold it upside down and shake it real good!

That's the first time I've ever heard that happening. I wouldn't know where to tell you to start. It's not like you can just drop the oil pan cause there ain't one! I wish you the best though. Maybe CycleRob will see this post. He's the recognized authority on all things R!

[garr2]

How I did such a bone head move is besides the point.

Yeah ....... but we'd still like to know.

[CycleRob]

I'm guessing it got knocked in there when installing a new plastic window? There is a metal backing that would make that really hard to do. So we know what is being talked about, here is a link to that new window assembly:

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/ ... 06_1_B.jpg

Getting it out of the crankcase will be difficult because of the way the engine comes apart. You can try removing the left valve cover and camshaft sprocket to get the chain up-n-out of the way. Then an attached slender 3 foot long vacuum hose inserted in there (oil drained) wiggle it around and eventually latch onto it (vacuum motor revs up) for removal. I'm not sure if the popped in plastic window by itself will float in the engine oil (a bad thing), but if it does not float you could just leave it in there. At worst it will partially slow the oil draining at oil change time. The oil pickup screen will keep it out of the oiling system.

BTW, I am not the authority on all things R1150R, just one of the real world experienced resident contributors.

[hank]

Having recently seen some photos of an 1150 engine strip I reckon you will have to take the tank off the bike, remove the black plastic belt cover on the front of the engine and pull out the alternator. Next you will have to take off the lower alternator pulley. Do not loosen the three bolts that are under the pulley or you will lose the ignition timing. You can then undo the bolts on the front of the engine and remove the cover with the timing plate in place, be carefull not to damage the hall sensor wires when you disconnect them.

You should now be able to see inside the engine and hopefully be able to locate and remove the oil sight glass.

Now fair is fair, when you tell us how you managed to get the glass inside the engine I will tell you how to put it back together again.

You can see the oil sight glass hole at the bottom right of this engine with the front cover rmoved so I'm guessing that this is where you will find your glass inside the engine.

[towerworker]

Looks like a bit of a job for a Sunday afternoon! (with me it would be many Sundays!)

[CoolBeans]

Thanks Hank! I will try that this weekend and upon success...the "bone head" details will follow. I'm glad I was busy working and did not try what I was going to do.

[CoolBeans]

@ CycleRob....It's the metal backing that fell inside. I'm kinda liking just leaving it in. Would it float or just stay at the bottom... Not sure! I'm not too keen on taking the engine partially apart. I will but leaving it would be so easy to do.

[CycleRob]

CoolBeans, You should'a said it was just the oil window metal cage backing in the beginning. Taking off the front engine cover is not for the average tinkerer in that an oil seal or case joint leak, too loose/tight an alternator belt, under/over tightened bolts, a misaligned then crushed trigger disk alignment tab or pinched wires afterward would make you wish someone else did the job. Then again, taking off the camshaft sprocket is no walk-in-the-park either.

A "well done" to Hank for finding and posting a great pic showing the inside view of the oil window.

My favorite rule-of-thumb is to always make the easy shots first and why I suggested the (shop) vacuum (taped on) wandering hose method. Now that I know it's just the metal backing plate, buy another oil window assembly, drill and screw remove the plastic window and it's rubber holder, then go thru the window hole with a telescoping magnetic probe. If the part is not within the range or reach of the telescoping magnet, try something else. I'd tie and tape a string really good around a magnet small enough to fit thru the oil window opening, then use a long thin screwdriver to kick it around in all directions until you reel it in. Once you get it to the window, a pair of needle nose pliers and a screwdriver can bend/pry/pull it back outside the opening. Since it won't be re-used, you can scrunch it up with tools so it will fit thru the opening. After that, do not repeat the first installation mistake, whatever it was.

[hank]

CoolBeans, go thru the window hole with a telescoping magnetic probe. If the part is not within the range or reach of the telescoping magnet, try something else. I'd tie and tape a string really good around a magnet small enough to fit thru the oil window opening, then use a long thin screwdriver to kick it around in all directions until you reel it in. Once you get it to the window, a pair of needle nose pliers and a screwdriver can bend/pry/pull it back outside the opening. Since it won't be re-used, you can scrunch it up with tools so it will fit thru the opening. After that, do not repeat the first installation mistake, whatever it was.

Good call Rob, but I have a feeling that the metal part of the sight glass is stainless steel and wont react to magnets. Unfortunately I just threw out an old sight glass last week so I can't even check if it is. Hope for Coolbeans sake it is attractive to magnetic force.

[CoolBeans]

Appreciate all the input...I have a new sight glass and the metal back must not be stainless steel because a magnet can "grab" it! I'm trying the magnet on a string next.

[towerworker]

I still think all you need to do is pick up the bike and hold it upside down and shake it real good.

[R100CS]

BTW: Some sorts of stainless are magnetic, most aren't.
Had some rivetnuts of magnetic stainless.
The structure was no good for placing with the normal tools.
So we got new ones (that weren't magnetic) from our supplier.