Too much trans oil in my T500

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:09 am

Today I took my '75 T500 out for the second 20 mile ride since I got it all back together and running well. I warmed it up real good so I could change the trans oil. Arrived home and removed the Shift Cam Guide bolt and Oil Drain Plug bolt per Suzuki Service Bulletin T-5 dated 19-Mar-1976.

(Note: the PO never changed oil properly as the only bolt that was clean was the neutral Detent Bolt - the other two listed above were covered in years of road grime.)

Anyway, I drained out almost 2 quarts of oil (about 1900cc)! I know it's been in there for a while since it was fairly gray. I was dismayed to see so much oil come out of the trans and concerned about what damage, if any, this could've caused.

Your thoughts and comments would be most appreciated.
Thanks - Dane

p.s.: I plan to use Motul 10/30 2-stroke trans oil. Neat thing is it comes in a 1000ml bottle (1000ml = 1000cc) making it real easy to put in 1400 cc.

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:20 am

Dane im sure the extra oil might make the clutch want to slip if the bike was ridden long and hard enough.
However the alternative of a low oil level and destroyed 5th gears would be more annoying.
Drain it all out put in the correct amount and go for a ride... it should be fine.

Buffalo-guy · Post by **Buffalo-guy** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:00 pm

Am I too late? If memory serves, Suzuki service bulletins recommended increasing oil volume to 1600 ml to provide improved oil level for primary gear lubrication. Maybe Rick has that info in his bottomless sourse of factory bulletins. I might be tempted to use a heavier grade of oil, maybe 20/40.
Suzuki seemed to recommend that weight for most of their bikes, and I believe Yamaha still makes that grade. I use any available motorcyle rated 20/50 in my Suzukis, and it works just fine. The motorcycle rating is important in order to have the friction modifiers required for wet clutch duty.
Regular motor oil doesn't have that. Cheers.
Fred

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:06 pm

Fred i knew of the transmission oil update to 1400ccs for the T500 but i never heard of the 1600cc amount. Do you have a service related literature showing this figure.

H2RICK · Post by **H2RICK** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:15 pm

Well, the only other example of this kind of thing I remember is the early 380s (J & K) were supposed to have a flashboard installed (much like the early Titans) to raise the capacity up to 1500cc. The L and later cases had the castings changed so that the flashboard wasn't needed.....just like they did to the later Titans. Can't seem to remember anything about 1600cc......

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:18 am

Alan, thanks for the insight.
Fred, You're not too late. After I changed the engine oil and before I rode the bike I got distracted with cleaning the oil tank. It was filled with nasty brown Torco. It also had about 1" of sludge in the bottom! Luckily the filter was about 1/2" above the sludge level. I'm waiting on Suzuki to get me a filter and backordered rubber o-ring so I can put the oil tank back together. I'm hoping the 10/30 Motul will be okay. The tranny shifted fine with the old stuff in it (whatever the PO had installled). I too have only heard of the Titan's having gone from a 1,200cc to 1,400cc upgrade.

Buffalo-guy · Post by **Buffalo-guy** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:43 am

Well, if Rick doesn't have evidence of 1600 ml upgrade, then its entirely possible that I am mistaken. I know its hard to believe, but its true.
Fred

frappy · Post by **frappy** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:52 am

Today I measured precisely how much old oil that drained out of my trans before I sent it off to recycling - 2200cc!!! POs are amazing aren't they?

H2RICK · Post by **H2RICK** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 am

Wow, frappy. You're lucky you didn't blow a seal out somewhere with that much oil in the old girl.

POs are amazing aren't they?

Well, that's not QUITE how I'd phrase it....but then this IS a family board.

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:14 pm

Buffalo-guy wrote:Well, if Rick doesn't have evidence of 1600 ml upgrade, then its entirely possible that I am mistaken. I know its hard to believe, but its true.
Fred

I know that feeling. I thought I was wrong once.......but I was mistaken!

Lane