Hi

I recently got a roadstar in part of a divorce settlement and a friend and I decided to take it for a ride down to the lake today. The weather was perfect and I enjoy riding. Everything was fine for about thirty miles and then we noticed a ticking sound coming from the engine. We were almost there so we kept on going not thinking too much about it until we got there (probably ten milles) and noticed that the oil filter was loose and it had leaked all the oil out. We checked the oil and couldn't see any on the stick which I know is bad. We weren't broke down very long when some people stopped and agreed to give us a ride to get some oil and a wrench. Not knowing how much to get we bought two bottles and ended up putting both of them into the motor and after checking it again for the tenth time, it was still low but you could see it on the stick. Anyway, we rode it a few miles to the store and got yet more oil but it didn't take too much measure right on the stick.

We ended up riding it back and it runs fine but it's STILL TICKING and now I'm wondering if we ruined it. It "seems" to run fine and the tick isn't that loud but it's somewhat noticable and it didn't used to do that. You can't hear it when you get going fast but I think that's only because the motor is louder.

Does anybody have any idea about how bad this might be?. I can't afford to put a new motor in it.

My advice would be to first change the oil and filter and make sure you have 4 qts in there (that seems to be the general consensus on how much?) I'm not an engine guy, but I'm sure the more experienced experts will chime in soon to help out and let ya know if you did any serious damage.

Do a complete oil change with a new filter & 4 quarts of oil. Make sure you drain both the engine & oil tank. When putting the new oil in, put 2 quarts in the oil tank, run the engine for a few seconds and put the other two in. The oil tank will not hold 4 quarts so you have to get the first two into the engine before adding the other two. Give synthetic 20/50 oil a try and see if it quiets down that tick. Hopefully there ins't any damage but you never know. Good luck.

BT

I would also say drain the oil out of the (2) drain plugs, replace filter, add 4 quarts you should be good on oil. The Roadstar engine does make a certain amount of noise so you may be hearing the normal engine sounds.

NOW more importantly, you are a single lady with a Roadstar, who likes to ride.......hmmmm
I'll listen to yours and you can listen to mine
Ride Safe and take care

Sounds to me like sabotage...I have 21000 on my 05 R* and have never once had the filter come loose. If you got the bike in a divorce settlement as you say (assuming it was not yours to start with) I'd say better than even money chance you were being taught a lesson about taking his scoot...sorry to be so blunt but this kind of thing (loose oil filter) is something we never see on this forum unless we just did a bonehead thing changing our own oil...even then I cannot recall another case of this.

Running the engine without oil was an entirely bad idea...hard to say what damage might have been done but these engines use oil for lubrication AND cooling...something internal could be warped or you might have gotten extremely lucky...I am going to guesstimate replacement engine costs at $2K+.

Regards, Ted

I wanted to say that also Ted....99 out of a hundred times...that filter was turned loose before she got it. Especially knowing your "friend" would be riding it. I know the feeling...after loosing my 69 Road Runner in a divorce settlement. That car was the 2nd love of my life....(if I would of known she was planning to divorce me, it woulda been the first!)....Better check to make sure the axles and such arent loose.

If I had to GUESS I would say the valve train is the noise ...but that is just a guess....I would ask around and find a reputable mechanic...not a dealers ....look her over from top to bottom for anything that might need attention...in the mean time here is link so you can read the operating and sevice manuals for the bike....you are lucky your motor did not seize up on you and your friend. I would also check the rear tire for oil residual ...good luck with it...Coug


http://www.paulmilner.com/pm.htm

More than likely, the hydraulic lifters collapsed from lack of oil pressure, that could cause the ticking you hear..if that is all it is, they should quite down after filling up the oil and running it a while..Maybe you ought to give the bike back to your X..

Like my wife did..NOT! She sold my bird to a collecter in Louisiana! Long story short...I got the final laugh after 8 years).

Hi

Thank you for all the replys. That was great. I got in touch with my ex and asked why the filter would come loose. He told me that he couldn't find his wrench when he changed to oil and didn't want to scratch up the new filter. That was this past winter and he said that he mentioned it to me but I don't remember it if he did. He said that it didn't even start out with enough oil and it might be a rod so now I'm more concerned than ever. He's a real jerk but I don't think he would do that on purpose but I'm beginning to wonder.

My friend said that he would come over and change to oil this evening so we'll see if that helps. He said it sounds like the lifters and that they can probably be tightend but doesn't know anything about motorcycles.

I hope changing the oil helps and will let you know this afternoon.

Donna