Just topped up my oil on my 748 for the first time (only had the bike a year) so I put it on the rear paddock stand and topped up to around 3/4 between the two markers but when I took it off the stand and sat on it the level was a fair bit higher; do the paddock stands get the bike really level? I'm a novice at this so any advice would be good re topping up level tips!
The paddock stand will tip the bike on its nose a bit, so I'm guessing thats why its slightly over filled. To get it level you'll need paddock stands at both ends...others will have better ideas though I recon :Wideyed:
Cheers, it looks level on the stand but I reckon it must be leaning (stand side) just a tad, makes it a bit trickier to do its on your own, I'll have to drain a bit on the morning.
The bike will not be level on the rear stand alone. You need somebody to hold the bike straight up for you or use a stand at both ends. Just the rear stand will make a big difference
Or find a piece of wood that will just fit under the back wheel when it's on the stand and put it under the front before you lift the rear.
As Haydn says get someone to hold the bike on a level surface on both wheels, set the correct level then put it on the paddock stand to see where you need to fill it on the paddock stand for future top ups. I hold it upright slightly leaning against my side and lean down to check the level in the window but it needs good light and a strong/steady arm - I would not recommend it).
I sit on the floor, pull her up towards me and find the balance point, then slowly lowering back down on the side stand. Wouldn't work with a silly spring up suicide stand.
You can't check the oil accurately while the bike is on a rear paddock stand or both front and rear paddock stands. The bike needs to be on its tyres and held up by another individual. Or you will most certainly get the wrong readings, and as we all know too much oil is just as bad as not enough!
I check my 916 oil on the paddock stand, yes the level is slightly different than when flat on the ground but not by much. If it worries you, do it once and see what the difference is and then make allowances for it in the future, personally if it's a few mm higher or lower doesn't worry me as there is a reasonable margin either way. Better than risking dropping the bike if doing it on your own...
I use ratcheting axle stands on the rear bobbins. That way I can get the bike on its tyres but safely vertical. I can also lean it either way if I want to or lift it clear.
You could - Put the bike on its rear stand and mark the level next to the glass before you drop the oil with a pencil. Then refill to this mark which should give you the correct level. Fill to under the top mark on the rear stand, take the bike off the stand to check the level. Repeat until you have it where you want it. Fill it to the top mark on the stand and then not worry too much about it. Posters above are correct that too much oil is not recommended, but you are talking about quite a bit more then this slight overfill would give you. I'm sure Ducati have built some level of margin in there knowing that the majority of oil changes will occur with the bike on a rear stand. I've seen my bikes serviced in the dealers and they are always only on the rear stand. When I have checked (it's always nice to see fresh oil in the sight glass ) they are almost always filled to slightly above the sight glass upper limit mark. Here is a picture on the engine of my recently Ducati main dealer serviced Streetfighter. The oil is slightly above the top mark. Buy a front paddock stand. They aren't much money, keep the bike level to help you with your problem and are handy to have for other tasks (cleaning the front wheel without moving the bike back and forth, removing the front wheel etc.) But as said above. Don't be tempted to start holding the bike on it's wheels while trying to fill and check the level. You might get away with it, you might not.
