160 cc/ml OR fill until the oil level can be seen through the inspection hole?

Yesterday I thought it'll be good to change the gear oil on my Citycom. I bought 1ltr of Castrol Syntrans 75W 90 which is recommended by fellow Citycom owners...

In the manual it says: (

"Gear Oil: Oil level inspection. Park the motorcycle on a flat surface with main stand. Turn off engine and remove oil inspection bolt.
Gear lubrication oil quantity has to be measured with measure device. If oil level is too low, add gear oil. Install oil inspection bolt.
Gear Oil Change: Remove oil level inspection bolt. Remove drain plug and drain oil out. Install the drain plug after drained. Make sure that the drain plug washer can be re-used. Add oil to the specified quantity from the inspection hole.
Gear Oil Quantity: 160 c.c. when replacing.
Make sure that the bolt washer can be re-used, and install the bolt. Start engine and run for 2-3 minutes. Turn off engine and make sure that oil level is in correct level. Make sure that no oil is leaking."

And it's here that the confusion began.
After warming the scoot with a 5 mile run I removed the said bolts and let the grey/green oil drain...
After a cup of tea and a biscuit or two, I replaced the drain bolt. I measured 160ml of Syntrans and put it in... I then kept adding more expecting to see the oil level through the inspection/top-up hole. After I'd put 250ml in and I still couldn't see the oil level, I thought, hang on, the manual says 160ml but the manual innuendo says fill until you can see gear oil level with the inspection bolt hole... The scoot was parked on a level surface.

I'm now confused, and your wisdom/opinion is needed for the ingredients in the soup of decision...

Sincere thanks in advance.

This is one of those manuals that has been translated by Jonny Foreigner who almost speaks English as opposed to an Englishman who speaks in Jonny Foreigner’s language, the pictures are good though and charts etc.

Just as a guide though, did it have a leak before you started and how much oil came out. If no leak then maybe the amount of oil that came out would be a guide as to the amount to put back.

It does say inspection bolt and not level bung but again that could be down to the translation.

Too much oil though will blow the oil seals.

I am not much help I know.

Gear lubrication oil quantity has to be measured with measure device.

Do they mean a dipstick or some such device for determining the level or a measuring jug for the oil amount...?

Deeping wrote:Just as a guide though, did it have a leak before you started and how much oil came out. If no leak then maybe the amount of oil that came out would be a guide as to the amount to put back.
It does say inspection bolt and not level bung but again that could be down to the translation.
Too much oil though will blow the oil seals.
I am not much help I know.

No Deeping, you're a great help - at least I know it's not just me that finds it confusing!

No, there was no leak. Unfortunately I just used a glass jar to collect the first change of gear oil. Then after convincing myself it doesn't make sense, I decided to take the new gear oil out too and used the measuring jug to collect back almost 250ml!
So I've put another fresh 160ml of gear oil in I'm hoping that's correct.
I'm still confused with how to

"make sure that oil level is in correct level."

gn2 wrote:Gear lubrication oil quantity has to be measured with measure device.

Do they mean a dipstick or some such device for determining the level or a measuring jug for the oil amount...?

Thanks gn2,
There's only an inspection bolt, no dipstick or sight glass etc.
I'm confident they don't expect owners to drain it all out again just to check that there is still 160cc in there!
It's certainly confusing!

How often does it say to change the final drive oil?
It should last for years.

anonstarter, don't worry! All you have to do is put in 160cc of gear oil and that's it. The manual is just saying to make sure that's what you've done so the level is right, the washers don't leak, and there are no other leaks. That's all you have to do. But it can be confusing and indeed worrying when it comes to reading some of these translated manuals. Relax, you've done it right!

On a lot of scootes you cannot actually drain the Tranmission Oil... and the filler hole is on teh side, you just fill up till some dribbles out...

On others were there is a drain bolt, you can drain the Tx oil, and re-fill... On the X-Max you can drain the old oil... i then put the required amont (X-Max 250 is 250ml) in a beaker / plasic cup, and use a syringe from teh chemist to fill up... (25ml syringe so takes 10 squirts but helps with access and saves spillage - trying to get a large 125ml or 250 syringe)...

Yours may have a drain bolt and a fill-to-level hole on the side...

Recomended Tx fluid varies from Hypoid, ATF, EP80 etc i use this...
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165507
It is not the same as 10/40 engine oil... £7 Lt

Data wrote:anonstarter, don't worry! All you have to do is put in 160cc of gear oil and that's it. The manual is just saying to make sure that's what you've done so the level is right, the washers don't leak, and there are no other leaks. That's all you have to do. But it can be confusing and indeed worrying when it comes to reading some of these translated manuals. Relax, you've done it right!

Thanks Data, sometimes I try too hard to understand!

XMax250Paul wrote:On a lot of scootes you cannot actually drain the Tranmission Oil... and the filler hole is on teh side, you just fill up till some dribbles out... On others were there is a drain bolt, you can drain the Tx oil, and re-fill... On the X-Max you can drain the old oil... i then put the required amont (X-Max 250 is 250ml) in a beaker / plasic cup, and use a syringe from teh chemist to fill up... (25ml syringe so takes 10 squirts but helps with access and saves spillage - trying to get a large 125ml or 250 syringe)... Yours may have a drain bolt and a fill-to-level hole on the side...

Thanks Xmax250Paul. I'll admit I got the impression that I should be able to see the gear oil level through the inspection hole, but after putting in 250ml using a Capol syringe with a long straw attached and still not being able to see the oil, I began to fret!

I've left it with 160ml in and I'm going to check it frequently!