450L stuck dipstick

[SirLancelot]

I just bought a really nice '86 450L for my wife to learn to ride on. I am having a heck of a problem getting the oil filler cap/dipstick to budge. The previous owner changed the oil last August and it feels like he must have way over tightened it. Or am I missing something and this cap has left hand threads. I'm going to call the previous owner but I wanted to check here first. Any ideas?

BTW, I ride a Kawasaki Concours and this is our first Suzuki. A fellow COG (Concours Owners Group) member recommended this site for the GS. Looks like a great site. Hello to all!

Rick

[kparkfan]

My 450 dip stick was the same way. still is every time you go to use it. i just use a pair of needle nose pliers and give it a turn.

[SirLancelot]

My 450 dip stick was the same way. still is every time you go to use it. i just use a pair of needle nose pliers and give it a turn.

Thanks! I was wondering if it was just me. I was finally able to get it off with an adjustable wrench.

I see that you're in Riverside, OH. We're just down the road in Miamisburg.

[kparkfan]

Yeah those things can be a pain in the butt. lol Good to see we have another fellow gs'er in the area. im currently getting mine back to running. I just got my bike liscense myself. These little 450's are fun to work on. specially for the beginner like me.

[Steve]

First of all,

I see that you're in Riverside, OH. We're just down the road in Miamisburg.

Be careful greeting "neighbors" there, Sir Lancelot, I am just across the freeway from you.

About your oil cap ... there should be a o-ring sealing the cap to the clutch cover. You should not have to crank the cap down so tight that it binds. And yes, it has the 'normal' right-hand threads, so turn it counter clock-wise to remove it.

Need help? Let me know.

.

[SirLancelot]

First of all,

Be careful greeting "neighbors" there, Sir Lancelot, I am just across the freeway from you.

About your oil cap ... there should be a o-ring sealing the cap to the clutch cover. You should not have to crank the cap down so tight that it binds. And yes, it has the 'normal' right-hand threads, so turn it counter clock-wise to remove it.

Need help? Let me know.

.

Hi Steve,
I found a website (M R Cycles) with a parts explosion and saw the o-ring. Mine does not have that so I went ahead and ordered it. Thanks!

I do have another question. About the valve clearance. The previous owner gave me a Clymer manual and it lists valve clearance as 0.03-0.08 mm or 0.0012-0.0016 in. That's quite a bit tighter than the specs for my Connie. Is this correct?