HELP! Oil Dipstick problem

[xprtrpr]

Hello, OK, so I did an oil change on my sled tonight. I have a couple of questions...

1) While checking the oil level, somehow I lost the little "plate" at the bottom of the dipstick. So now instead of a cylinder with a closed bottom, it is open (now the tan cylinder part rides up the little poles it's attached too when putting into reservoir), guess where the plate went?? Into the oil reservoir!! So, my question, is there an easy way to get this thing OUT of the oil reservoir? If I drain the oil again (which I have to do anyway, somehow I didn't notice that one of the washers came off from one of the oil drain bolts. So, I button up sled and fill oil, and check oil, lose the plate, and in my annoyance never say the washer until the drip pan drained. IDIOT) and I take off the bottom section where the screen is, do you think the plastic piece will come out? Can I shine a light in there and root around with a screwdriver or something to get this thing out of there? If I can't get it out, is this thing going to cause a legitimate restriction of oil flow?

2) I also changed the filter, and I went to Yamaha dealership, without manual, and they gave me an oil filter. I take off old filter and go to verify the part number and it's off by a little bit, instead of 00, it's a 20 at the end of part number. The difference that I can see is it is about 1/2 inch shorter. I put it on for now, hoping that dealership knew what they were giving me, and coming to you guys for guidance, does it really matter if the filter is a little smaller? Not trying to sound ignorant, just would like info from you experts.

Let's see, anything else I screwed up tonight? hmmm, I can't remember....

Thanks for your help in advance!!

 

[LazyBastard]

1) I would suggest that the easiest way to get the piece out would be to shake the oil can upside down. Not a good thing. As for restricting oil flow, not much. You remember looking at the screen, right? Just picture how LITTLE of that screen a small flat piece of plastic could actually cover.

2) Your oil filter is fine. The new one is shorter because of some newer machine that has a space restriction, so they've discontinued the old filter.

 

[xprtrpr]

Thanks LB, that helps me feel a little better. I felt that I could ride with no problem with that little piece of plastic in there, since like you said, the screen is so large. For my own sanity I would like it OUT of there though LOL

Should I get a new dipstick? Is that plastic piece important?

Thanks for the info on the oil filter!!

 

[LazyBastard]

If you can get it out, you can fix it.
You don't want any more parts falling in there.
If you're not comfortable fixing it, I suggest either making absolutely sure that nothing else is going to fall in (ie, by cutting off the sensor or by replacing it). If you kill your sensor, its ok to drive, but you'll have to pay twice as much attention to the oil level.

 

[grader]

if you drain the clean oil from the tank into a clean container you can remove the screen and fish out the piece through the hole. if you leave it then lb summed it up, it wont hurt anything.

 

[xprtrpr]

OK, I drained the tank to try and get to the end of the dipstick, and it quickly came apparent that it was almost impossibel to find it with the different "levels" in the tank.

So, I have ANOTHER possible problem, I swear I have never been this moronic with wrenching. Ok, so I refilled the oil tank, started motor, let it get warm, I was low as I hoped....
Then added more oil, I was at the bottom of E, and so I had about 4 more ounces of oil left, and I swear it went up over F now. It's not much but it is definitely over the F by less than an 1/8th of an inch. So, I have heard so many people saying to NOT overfill it. The overfilling wasn't apparent until I came back from riding it and running it for a few miles... So, of course the stupid thing was buttoned back up, so I didn't want to drain out a few ounces of oil if I didn't need too.

Knock on wood, my sled doesn't burn oil yet, so that won't be a solution lol

 

[Convert]

How soon after riding did you check it again? Not sure what you know or don't know but you have to let it sit for a few mins after riding or it will read high, you also need to insert the dipstick but don't screw it in then check it.

 

[xprtrpr]

I checked it after moving the sled in the garage (engine off) so probably 5 minutes later, but it was running pretty warm. I had just got it unstuck from the 3 feet of snow on our property where it decided to sink in a turn and start to dig a hole.... needless to say, I have no luck with this sled this year, and it's all been MY fault! I ended up having to bring my snowblower about 1000 feet through the 3 feet of snow to clear all the snow around the sled and pulling the sled out of the hole . A 5 minute joyride turned into a hour long nightmare! It wasn't running for that whole hour obviously, but it was pretty damn warm.

EDIT: Oh, it's a damn good question about how much I know, trust me, but I checked the oil without screwing in the dipstick.

 

[Convert]

I would say warm it up one more time and check it again, if it's marginal over full I would'nt worry about it. You can always grab a syringe and a piece of hose and take a little out if it makes ya feel better.