Gear selection trouble

[magsmagsmags]

Do i need to drain the oil just to have a look? or do i only need to do that if im going to be removing the oil pump?

[ashtong63]

And also just to check, do i need to drain the oil before i remove the cover? or is it only necessary if i'm actually going to replace it

I'm pretty sure you can just lay the bike over on it's left side and remove the cover without draining the oil.

[reelrazor]

You will only lose an ounce or two of oil if the bike is on the sidestand and has sat like that fro 15 minutes or so.

[magsmagsmags]

sorry if i'm being dumb, but are you sure you mean lay it down on its left side?
is the clutch / gear assembly not on the left hand side?

I'm not trying to catch you out, i'm just checking

[the_finch]

sorry if i'm being dumb, but are you sure you mean lay it down on its left side?
is the clutch / gear assembly not on the left hand side?

I'm not trying to catch you out, i'm just checking

As yours is a 400 (I'm supposing 3TJ) it may be mildly different than my 600, but basic layout should be the same. Clutch is on the right side, behind the cover with the oil fill cap. To explain without writing a page on the workings, the clutch cable and shifter are on the left, but they have rods that go through the motor and work the clutch and the shift mechanism on the right side. In the picture I posted a few posts ago, if you look to the right of the clutch assembly, those gears are the starter gears that go under the "peanut" cover.

In a nutshell, yes, you should be able to lean it over on the kickstand without having to drain the oil, though I always change the oil after cracking the cases for any reason.