Oil tank empty after layup

[Mike Rocket]

Has anyone got a comment on this?
I laid up my 2014 roadster with 8000 miles on the clock from September 28 2017 to now, December 26 2017 and today I dipped the oil and the tank is empty. It's been standing for almost 3 months.
While I was using it even with it standing unused for 2 weeks the oil level was fine.
It has no leaks externally.
I know a check valve is supposed to keep the oil in the tank so does this usually happen when not using the bike for a few months?
Is it safe to start the engine with all the oil in the sump? Any comments welcome please.

 

[Jag]

All your oil leaked down to the crankcase.
You will be ok to start it. If you are concerned you could drain some oil from the pan and dump it in the tank.

 

[warp9.9]

Leak down (dribble) is most likely from one of the oil nozzles. Like the one that sprays the clutch basket. Fire her up and the scavenger pumps will return the oil to the tank.

 

[Joesmoe]

I thought that is the Triumph-recommended procedure for checking the oil: start and run for one minute; shut down, and check.

 

[warp9.9]

I thought that is the Triumph-recommended procedure for checking the oil: start and run for one minute; shut down, and check.

Yes you are correct. I can only speculate why the nozzle dribbles. But to check it out I added oil to my tank while I had the clutch cover off. And well now I know why my tank has drained down after a while

 

[Triple Trouble]

The scavenge (return) side of the oil pump is twice the capacity of the pressure side and that's what keeps the sump "dry". If the oil tank is really empty I wouldn't start the engine until I'd put some oil in the tank. It will return the oil to the tank upon starting but if there is nothing in the tank initially you might run the risk of low pressure. It might take more than a minute to completely clear the sump and fill the rank if really empty. If adding oil initially you might end up with more oil in the tank than you need in which case a turkey baster is oerfect to lower the level. This might be a good time of year to find one . I wouldn't rev the motor until I was sure the sump was dry.

 

[Grumpy Ole Codger]

Good old Turkey basters seem to be used for far more than they were originally designed for

 

[kipper]

It happens to my bike over the winter layup .I usually put a clean container under the sump and undo the front sump plug to drain the oil,then refill the tank and fire her up.

 

[Mike Rocket]

Thanks for all replies. It seems a crap design to me. I am worried about starting the motor with the tank empty but as this oil problem seems to apply to a lot of bikes can it really be that unsafe to fire bike up as long as I don't rev it until oil tank is full. As long as oil light goes out quickly can I assume it would be safe?
Surely it's not required to top oil tank up and then have to remove excess oil once it has pumped back to the tank?

 

[kipper]

Mike, drain the oil then refill the tank with it.