Just how "not good" is this?

napanorton · Sep 13, 2011

Went to change the oil and found this on my magnetic sump plug. I'm used a to a bit of "hair", but this seems like too much. It's probably been around 2K miles since I last changed the oil. Just seems a bit excessive to me... So the question is how much of this stuff should one expect and when do you go "hmmm that don't look good"?

Thanks, David

swooshdave · Sep 13, 2011

Probably not great.

bwolfie · Sep 13, 2011

Can you read any part numbers on the material :roll: It dosn't look good, could be an indication of the cam letting go. That's my 2 cents worth.

napanorton · Sep 13, 2011

It has been getting pretty noisy - as in sounds like rod or cam stuff. I'm planning on tearing it down, but was kinda interested in if this is something I should do immediately or can I wait until winter....

napanorton · Sep 13, 2011

Ha Ha - Well funny you should ask. I was able to make out "ade in Engl" on one of the pieces....

Diablouph · Sep 13, 2011

Look on the bright side. The bike is getting lighter.

Jeandr · Sep 13, 2011

napanorton said:
It has been getting pretty noisy - as in sounds like rod or cam stuff. I'm planning on tearing it down, but was kinda interested in if this is something I should do immediately or can I wait until winter....

You can wait until winter if you don't ride it :mrgreen:

Jean

napanorton · Sep 13, 2011

I suppose I knew the answer to this before I posted. So, I guess I'll start tearing it down tomorrow...

Hobot · Sep 13, 2011

Looks about normal to me going by what i found between 1000-ish mile intervals of full use of Combat-on-cam power any time I could get any with it. I hope to wear everything around me out before I expire. Swarf like that is similar to watching a Norton oil gauge. Its always better to regularly rebuild engines and some live for that but likely un-needed if not clanking or smoking, likely just loosening up for better spunk from less ring/bore friction.

napanorton · Sep 13, 2011

Hobot - nice pic! Like the feng shui of the plug, the rock, the wood. I was only able to figure out the wood part. Next picture!

Well that's the thing, it is clunking a bit and seems to have a nasty vibration. At first I thought it might be a loose tappet, but they seem to be adjusted OK. I'm pretty sure the bottom end or cam is not happy, but you could be right. It could just be the way it is, but I guess I'll find out the tried and true way - pulling it apart.

Hobot · Sep 13, 2011

hehe napa, mostly just looked like stone buttocks on a plank to me : )

As per the engine, well, how lucky or frisky to ya feel? I guess a reasonable man not strapped for resources or time should dig in while its just normal wear parts to renew. I hope i've done my last total rebuiids and once in life time special project.
My buddy Wes kept running his '71 with a clanky sound on original bottom end to have it seize 30 miles from home. Lucked out only needed new rod and piston plus rod shells to get back on road.

As ole Jimmy sang, Are You Experienced?

grandpaul · Sep 14, 2011

Think of the few parts inside the main case that are steel, and in wear positions...

Rod caps
Rod bolt hardware
cam
crank
cam followers
camchain
camchain adjuster
cam drive pinions
oil pump bits

I'm betting cam & followers...

rvich · Sep 14, 2011

That magnet works a treat! I would reuse it.

Russ

Skyguyz · Sep 14, 2011

*Insert stuffy British accent:

"Good gawd man! Best not to exposed to the commoners what is plainly a Norton hairball!
Oh, and Britton is repossessing America. I'm John Clease and I approve of this message."

kingdaddyo · Sep 14, 2011

Ouch! that doesn't look good or sound good. My concern would be having something internal break loose and causing far greater damage than you would other wise face. I would hate to read of your cases getting shattered. My vote is to roll up your sleeves and get started as soon as possible.

pete.v · Sep 14, 2011

I searched your posts for some history. Last Oct. your were in the timing chest doing oilpump maintenance. The gears and seal surfaces looked pretty bad.

What was done to the pump at that time? If not replaced, poor lubrication suspected. (rods, clamshells and crank, oh my)

Did you adjust the timing chain at that time? Suspect adjuster wear.

Has the oil been changed since that time? If so, was there bits on the drain plug? If no oil change since, you may or may not want to run a another hundred miles to see if you get more bits or if no bits, perhaps was this just a temporary collection after work being done.

Whatever transpires here, I would say the need for a magnetic drain plug is paramount.

From your Oct. 13 2010 post.

grandpaul · Sep 14, 2011

Remember, my reply only touched on susceptible STEEL parts; let's not even think of all the ALUMINUM stuff that could be headed south and isn't stuck on your magnet...

pete.v · Sep 14, 2011

grandpaul said:
Remember, my reply only touched on susceptible STEEL parts; let's not even think of all the ALUMINUM stuff that could be headed south and isn't stuck on your magnet...

Yes. Once bits get into the oil tunnels it is a compounded problem.. Better get to workin on it.

napanorton · Sep 14, 2011

When I had the oil pump out I attempted to set the end float and clean it up. The gears were trashed, but I put em back in. I suppose that point I knew the oil pump had probably passed a bunch of debris, so the engine was on borrowed time. I guess I was interested to see what would happen. As it turned out, it's gotten pretty noisy - as in knocking and buzzing. So apart it comes. I now have a better pump to install when I get it back together.

pete.v · Sep 14, 2011

napanorton said:
When I had the oil pump out I attempted to set the end float and clean it up. The gears were trashed, but I put em back in. I suppose that point I knew the oil pump had probably passed a bunch of debris, so the engine was on borrowed time. I guess I was interested to see what would happen. As it turned out, it's gotten pretty noisy - as in knocking and buzzing. So apart it comes. I now have a better pump to install when I get it back together.

That's probably for the best. Please let us watch your progress.

Just how "not good" is this?

Similar threads