Dirt etc in the casings after head strip down ?

[ukjules]

Bike - GS550ET 1980

This is a semi hypothetical question that can be deleted if it
is too daft for comment. I expect cranks ... and possibly rightly so.

The issue I have is, I "might" have dirt, etc (and goodness knows what) -in the crankcase after
removing the head and cylinder on my bike - rather brutally. I wont go into why
it was brutal - but lets take that as said. (see my other post/thread)

Of course on the other hand I might have nothing whatsoever in the crankcase at all.
This is equally possible.

The ideal would be to continue on and strip down the crank etc - but I cant do that - I am going to take the risk
as it is summer and I must drive the bike. If I am wrong then ill strip it down again.

So:
What can i do to minimise this risk of a possible foreign body / bodies in the crank ?
without taking the lower casing to bits.

1) out with the old oil
run a few mins - new oil chage and filter ........
?
?

 

[Brendan W]

This is a semi-hypothetical answer

The main mechanism for dirt getting in is falling. To prevent this you could hang the bike upside down for the strip down which then becomes a strip up technically.
The time honoured way is to plug the holes with rags or paper towels and keep removing all the bits of old gasket as you go. Count all the tools, fasteners and o-rings as well.
Is it perfect ? No. Will something get in? Almost inevitable but that's what the strainer is for on the oil pickup provided you don't go crazy letting large amounts drop in.
Dropping the pan at the same time is no big extra stretch and would give extra peace of mind and you'll probably be surprised at the community of diverse objects already lying down there. I was. Washers, bits of wire etc etc
Quick oil change does no harm either.

 

[Guest]

this is the rebuild that keeps on giving....drop the pan. just remove the bolts first. or don't, but post up some video, willya?

 

[Sandy]

Remove the oil pan and flush/flood with a good amount of solvent into a drain pan then put in some cheap oil and run it until warm. Then change the oil while you're waiting for it to cool for your first re-torque.

 

[dorkburger]

Somewhat related to the topic, I had the gas tank off for a carb sych, and was fairly appalled at the amount of crud I saw in the spark plug valley in the head. Enough that I wont pull them out before a thorough cleaning.

 

[Crankthat]

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I took my pan off last week to replace with one that I have not stripped out the plug threads on.
I also did the 750 oil pressure relief valve mod for the 16 valve 750.

The first pict shows parts of metal from a clutch friction plate I destroyed a few years back.
The second picture is of the screen on my sump.
Many of the slots in the screen had shavings in them.

When the clutch plate fried I replaced and changed the oil with a new filter.
The oil had many particles from the clutch.
After 100 miles or so I changed the oil and filter again.

After doing the mod and cleaning the strainer the bike seems just a bit smoother.
May just be my imagination.
Glad I did it though.

If you pull the pan like you should you will have a bit of work ahead of you.
A old gasket baked on as it is can be a real p.i.t.a.
I was lucky as I found a lip on my pan from forging that stuck out a bit from the case.
Made it a breeze to pop off. (old gasket can feel like a lip also so be careful in identification)

I do not know if you have bolts holding your strainer on or not.
They are locked on pretty tight if you do.
You may be lucky and have a funnel shaped sump that comes off as a single unit.
Much easier to pop out.

I used the head of my impact driver attached to a half inch drive with the largest phillips bit I have.
I was able to jam my palm under to exert pressure while winding my drive.
If your motor is out I would suggest using the impact driver as it is meant to be used to avoid stripping the phillips grips on the bolts.
I removed mine without major hassle but....
If you look close at the second picture you will see the head of the phillips bolt started to deform.

I spent hours on my back slowly and carefully removing the old baked on gasket.
It rather sucked but it was worth it.
If I ever do this on another bike I will be removing the motor first.

 

[mikerophone]

Definitely easier to remove the gasket and those pesky JIS screws with the motor out. UKjules, heat them up with a torch good and yes, use the impact. I've heard of guys laying the bike on its side as well, I also spent hours on my back with my first one, below.

Heres mine in my 850G over the winter, also had a blown clutch when I bought it, bits of clutch and lots of sludge.

Sludge!:

Bits of clutch plates and yep, also some wire:

And my current project - my other 850 motor which is out of the bike makes it so easy to clean, screen was relatively clear (bike has 12k miles) but sat for 23 years so lots of sludge just pull the pan and clean the screen for peace of mind:

Thanks for reminding me about the screws Crankthat - I'll replace them with allens while its out.

Not to thread jack, but I am interested in in the oil pressure relief valve mod for my 83 16V 750, do you have a link or walk through post? I haven't searched and will when I get closer just wondering about it.

 

[Crankthat]

[QUOTE/]Not to thread jack, but I am interested in in the oil pressure relief valve mod for my 83 16V 750, do you have a link or walk through post? I haven't searched and will when I get closer just wondering about it.[/QUOTE]


Will PM you, will take a bit to type, I am slow in that regard.

 

[ukjules]

Great advice and thanks to all.
All taken on board and have penned out a sequence to follow.

Always forget the , put bike on side possibility too.
I saw once a chap with a rope slung over rafters , and around frame
to hold and lower bike easily.

For peace of mind I will have to do this , even though I have
been forensic with care post cylinder removal.

 

[Grimly]

Definitely easier to remove the gasket and those pesky JIS screws with the motor out. UKjules, heat them up with a torch good and yes, use the impact. I've heard of guys laying the bike on its side as well.

I'm now a firm convert to tipping them over, especially if they're no beauty queen anyway.

 

[mikerophone]

I'm now a firm convert to tipping them over, especially if they're no beauty queen anyway.

I have a couple that aren't beauty queens for sure! I set my Magna on it's side years ago when I switched out the motor since I was doing it alone. Now I just put them on the center stand (if equipped) and use a ratchet strap or come-along up over the rafters.

 

[ukjules]

That is what I am going to have to do ! My bike however will have pillows bought for it just in case
its delicate structure is marked.

 

[Crankthat]

Bad things happen to me and my bikes the times I have seen them in that position....

 

[barnbiketom]

Bad things happen to me and my bikes the times I have seen them in that position....

that pic brings pain to my right arm.

 

[Grimly]

You'll notice the prayer mat and the Birmingham Screwdrivers. The precision involved was demanding.

 

[ukjules]

Question - one of you guys said to remove oil pan and flush out with solvent ?
I kinda like that idea BUT

What sort of solvent would that be ?I cant think of what I want to pour into the engine ?
What did you use ? There was no harm later on ?

For interest:
On the center stand on my gs550e 1980, there is plenty of room with the exhausts off
to get at the pan. Fortunately I had done it before so the gasket was easy to get off.
Using my drill and soft brass circular small brush the faces are cleaned up quickly with
a bit of paint thinner to soften the hard bits. Bit of parts cleaner to clean up and perfectly flat and smooth.

The pan was as clean as can be. I do treat the bike well though - usually bar on tough rebuilds.

 

[Sandy]

Question - one of you guys said to remove oil pan and flush out with solvent ?
I kinda like that idea BUT

What sort of solvent would that be ?I cant think of what I want to pour into the engine ?
What did you use ? There was no harm later on ?

For interest:
On the center stand on my gs550e 1980, there is plenty of room with the exhausts off
to get at the pan. Fortunately I had done it before so the gasket was easy to get off.
Using my drill and soft brass circular small brush the faces are cleaned up quickly with
a bit of paint thinner to soften the hard bits. Bit of parts cleaner to clean up and perfectly flat and smooth.

The pan was as clean as can be. I do treat the bike well though - usually bar on tough rebuilds.

After picking as much debris out with various screwdrivers and sticks coated with grease I just poured varsol in from the top, enough to wash the remaining particles through to a pan under the motor. Don't just pour the whole container in. Once I thought everything came out the bottom I spun the crank (do not spin the crank with dirt in there and do not use compressed air) as best I could and flushed the bearings and looked for any more stuff that shouldn't be there. I bought a gallon of cheap 15W/40 oil and poured some in to flush the residual varsol out as well make sure everything had good coating of oil on it. After reassembly I then used the remaining oil for the initial startup and warmup then immediately drained it and changed the filter. I left the old filter in until now. I don't know if any of this procedure is recommended but it seemed to work for me and saved a total disassembly. A few thousand miles later all is well.