A
Anonymous
Guest
The last time I changed oil on my bike (my first bike, had it for about 2500 miles now) I found some metal flakes in the oil filter. It was suggested that I drop the oil pan and see if I could find anything drastically wrong that might be causing the problem.
So, after waiting a month or so for all the gaskets that I thought I'd need to get it buttoned back up, I tore into it this afternoon. I only brok one exhaust bolt while pulling the exhaust system, which is better than it could have been. I've got the penetrating oil working on it right now. Might take a propane torch to it tomorrow...
BUT ... I eventually get to the oil pan. No real trouble getting the bolts out. A minor amount of whacking the pan with a rubber mallet and a chunk of two-by-four to get it to pop loose, and drop away. And what should I find ... but ... THIS:
http://www.mitchn.com/OilPanProject/OilSeparatorPlate.jpg
Now, that CAN'T be good. I coudn't see where it dropped loose from right away... but it's been through the wringer a bit. I poked around on the crankcase diagrams on www.bikebandit.com, and it looks like it's one of two 'separator plate, oil' for this bike.
Unfortunately, if that's true, it'll involve splitting the cases to get at.
So ... what's the oil separator do? Separate oil and water? Oil and air? Star-bellied-sneeches from plain-bellied sneetches?
Oh, yeah. You can express sympathy, too. I think my bike's laid up until I can find a donor engine and attempt my first engine rebuild.
--Mitch
So, after waiting a month or so for all the gaskets that I thought I'd need to get it buttoned back up, I tore into it this afternoon. I only brok one exhaust bolt while pulling the exhaust system, which is better than it could have been. I've got the penetrating oil working on it right now. Might take a propane torch to it tomorrow...
BUT ... I eventually get to the oil pan. No real trouble getting the bolts out. A minor amount of whacking the pan with a rubber mallet and a chunk of two-by-four to get it to pop loose, and drop away. And what should I find ... but ... THIS:
http://www.mitchn.com/OilPanProject/OilSeparatorPlate.jpg
Now, that CAN'T be good. I coudn't see where it dropped loose from right away... but it's been through the wringer a bit. I poked around on the crankcase diagrams on www.bikebandit.com, and it looks like it's one of two 'separator plate, oil' for this bike.
Unfortunately, if that's true, it'll involve splitting the cases to get at.
So ... what's the oil separator do? Separate oil and water? Oil and air? Star-bellied-sneeches from plain-bellied sneetches?
Oh, yeah. You can express sympathy, too. I think my bike's laid up until I can find a donor engine and attempt my first engine rebuild.
--Mitch