checking for debris in oil?
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 821
Likes: 2
checking for debris in oil?
I always have my dealer change my oil (no flames please!). Is there a way to actually find out if there is debris in your oil without changing it? I doubt it if the shop lets it drain long enough to remove any debris that might find its way in! Can minor debris cause damage?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: checking for debris in oil?
I don't follow you. What kind of debris? If they are draining the oil till it stops coming out, they are doing all they can do. Sure, I'll bet they don't let it sit for an hour till the last drop comes out like some guys do at home, but I'm certain that isn't going to leave enough of any contaminent in the crankcase to make any difference.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 1
From:
RE: checking for debris in oil?
Not sure about your point other than does an oil filter do its job. There is always the remote possiblilty that debris can harm the oil pump before it gets to the oil filter - we have seen parts of bearings gall the low pressure part of the oil pump which renders the pump incapable of keeping the crancase void of oil - a rare one at that. If you'd really like to see what's in your filter, you have 2 options. Cut apart your spin on filter and check the paper element, or, buy one of >>>THESE<<< and you'll get a real close up view of the inards each time you change your filter. I added on of these just for that reason.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: checking for debris in oil?
Let me assure you that any debris, metal, shavings, or whatever in a new factory engine is minimal and will well be taken care of by the filter.
This is the filter I cut open from my Ironhead a few weeks ago. I had a wrist pin clip come out and the pin chewed up the cylinder wall, the bottom end ate the pin. We did a top end job and did the best we could to clean the bottom end with a magnet and suction. This is the filter after 100 miles of break-in. It caught enough metal to make an nice piece of jewelry.
This is the third top end I have done on this engine from similar failures. The first was at 11k miles. I had an intake leak and burned a hole in a piston. Lots of metal got shaved up then. We did a top end job and I rode the bike for 34k miles. Then, by a fluke, I ended up with another intake leak and I melted another piston. That time, I didn't even have to bore it. We just honed the cylinders and put in new pistons. She 10k more miles till she decided to throw that clip......Basically I'm saying that if my engine can survive with all this metal, any that a new factory might have that gets by the filter is not gonna hurt anything.
[IMG]local://upfiles/17633/10EA931D5A984026B9100C109979B657.jpg[/IMG]
This is the filter I cut open from my Ironhead a few weeks ago. I had a wrist pin clip come out and the pin chewed up the cylinder wall, the bottom end ate the pin. We did a top end job and did the best we could to clean the bottom end with a magnet and suction. This is the filter after 100 miles of break-in. It caught enough metal to make an nice piece of jewelry.
This is the third top end I have done on this engine from similar failures. The first was at 11k miles. I had an intake leak and burned a hole in a piston. Lots of metal got shaved up then. We did a top end job and I rode the bike for 34k miles. Then, by a fluke, I ended up with another intake leak and I melted another piston. That time, I didn't even have to bore it. We just honed the cylinders and put in new pistons. She 10k more miles till she decided to throw that clip......Basically I'm saying that if my engine can survive with all this metal, any that a new factory might have that gets by the filter is not gonna hurt anything.
[IMG]local://upfiles/17633/10EA931D5A984026B9100C109979B657.jpg[/IMG]
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: AUSTRALIA
RE: checking for debris in oil?
The metal in the photo, is that from the rebuild or is it the remains from the mishap. I've builtmany of enginesand I an surprised at what you have in that filter.
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
Let me assure you that any debris, metal, shavings, or whatever in a new factory engine is minimal and will well be taken care of by the filter.
This is the filter I cut open from my Ironhead a few weeks ago. I had a wrist pin clip come out and the pin chewed up the cylinder wall, the bottom end ate the pin. We did a top end job and did the best we could to clean the bottom end with a magnet and suction. This is the filter after 100 miles of break-in. It caught enough metal to make an nice piece of jewelry.
This is the third top end I have done on this engine from similar failures. The first was at 11k miles. I had an intake leak and burned a hole in a piston. Lots of metal got shaved up then. We did a top end job and I rode the bike for 34k miles. Then, by a fluke, I ended up with another intake leak and I melted another piston. That time, I didn't even have to bore it. We just honed the cylinders and put in new pistons. She 10k more miles till she decided to throw that clip......Basically I'm saying that if my engine can survive with all this metal, any that a new factory might have that gets by the filter is not gonna hurt anything.
[IMG]local://upfiles/17633/10EA931D5A984026B9100C109979B657.jpg[/IMG]
Let me assure you that any debris, metal, shavings, or whatever in a new factory engine is minimal and will well be taken care of by the filter.
This is the filter I cut open from my Ironhead a few weeks ago. I had a wrist pin clip come out and the pin chewed up the cylinder wall, the bottom end ate the pin. We did a top end job and did the best we could to clean the bottom end with a magnet and suction. This is the filter after 100 miles of break-in. It caught enough metal to make an nice piece of jewelry.
This is the third top end I have done on this engine from similar failures. The first was at 11k miles. I had an intake leak and burned a hole in a piston. Lots of metal got shaved up then. We did a top end job and I rode the bike for 34k miles. Then, by a fluke, I ended up with another intake leak and I melted another piston. That time, I didn't even have to bore it. We just honed the cylinders and put in new pistons. She 10k more miles till she decided to throw that clip......Basically I'm saying that if my engine can survive with all this metal, any that a new factory might have that gets by the filter is not gonna hurt anything.
[IMG]local://upfiles/17633/10EA931D5A984026B9100C109979B657.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 1
From: Grand Island , New York
RE: checking for debris in oil?
Small rocks and metal chips from the crank bearings will come out if you lean bike to the right all the way , with the drain plug out.
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