Recently completed my end of season teardown with very surprising results. As is my custom an oil sample was sent for analysis post Barber race. The results showed a spike in copper with a note that bearings could be the source and they would check back on the copper after the next race. A couple weeks ago I disasembled the top end and again found scuffing on the thrust faces of the JE pistons. This is the third set to come out of the motor with similar damage. I contacted JE who advised they could not assist me as the pistons were a custom order by a retailer! I should talk to the retailer! Thanks a lot! Here is a photo, all of the pistons have similar damage.
When I pulled the oil pan I found the oil line to the oil pump on the countershaft had failed. No damage to the gearbox was apparent, so thought I had dodged a bullet. I had used tygon plastic line which lasted a couple seasons, but is apparently not up to the job.
I set up a meeting with a friend who opinions I trust as he has built 4 stroke car and motorcycle race motors for 40 years. In preparation I finished disassembly by removing the rods from the crank. Imagine my shock to find the rod bearings were failing!
Took the pistons, cylinder, rods , crank, and case to my buddy to discuss what I had found and solutions. All the cylinder specs were right on, piston clearance, bore taper, etc. His educated opinion is I need more clearance to run the JE pistons. An alternative would be to switch piston manufacturers. I am researching Wiesco pistons as an alternative. He agreed the crank and crank bearings were good and within spec. As to the trashed rod bearings it appeared they were too tight or oil starved. We discussed possibilities including oil pressure being too low.
So today I'm on the internet looking for an oil pressure gauge that I can install to verify where I am at. While looking around I found this thread on our forum.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=156095.0 The very first reply to the post read:
test vith a pressure gauge..remove the elektric pressure feeler..and Mount the gauge in that threddent hole.
but first have you that oil line( rubber line) to feed the ekstra oil pump in the gearbox.
.if that not is in place..the screen /intake can not suck the oil up...air gets in the screen holder..so no vaccum can be made..and the pump can not lift the oil up
its only 550 vho have that tube..so the extern pump can suck up from the sump screen
« Last Edit: March 19, 2016, 10:08:03 am by strynboen »
I went from being upset my rod bearings had failed to feeling very fortunate the failure had happened during the last race of the year with the post season teardown immediately following. If I had tried to do one more race I'd have surely spun the bearings, trashed the crank, rods, and who know what else. I'm trusting strynboen's comment is accurate. It sure appears my bearing failure resulted from oil starvation due to the failed oil line. A big thank you to strynboen and all who post to the SOHC forum!