Topic: Diagnosis help - glitter in my oil

[jerf]

Hey everyone,

Today I was working on my 1978 CB550K (attempting to remove an aftermarket oil cooler) and drained some oil into a clean pan.  After finishing my work and putting the oil back in, I noticed a good amount of what looked like very small metal chips in the residual oil in the pan. Pic attached, sorry for the poor photo, I was having trouble getting a good shot, but to put it into words, it looked like someone had sprinkled fine silvery glitter into the oil.  I ran a magnet through, and the glitter didn't seem to stick; I'm having a hard time thinking of a good explanation for (what I'm guessing are) aluminum chips in the oil.

For background, I got the bike about 6 weeks ago.  It wasn't in great shape so I've been working through the issues, but most have been external to the engine.  Throttle and clutch cables, new clutch, carb rebuild, brakes, fork oil, plugs.  I did change the oil when I first got the bike, so presumably the glitter is new since the oil change, or was somehow suspended in the engine and came out during the ~20mi or so I've put on the bike while doing test rides after repairs.

Not necessarily related, I noticed a little smoke from the #3 exhaust pipe on my last ride.  I also noticed a little oil weeping from the head gasket on the #1 plug side of the engine.  I did a compression test cold with a gauge I've never used before and got 106/72/93/81 which sounds terrible but I have no baseline, so I don't want to jump to conclusions except that I should probably to a top-end rebuild over the winter.

I have no particular reason to think the metal came from the oil cooler, but it's an aftermarket Lockhart unit that was on the bike when I got it.

So, I'm hoping someone has some ideas about where the metal came from; I would expect it to be ferrous and stick to a magnet if it was from a poorly lubricated wear surface like a bearing, cam lobe, piston, etc.

I would also really appreciate any thoughts on how to troubleshoot the situation.

Thanks for listening, and generally being an awesome source of info on these bikes.
Jeff

[BenelliSEI]

Jeff….. never good to see that sparkle. If your oil pressure light comes on at anything above a hot idle, shut it down. The best check is to remove the oil filter. Open each individual fold in the paper element and look down in the base of each paper “valley”. If that is a developing problem , you will find lots more in there. Also, you can drop the oil pan and check the screen on the oil pump pick up. If it’s clear and clean, finish up the oil and filter change and cross you fingers. If you find more, you’ll have to dig in and fix it.

[scunny]

check the cam chain tension, if they are not adjusted properly the chain can gouge into the cam chain tunnel.

[michaelmegliola]

Also, the bike has a brand new clutch. Do the clutch plates shed material that is not magnetic, initially?

[Kevnz]

I agree with both responses. When I bought my 500, I dropped the pan, and pulled both the valve and clutch covers to check before running. ( purchased as a non-runner) The screen was totally clogged with gunge and metal filings as you describe and the valve cover had been broken. Oil pan was full of thick sludge. I cleaned the screen and pan, replaced the valve cover, put in new oil and filter and ran the bike about 10 miles. Then drained the oil and removed the pan again; clean. New oil and filter anyway. Repeated after 100 miles, all good. Been fine since, these motors are very robust.

[jerf]

Thanks everyone, sounds like I have my next steps lined up for me.

If anyone knows the answer to Michael's question about the clutch, I'm interested to know.  It didn't occur to me when I made the original post, but maybe the first few layers from the new clutch plated bedding in could end up in the shared oil bath.  Has anyone seen that before?

I'll report back after I inspect the filter and the oil pan.

[Stev-o]

Thanks everyone, sounds like I have my next steps lined up for me.

If anyone knows the answer to Michael's question about the clutch, I'm interested to know.  It didn't occur to me when I made the original post, but maybe the first few layers from the new clutch plated bedding in could end up in the shared oil bath.  Has anyone seen that before?

Highly doubt this is related to the clutch unless there were major problems with it and had metal to metal contact.

[seanbarney41]

Also could be worn primary chain chewing away at engine cases.  This is a known problem with 550's as the primary uses no chain tensioner.  Do some searches here as I believe removal of the oil pan can reveal the possible damage.