Topic: Metal Shavings PIC

[bunghole]

I pulled my oil pan and here is what's in there:



I'm not too concerned since I'm rebuilding the engine, but since I'm learning, I'm interested in hearing your opinions.  How bad is it and would any of you be concerned?  Also, what is the most probable cause of the shavings?  Crank bearings?

Thanks!

[eldar]

Are you sure that is all metal? Dirt and other crap will collect in the pan.

[Bob Wessner]

Have you checked any of it with a magnet?

[kghost]

Looks like carbon and trash not metal

+1 on the magnet.

Be aware that a magnet won't tell ya if its brass babbit or aluminium.

Looks to me like if you rubbed that stuff between your fingers it would crumble.

[754]

I do this to inspect oil changes. pick it up with your finger & smear it on cardboard.. after a bit the oil will get soaked up..then use magnet and smear the rest around.. inspect in sunlight or strong light. You should be able to see the difference between aluminum & brass..

[jsaab2748]

That looks like small bits of the cam chain tensioner roller...
But do check as everyone suggested.

[Raul CB750K1]

That looks like small bits of the cam chain tensioner roller...
But do check as everyone suggested.

+1, it doesn't seem something to worry about in my opinion.

But my CB350 just died on me yesterday, so probably I'm not trustworthy when it comes to technical advice... 

[Porscheguy912]

Check how your clutch looks. Could be some clutch pieces.
I destroyed a clutch once in my 550 on purpose so i could get my butt home one night while having carb problems.
My pan kinda looked like that when i checked it.

good luck!

[Hush]

Scoop it up with a spoon and stick it in a jar of petrol, shake it up and see if it all disolves.
Anything left in solid form is all you should worry about.

[Skonnie Boy]

Pulled mine last week and found a bee along with foam padding of some sort.  Plus, of course black stuff like you've found. 

There's also a rubber gasket/seal around wiring from your alternator that can disintegrate over time and make black gunk like that.

Yummy. 

[bunghole]

You guys called it.  I had a chance to pull it again and stirred a magnet around and found that nothing was sticking to it.  Promising sign I suppose.

One more question on the same picture.  If you look at the right side, you will see what looks like stress cracking on the top of the ridges:



Is that normal?

Thanks for all the help.  This is my first "real" rebuild where I'm pulling the engine apart and I really don't know what is normal or abnormal, so I'll probably be posting lots of pics of the process with lots of questions.  Maybe I'll start a build thread for that purpose.

[Shenanigans]

Although its hard to tell from the pictures, I think those "Cracks" might be normal casting marks.

[scondon]

Although its hard to tell from the pictures, I think those "Cracks" might be normal casting marks.

+1,  Mine looks ready to shatter. Just the way they look, no stress on the oil pan except at the drain bolt.

[kghost]

Your a nervous nelly aint ya? 

[scondon]

Your a nervous nelly aint ya? 

  "Stand back, she's gonna blow"

[bunghole]

Your a nervous nelly aint ya? 

Yeah a little bit.  I have to wear adult undergarments when working on the bike.  That way if I see something scary, I can just "let a little pressure off" in my pants if you know what I mean.

[JAG]

hahahaha

I know the feeling..