Author Topic: I think I blew my oil pump at 75mph, Pre case split findings, with gory pics? (Read 9739 times)

manjisann · « **on:** July 23, 2010, 10:16:47 PM »

Ok, the obvious thought from the subject like is "bugger". Quick story. I went on a trip with a small oil leak from my oil pump. I figured I'd keep an eye on the oil level and just add as needed. This worked great for the first couple of days. Sometime within the last two days I developed a ticking noise on the top end. At first I thought it was my tach cable as it was old and you could pull it out of the end that holds it into the tach gear on top of the engine. It turns out this wasn't it, I'm beginning to suspect it may have been valve noise.

I was trying to use the power of positive thinking and get back home, about a 160 mile drive. After 60 miles I stopped to stretch and fill the gas tank. I also checked the oil level, it seemed to be full. I get back on the freeway and enjoy how well the bike is working. 13 miles later she starts to lose power drastically. My initial thought was that I was having electical issues again so I tried giving her more juice in the vain hope she'd snap out of it. I don't remember why but I looked down at my left foot and saw this huge geyser of oil coming out from my starter motor cover, I think. I was doing 75 and trying not to get hit so my full attention wasn't there. I pulled off to the side of the road and the bike died. I called some family to come get me and then proceded to push the bike the .4 miles to the freeway exit. When I got there I wondered if I had siezed the engine so I left the ignition off and hit the starter. it sounded like there was some metal or something banging around in the head. I figured it was just the top end complaining that it had no oil. I waited 5 hours in the blazing hot

scunny · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2010, 10:24:31 PM »

#$%*e, doesn't sound good. when you have calmed down take your tappet covers off and check out the cam and followers.

Frankenkit · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2010, 10:39:16 PM »

oh noooooo

bryanj · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:21:57 AM »

If this is a 500/550 you probably dont want to hear that the cam bearings are part of the head and rocker cover

crazypj · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2010, 10:24:43 AM »

If it's a 500/550 you should have known the oil pressure switch literally 'blows it's top' that would have been a quick easy fix, just screw in a new one.
Riding with even a small oil leak where it can get on tyre is just dumb (not same as oil leak between cylinder fins, another common 'problem')
Saying that, I really hope get lucky with it and don't have any terminal damage

PJ

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2010, 11:50:09 AM »

+1 with crazypj... the oil pressure switch 'blew'.... maybe the plastic part was already cracked ? The o/p switch sits in the main oil galley so an opening here would would receive the full pressure of the oil pump and quickly steal any oil circulation, starting with the cam/topend....... prolly the worst place to spring a leak ( hole really ) just above the oil pump....... best of luck with it mjn.

TwoTired · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2010, 11:56:46 AM »

I think the OP's bike is a CB650.

FYI

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2010, 12:32:58 PM »

O.K., if it's an '80 CB650, then the oil pressure switch is directly on the oil pump on the left side and oil would appear at the starter recess quickly and spray as described too IMO.

manjisann · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2010, 05:12:24 PM »

TT's right, it is a 650. Sorry for not putting that info in. By the time I got home it was about 11pm and after 6hrs sitting in the desert sun I suppose I forgot to include important details like that

So the bright side is my oil pump didn't blow, and if my head seized it is the least of my worries. I opened the sprocket cover and found this awaiting me. Guess I'll be looking for a new engine, or at the very least, new cases.

Thanks everyone for chiming in

Brandon

camelman · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2010, 06:56:52 PM »

Is that a crack in the case?

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:10:49 PM »

That's a bloody hole mate, what the hell would have caused that?

manjisann · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:32:51 PM »

As Hush would say, Terry wins the Chocolate Fish. I'm guessing I threw a bearing from the crank, but I could be really off. I've never been into an engine far enough to really know what is down there. I've got a spare engine but I don't know if it works or not, it came with a frame I bought to fix the buggered one during the build. I'm crossing my fingers that the spare engine works with minimal tlc, if not I'll have to reassess my options. I've put out a couple feelers for running engines, but if that falls through there's a guy locally selling some cases for about $100 so I'll be doing a huge ass rebuild. Either way, I'll be very busy for a bit. Guess I'd better do some searchfu and see what it's going to take to rebuild it. Anyone know a source for quality gaskets that won't break the bank?

Brandon

Frankenkit · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:36:38 PM »

I've heard from others not to cheap out on the head gasket, to go OEM, but fwiw, my $86 Athena gasket kit hasn't leaked (yet). though the rubber gaskets for the tappet adjustment covers started to flay away and leak shortly after installation.

vern401 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:42:58 PM »

I would get your backup engine out of moth balls.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2010, 07:43:49 PM »

G'Day mate, yeah, if it was me I'd install the spare engine and just use what you need from your buggared one, like carbs, ignition etc to get it going. Chances are, it's OK, and even if you need to take the head off later you can do that with the engine in the frame anyway, and as my old dad always says to me, if it aint broke, don't fix it! Just change the oil and filter, and fire that sucker right up! Cheers, Terry.

crazypj · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2010, 08:04:14 PM »

Damn, now I feel bad.
That must have been cracked for a while before it let go.
Will be interested to see if all the pistons are still in one piece
Looks like something solid got picked up by crank web
I think you would have known if it was rod bearing

PJ

TwoTired · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2010, 08:29:04 PM »

This is the bike with the 750 carbs on it, right?

manjisann · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:00:53 PM »

Quote

This is the bike with the 750 carbs on it, right?

Yes it is, er was. I don't really think that had anything to do with it though.

Quote

G'Day mate, yeah, if it was me I'd install the spare engine and just use what you need from your buggared one, like carbs, ignition etc to get it going. Chances are, it's OK, and even if you need to take the head off later you can do that with the engine in the frame anyway, and as my old dad always says to me, if it aint broke, don't fix it! Just change the oil and filter, and fire that sucker right up! Cheers, Terry.

Yeah, I'm hoping it will be a simple move over, I just don't want to stick it in the frame if it's not going to run. I'll give it a checkup in a bit and see what I'm looking at. The bike it came from had some fried electrics and I suspect that's what got it a trip to the junkers. Hopefully the engine was fine. we'll see soon enough

Brandon

scottly · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:12:58 PM »

Out of morbid curiosity, I request a proper autopsy be performed on the deceased.

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:21:07 PM »

Wow, never seen the like of it!.... may/must have been a bad casting from the get-go... anyone else got an explaination ?

scottly · « **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:32:53 PM »

Threw a cam chain? It looks like something was trying to punch it's way out like in Alien!

scottly · « **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:34:40 PM »

Quote from: crazypj on July 24, 2010, 08:04:14 PM

Will be interested to see if all the pistons are still in one piece
Looks like something solid got picked up by crank web

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:46:21 PM »

Too far to the left for cam chain IMO.... #2 big-end bearing ??

scottly · « **Reply #23 on:** July 24, 2010, 09:51:47 PM »

Quote from: Spanner 1 on July 24, 2010, 09:46:21 PM

Too far to the left for cam chain IMO.... #2 big-end bearing ??

Thought the same thing about being on the left side, but a rod bearing, no matter how worn, would not allow major contact with the case wall.

Maybe more damage is hidden behind the starter, more to the right?

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 24, 2010, 10:05:55 PM »

Agreed, the visible hole may not be all the damage, may be a bigger hole under the starter motor!

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Author Topic: I think I blew my oil pump at 75mph, Pre case split findings, with gory pics? (Read 9739 times)