Topic: So much for "clean the carbs and go"... Look at this oil

[fmctm1sw]

I got around to looking at an old Silverwing I have.  My first sense something was wrong was the sound of the starter.  It made squealing sounds like a stuck pig when I pushed the button and didn't turn the motor over.  I got the motor to turn over when I pulled the plugs.  Then I checked the oil...   Yeah, take a look.  This went from short term to long term...

[dhall57]

That doesn't even look like oil any more Looks like snot out of your nose. That's horrible!!

[strynboen]

wont happend on a aircooled...

[heffay]

I've seen a number of crankcases with oil that looked like that... all caused by coolant in the oil.  You may have bigger problems than you think. 

If it is gas that seeped down the cylinder walls from sitting over time, it usually doesn't have the distinctive milky look, it just looks like watered down oil still, in my experience.  When we bought my wife's Kaw EX500 it had an extra gallon of gas in the crankcase that seeped in from a leaky petcock and overflowing carb bowl.  Looked like oil, did NOT smell like oil.   

[madScientist]

Oof...so much for the crank and rod bearings...With that much snot in there those suckers are likely gone or will be soon.

[grcamna2]

Winter project coming up

[TwoTired]

Water in the oil.  Does it smell like anti freeze?  If just water, maybe condensation build up.

[fmctm1sw]

Water in the oil.  Does it smell like anti freeze?  If just water, maybe condensation build up.

I can't quite place the smell.  You know what it makes me think of though?  My Dad had a Cadillac Sedan deville that got flooded in the 1977 Johnstown flood.  That's kind of what it smells like.  Like old wet carpet maybe?

[MoMo]

Notorious for water pump mechanical seal failure is the Silverwing.  Antifreeze empty or full?...Larry

[fmctm1sw]

Notorious for water pump mechanical seal failure is the Silverwing.  Antifreeze empty or full?...Larry

Empty.  But given the neglect of the bike, I didn't want to make assumptions.  I had a CX500 that I did the water pump seal on.  Looks like I'll have another chance to do one...

[MoMo]

Notorious for water pump mechanical seal failure is the Silverwing.  Antifreeze empty or full?...Larry

Empty.  But given the neglect of the bike, I didn't want to make assumptions.  I had a CX500 that I did the water pump seal on.  Looks like I'll have another chance to do one...

I had a thread bookmarked where someone had a step by step photo essay on using a Yamaha mechanical seal to replace the Honda(which is about the only weak link on those bikes, other than acute lack of power and obesity).  I still have a Silverwing that was my daily rider until I got the PC...Larry

[TwoTired]

I have a CX500.  When the mechanical seal fails, doesn't it pump the water overboard, rather than into the motor?  That's what mine did.

[MoMo]

I have a CX500.  When the mechanical seal fails, doesn't it pump the water overboard, rather than into the motor?  That's what mine did.

that is the more likely scenario TT.


 If I had that GL I'd drain all that crap, flush the motor with kero, add oil and see what I have. Silverwings are almost bullet-proof and can take a ton of abuse and keep on ticking...Larry

[grcamna2]

I have a CX500.  When the mechanical seal fails, doesn't it pump the water overboard, rather than into the motor?  That's what mine did.

that is the more likely scenario TT.


 If I had that GL I'd drain all that crap, flush the motor with kero, add oil and see what I have. Silverwings are almost bullet-proof and can take a ton of abuse and keep on ticking...Larry

+1 I agree w/ MoMo

[fmctm1sw]

Notorious for water pump mechanical seal failure is the Silverwing.  Antifreeze empty or full?...Larry

Empty.  But given the neglect of the bike, I didn't want to make assumptions.  I had a CX500 that I did the water pump seal on.  Looks like I'll have another chance to do one...

I had a thread bookmarked where someone had a step by step photo essay on using a Yamaha mechanical seal to replace the Honda(which is about the only weak link on those bikes, other than acute lack of power and obesity).  I still have a Silverwing that was my daily rider until I got the PC...Larry

Larry, I saw that write up on the Yamaha seal.  That's how I did mine.  Worked perfectly.

[fmctm1sw]

I have a CX500.  When the mechanical seal fails, doesn't it pump the water overboard, rather than into the motor?  That's what mine did.

that is the more likely scenario TT.


 If I had that GL I'd drain all that crap, flush the motor with kero, add oil and see what I have. Silverwings are almost bullet-proof and can take a ton of abuse and keep on ticking...Larry

+1 I agree w/ MoMo

TT, there is a weep hole on the bottom of water pump cover.  In case of leaks, that's where it should come out.  I may consider just trying to flush it out (nothing to lose I guess) but I'm concerned about the action/sound of the starter.

[TwoTired]

TT, there is a weep hole on the bottom of water pump cover.  In case of leaks, that's where it should come out.  I may consider just trying to flush it out (nothing to lose I guess) but I'm concerned about the action/sound of the starter.

When I got mine, the starter was frozen, because of the weeping mechanical seal dripped right on it.  I had to rebuild that first.  Consider that your starter may be the source of the noise related to the starter.