Hitchcocks Forum

Hi.
I’ve just taken the primary cover off, drained the oil into a plastic pan, and it was when I was draining the waste ATF into the old oil container I noticed a lot of small shiny metallic particles in the bottom of the pan.

Running one of the new strong magnets over the bottom of the pan these particles turned out to be some sort of ferrous material.

Don’t know the history of the engine but it is a 2004, 4 speed 500 Bullet with about 7,000 miles on the clock.



What could these iron particles be?

.

Regards Fred

Probably bits of clutch plate tang. If they are large pieces I'd strip the whole primary but if they are just fine particles I'd leave it but monitor the situation. It's important that these bits don't build up round the magnets of the alternator rotor! REgards, Mark

Or the clutch hub bearing surface worn. Leaves small glitter like particles in the oil.

Also check your primary sprockets and if necessary get a new chain.

I have read that some have gone to the trouble of drilling and tapping a drain hole in the bottom of the chaincase and fitting a magnetic drain plug; which doesn`t help of course if there are problems going on in there but will at least keep all the swarf away from the working parts till the doctor arrives with his big hammer.

Hi

No big bits Mark, but Frank, if I was panning for gold I would have thought I had struck lucky. Very glittery in the bottom of the tray so I guess clutch hub bearing surface may be gone.

Sprockets seem OK.

Drilling and tapping a drain hole in the bottom of the chaincase would seem like a really good idea, if there is enough meat to take a thread, still something to take advice on.

Thanks for giving me ideas guys.



Regards Fred



PS It’s still raging hot here in Glos.

Freddy don't get too stressed there is always glitter in the primary oil

As Norm says, don't worry about it. They all do it [well all the ones I have seen at any rate] I change the primary case oil after a couple of races on the Clipper racer and it comes out looking like dark grey metallic paint. I think a lot of it comes from the primary chain and the sprockets. It is not a problem, though, just change the oil and carry on. Regards, Paul.

Well I never……………



If I hadn’t changed me oil in the sunshine I would never have noticed this.

Glad it’s not something to get stressy about.

Thanks Gents.