Hitchcocks Forum

On the last oil change I fitted one of Mr H's magnets in the oil filter chamber - seemed like a good idea. Anyway, changed the oil again yesterday and found a small amount of sludge stuck to the magnet. There's not a lot and it's very fine, not gritty to the touch at all. Is this just the magnet doing it's job or do I start worrying? What have others found?

Pete, I'd say that was normal. Even on modern bikes fitted with magnets you do get a bit of sludge, especially in first few miles. Just keep an eye on it as you obviously are!
REgards, Mark

Hi PeterF, Fitted one to my old Bullet around 3,000km and at next oil change found the same as you, but I think this is quite normal as the rings bed in to the cylinder walls. Any larger particles would be caught in the strainers, but if there is nothing there, then the magnet is just doing its job. With big diesels on British Rail locos, the oil was analysed to detect wear in the big ends etc and to pick up levels of white metal etc. Cheers TrevorCH

i,m quite baffled as to why you would want to fit a magnet in your oil filter ,i,m sure that if it was necessary they would be fitted as standard i can understand it on the sump bung but not in the oil filter as its job is to catch whatever is in the oil,people seem to buy and fit totally useless items ,like the oil spy glass last month ,if the oil stops flowing youd have to be quick to stop a dissaster,stop worrying about impending doom get on with riding and enjoying,atb paul.

Well Grunda, it's obviously picking up some metalic sludge that would otherwise be circulating in the engine. In my book it's earning it's keep at £4.

And by the way, I enjoy fiddling with the thing just as much as riding it. Each to their own.

The twin cylinder 500/700 UK built models had magnets fitted as standard inside the oil filter and do pick up the fine magnetic particles which would normally pass through the poor filter fitted to these bikes. ------- Regardless of where the magnet is fitted it does some good, for the small cost involved why not retro fit one to the Indian Bullet?. ------- To answer the original question, don't worry Pete it is quite normal.

hi peter as you say each to his own ,i change my engine oil and filter regular not allowing time for metalic sludge to form so no need for a magnet to catch it

Grunda 12, fit the magnet and do not change your oil so often.
This is cheaper than the £4.00 magnet and you would not need to buy all of that useless oil, you would also have more time for riding and enjoying.

Paul. If you don't have the magnet fitted how do you tell if you have magnetic particles in your oil to know you don't need one? . now remove tongue from cheek.