Forum

[taper]

oh dear, went for a run on my 1965 350 bullet and heard a whistle type noise from the engine,cut the ride short and returned home ,checked oil level and it was ok but on removing the tappet adjustment cover found bits of metal inside,drained the oil and checked for bits of metal in the filter, found lots of tiny slivers of metal,also checked oil feed to rocker cover and found bits of metal in the feed pipes,i dont think any of this bodes well but before i go into a major strip down any advice or suggestions on what the problem may be.just a pointer ther was no metal in the oil that i drained or in the feed/return filters.

[grunda 12]

hi taper ,don,t fool yourself youve got a problem take the top end off check big end for wear metal slivers usually mean trouble unfortunately atb paul.

[MadMike]

Taper I have posted on this very subject in the past, with the usual disclaimer that I do not have an Enfield. However I have an enginnering background going back for about 48 years and have been riding, maintaing and restoring bikes for over 50 years. So getting back to the subject in hand, if you have got metal dust, smears or slivers in the oilways DO NOT start the engine. You must strip the engine, find the failed item(s) and replace them. In rebuilding you must thoroughly clean all components, bolts and castings. Pay particular attention to oilways and hidden areas within the castings. By your comment "....before I go into a major stripdown...." it sounds almost like you may believe that a stripdown can be avoided. Metal has no place in your oil;s upply at any point in the lubrication system, no matter what others may suggest. Metal in oil is the death knell of all engines. I would suggest that you take the opportunity to replace all engine bearings and bushes whilst you are stripped down. HTH. Michael

[taper]

listend to advice and not run bike since bits of metal found started a major strip down and found cylinder bore scarred and side play at big end ,not completed the strip down yet so await further developments.

[Chris]

I would see if the metal is big-end (soft, white and non-magnetic) or magnetic. if it's big-end then not quite so bad, as it's just giving advanced warning of a break-down. Contrary to advice on here, I ran mine for months after the first signs of white metal and just kept an eye on the return pump gauze. If that gauze ISN'T working, then it could cause problems up the rocker end of course.

Of course in the perfect World don't use it.

[taper]

continued with engine strip down,(hardest part is getting engine out of frame) stripped the primary drive and clutch,no metal found,next job is to split the crankcase and check big ends,Chris I tried a magnet on the metal bits before strip down and the bits stuck to the magnet hence my worry on where the bits of metal are comming from.

[MadMike]

Chris, shame on you. The fact that you ran for 9 months knowing you had metal in your oil means you were cavalier to say the least in the treatment of your engine, and lucky in extremes that you did not just blow it apart. Metal should not be present in your oil. It will create expensive and dangerous grinding paste which will cause more and more damage if you continue to run your engine. The metal traces will have come from some bearing surface(s) within your engine and clearly indicate a major problem has developed. The Gauze filter is not much more than a token. It is not fine enough to trap metal to such a degree that it will effectively clean the oil. The fact that you did it and perhaps even got away with it for so long is no more than luck. Oil should separate bearing surfaces and act as a lubricant and coolant. It can only do this if it is uncontaminated.

[PeteF]

Mike, We do have a fabric oil filter on REs. Not the best filter in the world but heaps better than a mere gauze. However, I second your sentiments that an engine should not be run at the first sign of metal in the oil. Apart from anything else it'll just be more expensive to fix when you do get round to it (speaking as a Yorkshireman)

[geoffro]

Taper, you said you heard a whistling noise while on your ride and my immediate thoughts went to a drive side bearing that was going around in the cases causing the bits of metal in the oil, i had exactly the same thing on my AJS so before getting in a panic with big ends etc have a check because if it is that it is an easy cure.

[taper]

I have continued with the investication into metal bits in the engine and so far have found a score in the cylinder wall but no apparent damage to piston or rings,there is a delay at the moment while i obtain a tool to remove the oil worm drive and the timing gears so that i can slit the crankcase for the check on the big end,found some wear in the timing case where the timing gear shafts locate,should there be any bushes in the timing case or do the shafts run in the housing with out?any sugestions.