My question is will it hurt to run my engine with a small chip missing from my crankshaft, on the oil pump lobe side? The story behind the question is.... I was changing the oil in my 08 610, and deceided to check the rh side bag filter. I was happily working away when I noticed this speck near the oil pump shaft, in the rh cover..... I pulled it out and started to freak out..... I did a quick check and found a chip missing from the crankshaft (I think), where the oil pump shaft goes. I put the chip in there and it looked like a perfect fit, and no pieces missing. I didnt find any metal chips or flakes on any of the filters (bags, or paper). I pulled the pump apart, and all looked well enough. There was some minor scoring on the pump pieces, but nothing that worried me too much. I didn't notice anything else out of order, so I put the rh cover back on, and put the pump back together. The pump shaft seemed to be engaged into the crankshaft just fine. I buttoned up the bike and filled her up with oil. when I fired her up it sounded normal. There appeared to be oil flowing throught the sight glass. I noticed a slight oil weep,and the slightest hairline crack, from/in the oil pump cover. That will probably be the easiest fix. Should I check anything else? Then to make it better.....while I was uploading the pictures into my computer I noticed something......it looked like chips in the teeth of the gears on the crankshaft. I ran out to the garage to take a look. Rather than dumping out the new oil I pulled the oil fill plug out and looked down the hole. I could see the gears (and the ones that they mate to) and it looked as though they were machined that way. They have a kind of slight groove down the center of them. Has anyone noticed a groove like this, or should I prepare for a major rebuild? Any advice is appreciated.
I would feel more comfortable after a mechanic gave it a once over. That said I am inclined to agree with Buzuki and feel it might be ok.
That's not going to hurt a thing as long as you got it out. It would be more of a concern if you had left it in there. Thank your lucky stars you found it when you did. Could have caused some real damage. THat's why periodic maintainance is so important. That would have mae some stuff real ugly in there. You're in the clear now. Put it back to gether and ride. Keep an eye on it next time you change your oil. If it keeps getting worse, then I would have it replaced. If that's all it does, you're good to go.
