Hey All, Just changed my oil and a thing fell out of the small oil drain plug. I can't seem to find it in any pics anywhere or parts fiche. My initial thinking is that it's something clutch related but no clue. Any help on what it is or what it means for the engine? So far at 10k miles and this is the first thing to come up, haven't run it yet but was sounding fine pre-oil change.
DO NOT RUN IT. The other end, and remains of the screen, are floating around where the crank/rod sits. If the other bit get's wedged between the crank and the case, it will crack your cases. The remains of screen may have been sucked up by the oil pump, damaging it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Yeah that's definitely what it is. Wow man- you've no idea how lucky you are....that thing could have wreaked havoc in the engine. In my case it resulted in a cracked engine casing. Here's a thread on the subject: http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/check-those-rh-side-oil-screens-fellas.67913/ I think you're fine (given how clean the separation looks), as long as you pull the side cover and pull out the rest of the filter tube. If it looks to be intact (well, excepting that end cap that flew off) then I'd say flush it out w/ some cheap oil and re-fill. As long as the rest of it seems fully intact then I don't think I'd be doing a tear down looking for bits of mesh, but that's a Highly personal choice, of course. If it helps I can measure the overall length of a new one I have sitting at home (so if yours- end cap plus remainder- equals the same then you should be good.) Each time we hear of another coming apart it always causes me to re-think running w/out this little time bomb. My new one has been in for 5K now (I checked it about 2K ago.) EDIT: Just measured it. Total length of new one is 111.9 millimeters. The receipt is still stapled to the bag- $40.50 for a new one (not inc. shipping.) And Bushwa makes the right point- you've gotta be sure there are no bits in the oil pump.
Is this common only to the 610/630's, or are the 250/310/450/510 prone to this too? That's kind of disturbing.
Thanks everyone! I'll order a new one and post some pics of the old one when it comes in. The drain plug magnet didn't have anything unusual in it but I won't be running it for sure.
Was the RH screen indeed! The length matches EricV's measurement and I can match up the endcap with the screen nearly perfectly. Took a look at the oil pump and didn't notice anything so I'll flush some oil through and hope for the best.
I'd be very tempted to remove this screen and not put a new one in at all. Maybe increase my oil change intervals if I did.
That would be a bad idea, as anything settling in your pan will end up in your oil pump before getting to the filter. Gear slivers and such...
Having not had mine out yet this may be a foolish question but is there room to safety wire or epoxy the ends to the mesh tube to ensure this doesn't happen as a preventive measure?
Hmmm, very good point. Can't help but think it's something of a coin toss, then (risk excessive wear to pump, or risk major engine damage.)
It seems to be a pretty well understood issue, at this point. The filter itself just isn't very robust and the "weak point" is this end cap that's attached. Through vibrations and such it comes loose. The only sure solution, which has been discussed (but as far as I know not acted upon), is to have a new one custom fabricated- one that is much more robust (ultimately something that is truly one-piece would be ideal.)
That's as good of a guess as anything, seriously. I don't see it as likely though, seeing as the thing fits flush (greater than flush, actually- it goes deep and beyond the mating surfaces.) So yeah that may be it (in that we've no idea how carefully this is executed upon manufacture of the bike) but I don't think it's likely for subsequent failures...which is why I'm guessing the vibration of a weakly attached end cap is the cause. Either way I think it's best to check the thing relatively often.
I had also thought of the safety wire around the end and through the perforations. Not sure how much tolerance there is there though without pulling mine.
