This subject crops up at an appropriate moment for me. You will no doubt fail
to recall that earlier this spring I was dusting off Killer for the season
opener autocross here in Salt Lake. A quick check of the oil level revealed
some shiny bits on the dipstick which were cause of some concern. As I had
another ride lined up for that event, I put looking into Killer's sump near
the tail end of my list, and didn't worry about it.
Well, this weekend I fnally got around to getting Killer in the air and taking
a look. In truth, he's been sort of precariously perched a bit off the ground
for a few weeks, as I had to steal the slicks for the red racer Spit to run
in the enduro a fe weeks ago. So I get Killer firmly sitting on jackstands,
and take a look. The dipstick is a bit magnetic, so it appears to have all
the metal bits sticking to it, and there really aren't that many of them.
The oil is pretty clean, there's only a couple small flakes of what looks
like aluminum shavings in the sump.
The main bearings all look close to new. The crank end float is close to the
high end, but with the full circle, pinned thrust washers Killer has one needs
to remove the crank to replace them - a project for the winter freshening.
Three of the four sets of rod bearings look barely worn. Love that Redline
oil!
The number two rod bearing set isn't really worn either, but the shell in the
end cap has a strange area where it looks like the bearing material has just
broken up and flaked off. My magnifier is at the shop so I couldn't take too
close a look. It also could have been from a chunk of something getting in
there and gouging out a trail. Hard to say, but it does look like a flaky
bearing.
Anyway, I replaced the suspect ones, will button up the engine in a day or
two, fresh oil and filter and we'll be ready for British Field Day coming up
on the 8th. If I blow the motor at that event I'm sure you'll all hear about
it!
mjb.
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