Copper shavings in my oil screen

rmorse · September 27th, 2014, 01:33 PM

Hey guys, I just checked my oil screen and found a bunch of metal shavings in it. The majority are copper. My buddy said it sounds like bearings.... what do you guys think? If it is bearings, what needs to be replaced? Is there a walk through? Bike has 18k miles on it, and I did lose oil about two years ago on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Pretty much the worst spot to have a breakdown. I had to ride it a bit with the oil light on until I could shut it off and coast the rest of the way.

I'll attach pictures

Brother Michigan · September 27th, 2014, 01:40 PM

How big are the shavings and when is the last time you checked the screen? Is the bike making any unsettling noises? Copper could be from a bearing race, but I imagine there are a few other sources it could come from as well.

rmorse · September 27th, 2014, 01:42 PM

The big piece is a piece of foil from a sloppy oil change.

rmorse · September 27th, 2014, 01:43 PM

I've never checked the screen. I'm not aware if the previous owner has checked it. I've had the bike since probably around 10k miles, and it has 18k on it now.

ninja250r81 · September 27th, 2014, 07:58 PM

May have hurt the big end bearings.

but

Could be disintegrating cheap filter.

Run a few oil changes through the engine with new filter everytime.

Massive chunks

foil

micoulisninja · September 28th, 2014, 08:50 AM

I think I can see a piece of what looks like piston skirt or sth on that screen....

alex.s · September 28th, 2014, 09:15 AM

you screwed up the bearings by running it with no oil.

it could still be okay. but it could also be completely ruined and just a few miles away from no longer running..

you should be able to tell how bad it was by how it sounded... did it sound like "SMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACK"? or did it sound normal

csmith12 · September 28th, 2014, 10:12 AM

oh dear

I am with alex.s here.

rmorse · September 28th, 2014, 06:01 PM

It sounded normal, and still sounds normal. I've put on probably 5k or more miles since then.

When you say bearings, what bearings? What do I need to replace?

Flying · September 28th, 2014, 06:14 PM

Rods or mains or both. Can't really say what to replace without taking a look inside.
You could be spending money anywhere from 2 sets of bearings + connecting rod bolts + some lube to a used engine from ebay.

rmorse · September 28th, 2014, 06:18 PM

Weak. So sounds like I need to take it in to a shop to diagnose.

Thanks everyone

snot · September 28th, 2014, 06:18 PM

Have you checked it since you put the additional 5K on it?

rmorse · September 28th, 2014, 06:23 PM

What? This is the first time I checked the screen ever. The oil incident happened 5k miles ago.

snot · September 28th, 2014, 06:28 PM

Sorry, I thought you rode 5k more since you found the shavings.

Carry on...

csmith12 · September 28th, 2014, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmorse

Weak. So sounds like I need to take it in to a shop to diagnose.

Thanks everyone

No, not yet. If everything is good then send a sample of the oil to be examined. They know things....

alex.s · September 28th, 2014, 11:40 PM

an oil sample will tell you which bearing it is. the little ends dont use copper iirc. but it could be from other places. if its been 5000 miles it might be fine. but it might blow up tomorrow also.

SteveL · September 29th, 2014, 01:54 AM

bearing material normally comes off as a paste

Steve

Racer x · September 29th, 2014, 04:03 AM

Crankshaft Bearings. It's the only copper in the engine.

Ninjinsky · September 29th, 2014, 07:53 AM

The only other copper I can think of in there is the alternator. I don't know if it can shed a coil without failing completely ( ie if the windings are serial or parrallel.)
Once any bits of wire have been between gears on their journey to the mesh they will look like flakes not wire

bruce71198 · September 29th, 2014, 09:45 AM

If it still runs after 5000 miles I would recomend cleaning out the screen and keep running it. Check the screen after the next oil change to see if its still self destructing. The damage is already done. The repair shop will need to split the cases to see whats worn out. My guess is you sheered some material off the main crankshaft bearings when you ran it out of oil,

September 27th, 2014, 01:33 PM	#1
rmorse ninjette.org guru Name: Bobby Location: Silver Spring, MD Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawi Ninja 250R, 2013 Honda CRF450R, 2008 Honda CRF250R, 2001 Honda XR400 Posts: 301	Copper shavings in my oil screen Hey guys, I just checked my oil screen and found a bunch of metal shavings in it. The majority are copper. My buddy said it sounds like bearings.... what do you guys think? If it is bearings, what needs to be replaced? Is there a walk through? Bike has 18k miles on it, and I did lose oil about two years ago on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Pretty much the worst spot to have a breakdown. I had to ride it a bit with the oil light on until I could shut it off and coast the rest of the way. I'll attach pictures

September 27th, 2014, 01:40 PM	#2
Brother Michigan ninjette.org sage Name: Aaron Location: Winder, GA Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 Posts: 718	How big are the shavings and when is the last time you checked the screen? Is the bike making any unsettling noises? Copper could be from a bearing race, but I imagine there are a few other sources it could come from as well. __________________________________________________ DISCLAIMER: I generally have no idea what I'm talking about.

September 28th, 2014, 08:50 AM	#6
micoulisninja modaholic junkie Name: Nick Location: Athens, Greece Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2001 ZX-12R, 2009 ninja 345cc and plenty of others in the past... Posts: 438 Blog Entries: 2	I think I can see a piece of what looks like piston skirt or sth on that screen.... __________________________________________________ If noone has tried it before, I will !!!

September 28th, 2014, 09:15 AM	#7
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	you screwed up the bearings by running it with no oil. it could still be okay. but it could also be completely ruined and just a few miles away from no longer running.. you should be able to tell how bad it was by how it sounded... did it sound like "SMACKSMACKSMACKSMACKSMACK"? or did it sound normal __________________________________________________
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

September 28th, 2014, 10:12 AM	#8
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	oh dear I am with alex.s here. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

September 27th, 2014, 01:42 PM	#3
rmorse ninjette.org guru Name: Bobby Location: Silver Spring, MD Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawi Ninja 250R, 2013 Honda CRF450R, 2008 Honda CRF250R, 2001 Honda XR400 Posts: 301	The big piece is a piece of foil from a sloppy oil change.

September 27th, 2014, 01:43 PM	#4
rmorse ninjette.org guru Name: Bobby Location: Silver Spring, MD Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawi Ninja 250R, 2013 Honda CRF450R, 2008 Honda CRF250R, 2001 Honda XR400 Posts: 301	I've never checked the screen. I'm not aware if the previous owner has checked it. I've had the bike since probably around 10k miles, and it has 18k on it now.

September 27th, 2014, 07:58 PM	#5
ninja250r81 ninjette.org guru Name: scott Location: australia Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 ninja 250r se Posts: 435	May have hurt the big end bearings. but Could be disintegrating cheap filter. Run a few oil changes through the engine with new filter everytime. Massive chunks foil

September 28th, 2014, 06:01 PM	#9
rmorse ninjette.org guru Name: Bobby Location: Silver Spring, MD Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawi Ninja 250R, 2013 Honda CRF450R, 2008 Honda CRF250R, 2001 Honda XR400 Posts: 301	It sounded normal, and still sounds normal. I've put on probably 5k or more miles since then. When you say bearings, what bearings? What do I need to replace?

September 28th, 2014, 06:14 PM	#10
Flying ninjette.org sage Name: - Location: somewhere cold Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 596 Blog Entries: 1	Rods or mains or both. Can't really say what to replace without taking a look inside. You could be spending money anywhere from 2 sets of bearings + connecting rod bolts + some lube to a used engine from ebay.

September 28th, 2014, 06:18 PM	#11
rmorse ninjette.org guru Name: Bobby Location: Silver Spring, MD Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawi Ninja 250R, 2013 Honda CRF450R, 2008 Honda CRF250R, 2001 Honda XR400 Posts: 301	Weak. So sounds like I need to take it in to a shop to diagnose. Thanks everyone

September 28th, 2014, 06:18 PM	#12
snot sammich maker Name: snot Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '15	Have you checked it since you put the additional 5K on it?

September 28th, 2014, 06:23 PM	#13
rmorse ninjette.org guru Name: Bobby Location: Silver Spring, MD Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawi Ninja 250R, 2013 Honda CRF450R, 2008 Honda CRF250R, 2001 Honda XR400 Posts: 301	What? This is the first time I checked the screen ever. The oil incident happened 5k miles ago.

September 28th, 2014, 06:28 PM	#14
snot sammich maker Name: snot Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '15	Sorry, I thought you rode 5k more since you found the shavings. Carry on...

September 28th, 2014, 11:40 PM	#16
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	an oil sample will tell you which bearing it is. the little ends dont use copper iirc. but it could be from other places. if its been 5000 miles it might be fine. but it might blow up tomorrow also. __________________________________________________

September 29th, 2014, 01:54 AM	#17
SteveL old git Name: Steve Location: Geneve Switzerland Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): BMW K1300S Posts: 479	bearing material normally comes off as a paste Steve __________________________________________________ Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

September 29th, 2014, 04:03 AM	#18
Racer x ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Eric Location: Iowa City Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawmeracchi 350 2010 Project X Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 54 MOTM - Sep '18, Feb '16	Crankshaft Bearings. It's the only copper in the engine. __________________________________________________ Top speed 123.369mph. Ohio mile Worlds fastest 250 ninja

September 29th, 2014, 07:53 AM	#19
Ninjinsky ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Paul Location: UK Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250, Yamaha RS200 (classic) Posts: A lot.	The only other copper I can think of in there is the alternator. I don't know if it can shed a coil without failing completely ( ie if the windings are serial or parrallel.) Once any bits of wire have been between gears on their journey to the mesh they will look like flakes not wire

September 29th, 2014, 09:45 AM	#20
bruce71198 ninjette.org sage Name: bruce Location: northern illinois Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Race bikes:08 Ninja 250,11 R6,16 ZX6,SV650.3 HD-1947,2-2003,2010. 1946 Indian and a lot of dirt bikes.2 Posts: 999	If it still runs after 5000 miles I would recomend cleaning out the screen and keep running it. Check the screen after the next oil change to see if its still self destructing. The damage is already done. The repair shop will need to split the cases to see whats worn out. My guess is you sheered some material off the main crankshaft bearings when you ran it out of oil,
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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