Losing My Sense of Humor...and oil.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by jbfla

I would never have thought that virtually all the engine oil could be lost out of an open valve cover.
jb

So far, of all the miles and bikes out there, is this the only RX3 to do this that we know of?

I do think it says something about the durability of the motor to puke most of its oil out, stop running, then live to rev again after the fact, without a major tear down and rebuild. Pretty amazing really.

[pyoungbl]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Camping with the MG guys again?

Since I only go for a day trip, probably won't have a chance to meet up...maybe at Marlington...

jb

Not camping at Camp Carlo. That's too much like roughing it for me. I'll be at Holiday Travel Park in Ormond. My Norton buddies have been staying there for about 10 years now. The Travel Park is gated and thus less wild and crazy, has good bathrooms and not too crowded. There is a grocery store within 1/2 mile so most of the bases are covered without having to go far. Camp Carlo is a long way from anything and the gate closes at 10PM (or something like that).

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

....So far, of all the miles and bikes out there, is this the only RX3 to do this that we know of?......

2LZ, these things only happen to my RX3,

......so I can keep you guys entertained.

jb

[jbfla]

Update:

After the Great Oil Spill, I rode another 150 miles.

Kept hearing metallic noises, even with earplugs in, and helmet on.

Decided to do another oil change. This made number eleven.

At the last oil change, I switched from the metal mesh oil filter back to a paper filter with the idea of checking for metal particles.

There had been no sign of any metal since about 5,000 miles.

They are back, big ones, and a couple dozen smaller ones:




And a larger sliver attached to the magnetic drain plug.



Not much I can do about it now.

I put in a new filter and oil, set the valves once again (one intake +.001 greater, 1 exhaust at -.001 under).

I have been contemplating my options:

...A new engine is not happening...$2,600 US plus my labor to take out the old one and install the new one, is more than the bike would be worth on the used bike market.

...No local shops will work on a China bike. There are only two in town, and I have asked.

...I am considering sending the engine back to CSC for a re-build. CSC Gerry says the labor will be ~$350 US (engine out of the bike), plus parts, crating, and shipping. I estimate at maybe $1,000 US......and I still have to remove and install the engine, crate and ship it myself.

...Sell it, as is, to someone who can do the rebuild themselves.

...Part the bike out. I am really not interested in advertising, packing and shipping dozens of parts.

...Donate it back to a CSC employee who could rebuild it ..they would need to pay shipping.

...Ride it, as is, until it quits...I'm thinking of starting a pool on how many miles it will last...

Are there any options I am missing?.....other than setting it on fire.

Currently, I am still riding it.

And if I keep the RPMs high enough, the exhaust noise drowns out the metal tapping noise....

jb

[pyoungbl]

jb, this makes me sick. I cannot imagine what would cause so much metal in your oil but, whatever it is, it ain't good. Best of luck getting to the bottom of the problem.

Peter Y.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by pyoungbl

jb, this makes me sick. I cannot imagine what would cause so much metal in your oil but, whatever it is, it ain't good. Best of luck getting to the bottom of the problem.

Peter Y.

I still think the piston seized, then when the engine cooled, it freed up.

Only an engine tear-down will give the answer....

jb

[rtking]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Only an engine tear-down will give the answer....

Do you have access to a borescope? You might be able to get a look at your piston and cylinder walls through the spark plug hole.

At this point, I would just change the oil again and keep an eye on the filter and magnetic drain plug to see how much metal is accumulating. Hopefully it will stop and, if there's no other ill effects, just keep riding.

[rjmorel]

Originally Posted by jbfla

I still think the piston seized, then when the engine cooled, it freed up.

Only an engine tear-down will give the answer....

jb

jb, I have a cheap HF borescope if you want to borrow it to check through S' plug hole ,I'd be glad to send it to you, rj

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by rjmorel

jb, I have a cheap HF borescope if you want to borrow it to check through S' plug hole ,I'd be glad to send it to you, rj

Thanks, rj.

I have a borescope and a compression tester, but they are both in NC.

If I decide to remove the engine, I will trailer the bike to NC where I have the space and tools to do the job.

The loud metal tapping seems to be coming from the top end. It suspiciously sounds like the noise the engine made when the camshaft was damaged before.

jb

[BlackBike]

Originally Posted by rtking

Do you have access to a borescope? You might be able to get a look at your piston and cylinder walls through the spark plug hole.

At this point, I would just change the oil again and keep an eye on the filter and magnetic drain plug to see how much metal is accumulating. Hopefully it will stop and, if there's no other ill effects, just keep riding.

This was kinda my thinking, put the peddle to the metal (mabey poor choice of words).

[jbfla]

Further Update:

Originally Posted by rtking

....At this point, I would just change the oil again and keep an eye on the filter and magnetic drain plug to see how much metal is accumulating. Hopefully it will stop and, if there's no other ill effects, just keep riding.

I took rt's advice, and rode the RX3 another 1,000 miles, with the metal tapping noise.




Then did another oil change:




The magnetic drain plug looked promising...about the same as usual:




The filter still had quite a few sparkles, but they were not as large:




Except for the metal tapping noise, the bike starts quickly, and has the same amount of power and acceleration as always.

Using a mechanic's stethoscope, the tapping is coming from the top end..... you know.....just like last time...at the 3,000 mile mark.

The tapping is not proportional to the engine rpm....just like last time.

That time the tapping turned out to be related to the decompression lever/mechanism, which required a new camshaft and related parts.

I never fully understood exactly what was making the tapping noise, and CSC did not return the damaged parts as requested.

Which leads to another disappointment...my last two emails to CSC Gerry have gone unanswered.

I'll try again when I'm ready to disassemble the engine.

jb

[fjmartin]

Hopefully things are stabilizing on the bike!

Just wondering if Gerry is on vacation or something. maybe a quick call?

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by fjmartin

Hopefully things are stabilizing on the bike!.......

Nearly forgot...sent an oil sample to Blackstone.

I mostly wanted to know about the metals in the oil....which looks to be normal for the engine.

Also wanted to check of the fuel in the oil. It no longer seems to be of any consequence...less than 1/2 %.



Even if the metal residue has stabilized, to fix the metal tapping cost ~ $500+ US.

jb

[fjmartin]

That's a bummer on the repair cost.

[Lee R]

Mine also has a pretty noisy tapping once warmed up from the top end. I've checked the valves twice to be sure. It started midway through my 4K trip last summer and got louder until I returned home. Honestly it's been basically garaged since and I've ridden my Guzzi when free time was available. Ive been on permatravel for this year and haven't messed with sorting the RX3 out but I've got a bad feeling about its longevity. Mine has 7200 miles.

Does yours start quiet then start tapping as it warms?