Engine Blow Up Part II

[ronk1200lt]

Last week coming back from a ride the oil lights came on, oil blew all over the front of my bike and the engine started clattering. I was sure that the engine had the biscuit. After a 300 km. tow and 10 days in the shop the local wrench informed me that there is a threaded screw on the front of the engine that is taken out at the factory to test for oil pressure. This screw came loose on the ride causing the mess. I have never heard of this before.
They checked the valves and cylinders and gave it a compression test. Thankfully nothing was ruined and I was saved a rebuild, but this could have been really expensive.

[TMH]

Best outcome to what otherwise may have been a more gruesome story. You lost some ride time, and underwent plenty of hassle, but didn't lose a motor.

Thanks for the heads-up. Is there a photo you can provide of "the screw"?

Tom

[ronk1200lt]

I will try to get one for everyone. Ron

[dshealey]

Last week coming back from a ride the oil lights came on, oil blew all over the front of my bike and the engine started clattering. I was sure that the engine had the biscuit. After a 300 km. tow and 10 days in the shop the local wrench informed me that there is a threaded screw on the front of the engine that is taken out at the factory to test for oil pressure. This screw came loose on the ride causing the mess. I have never heard of this before.
They checked the valves and cylinders and gave it a compression test. Thankfully nothing was ruined and I was saved a rebuild, but this could have been really expensive.

That screw is probably the one on the bottom of the timing chain cover, directly under the screw you take out to put the tensioner hold back screw into.

I used that to put an oil pressure gage on my LT temporarily for a couple weeks to watch oil pressure when I had a noise I was trying to find. Problem was findind a fitting for it! I made one from a cut off grease fitting with a 1/8" compression fitting silver soldered to it.

[ronk1200lt]

Hi Dave!

That is interesting because they said they had a stock screw that went into it.

[riderup1]

Engine clattering and no damage????? Hmmmmmm......

[Zotter]

Skirt slap??

[dshealey]

Hi Dave!

That is interesting because they said they had a stock screw that went into it.


IF we are talking about the same hole:

The screw is put in as a passage drilling plug, not for any actual use, so I did not ask a dealer about a fitting to go into it. The oil pressure comes out of the block into a hole in the lower edge of the timing cover, then into the vertical passage to the chain tensioner cylinder made into the cover. The screw just plugs the vertical hole where it is drilled.

If you find out there really is a fitting, let us know the part number!

[dshealey]

Engine clattering and no damage????? Hmmmmmm......

Probably the chain tensioner loosing pressure. That is likely the first thing that will make noise on oil pressure loss.

If not under heavy load, most engines can run more than you would expect without damage. Takes a while for the oil film to go away when the engine is running.