HELP! 1981 GS750E 16 valve metal debris and an entire spring in oil pickup screen.

[Guest]

I have been in the process of getting my gs on the road. I did all the basic things when I purchased bike: made sure it turned over, got spark, adjusted the valves and rebuilt the carbs, threw some gas in there and she fired right up. She idled and revved like I imagined but there was a really loud clicking noise but I figured it was the magneto working cause I had the cover off. Well after this I completely tore the bike down and I was replacing gaskets and took the oil pan off and noticed some bits in the bottom but they were kinda plasticky and brittle and broke in my hands. I took the pick up screen off and then found metal shavings and half a spring! One, where did these come from and I am obviously looking at an entire rebuild now but why did she fire up and run with seemingly no problems? Could the clicking noise be it? I shot a video of it running and the noise can be heard. I also have this picture.

[blowerbike]

road bearing/crank material and or cam lobe/rocker material.
80-82 750's are known for oiling problems.
you can only hope a person ran a long screw in a short hole on the clutch cover and rubbed the basket(aluminum partials).
good luck.

note:
i have had several 750 brought to me with "valve noise".
this was never the case on any of them..it was the piston hitting the head from the extra Clarence from having spun a rod bearing.

[tkent02]

Is that spring off the shifter pawl?

[howardshane2]

I have no idea I didn't look that far into it after I found that mess. The frustration level went through the roof because I felt I was so close to being done. Would it be better to buy another engine and just use this one for parts or do a complete rebuild? I know if can buy individual engine components but I haven't seen anything out there as far as an engine rebuild kit.

[howardshane2]

It went through the gears before I took everything apart so I assumed it was ok. I haven't even ridden the bike yet I just got it idling in neutral. You can tell that the pan has been off before because the previous owner used rtv for the gasket so maybe this spring was left in there? Who knows. I think I will start tearing it apart and try to figure it out. Do you know anyone that's selling a good 1100 motor?

[blowerbike]

oh hey!
that's the detente spring...
it hold's pressure on a roller thingy that pivot's off of the shift fork shaft and against the shift drum.
you know the ramped part of the shift drum.

[tatu]

oh hey!
that's the detente spring...
it hold's pressure on a roller thingy that pivot's off of the shift fork shaft and against the shift drum.
you know the ramped part of the shift drum.

Thats what I thought it was too.
An important piece that will stop the drum from rotating by itself/vibration and selecting another gear.
The plastic chippings/clicking might be the cam chain slipper deteriorated and breaking up.

[howardshane2]

So since the transmission is towards the bottom of the sump is it possible that this spring broke, fell to the bottom got picked up by the oil screen and went no further? I am tearing apart the engine at this point anyway but it would be a sigh of relief if I didn't have to replace any major components. Also does anyone have a picture of this spring attached and it's location? I'm very new to GS's but I am confident in my mechanical ability.

[tkent02]

Just pull the clutch cover and take a look. Might be an easy fix.

[koolaid_kid]

I'd drop the oil pan also and see what is there. Might not be as bad as you think.

[chef1366]

If I remember correctly you may have to split the cases to put that spring on the case/shifter drum.

[Mekanix]

So would just gravity be the only thing holding the hook's down on the drum ?
Or did it fall off and the po just put another one on and this one was left in there ?