Does this look right? Hole in the top end.

[Guest]

So I am currently cleaning and then painting the engine, and while cleaning I noticed 4 holes that look like something has eating through the metal. If you look at the attached picture it shows one hole, the 2nd is on the opposite wall. The other side of the engine is like this as well. I know very little about engines, but is this normal?

[Steve]

Any chance you can turn on the flash on the camera or at least hold a candle nearby?

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[claygs750e]

Here's another picture. It looks as if the metal has been eaten away and there's a total of 4 holes that go all the way threw to whatever is under the cover.

[bbjumper]

At first glance they look like casting flaws in the head. Any oil leaking and how's the compression. Any chance of some netter photos?

[eil]

Yeah, looks like casting imperfections to my untrained eye. At any rate, if they're not leaking oil, then they don't go all the way through the head and it'll be fine forever.

[Blower]

It´s are water drain & air holes. Those holes allows a small amount of air flow through the cylinder head and when the bike is on the side stand the rain/washing water drains away.

[FLHGSRay]

It´s are water drain & air holes. Those holes allows a small amount of air flow through the cylinder head and when the bike is on the side stand the rain/washing water drains away.

If this is true, (I have no idea), I think I would try to clean them out. Shouldn't take much effort. Maybe spray carb cleaner with the long tube.

[Dogma]

It´s are water drain & air holes. Those holes allows a small amount of air flow through the cylinder head and when the bike is on the side stand the rain/washing water drains away.

That's the nice rectangular holes that create passages to the front and rear. I believe the hole in question is the irregularly-shaped thing in the corner. It definitely looks to me like a casting defect. I agree with others that if it's not leaking oil or combustion gasses, it's not a problem.

[claygs750e]

Ok, good. That's what it looks like to me since every hole is shaped a little different. As far as I can tell there has been no leaking. Thanks guys

[SqDancerLynn1]

You also have a problem with a cracked cam cover bolt hole !

[MiketheBike]

I think the crack is just a line in the injection moulding. Hard to say from the picture

[JCHJR]

Could the holes/pits? be the result of spark voltage leaking or having leaked from the plug wire to the engine case, especially on a first start up in damp weather?

[tkent02]

No .

[derwood]

it's normal, keep cleaning