I dun goofed --- HELP!

[Etchasketch]

So if you're not aware im currently in the middle of my first ever project and had no experience fixing up motorcycle before this, so these mistakes i now realize are awful mistakes to make but i just hope you understand.

1) i rotated the valves while doing a valve clearance with no shims in them, and now there are tiny bits of metal filings in there as well as the edges of the cam shaft lobes are a little scraped and worn... ****.

2) while doing an oil change it all went smooth until i was re tightening the drain plug and right when it was getting tight it went loose, i think some of the threading may have broken, and i think it belongs to the engine not the plug

Like I said it is my first time doing mechanical work on a bike and I feel like an idiot. What should I do?

Im going to start a project thread with pics tommorow.

-Taylor

[ddaniels]

I feel your pain as I've made both those mistakes before. Yep, never rotate the engine without shims. I think as long as you get those metal shaving cleaned out of there, you should be ok. But don't do that again. As far as the oil drain plug, you'll probably have to put in a threaded insert to fix it. Whenever I tighten things down that has aluminum threads, I either use a torque wrench and tighten to the specified setting, or I grip the ratchet wrench right near the end where the socket is attached. That way, you're unable to torque it too tightly. Good luck with it. The world is not over. Just be sure to learn from your mistakes.

[Etchasketch]

Thanks ddaniels

Thanks for the quick reply, i thought i was going to have to replace the whole crankshaft as well as the bottom engine cover. You're a life saver.

[DanTheMan]

You can go to your local auto parts store and get a self threading oversize metric oil drain plug. Take the old one with you to make sure they give you the right size.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Plug is an easy fix do the oversixe-self thread thing.

I do think that the door in the shavings is the cam lobe not the tip of the valve. If this is true than the cams wear on that point is nullified by the shim spreading the load across it`s area.

[chuck hahn]

Go to Auto Zone and ask for PLUS 1 size drain plug..take the plug from the bike with you.. The PLUS 1 basically screws in and makes new threads as it goes in..You dont need to super tighten the drain plug..just be sure its tight.

[whiterabbitt]

and has the copper washer, wouldnt want it to leak now.

[ddaniels]

Good bit of info on the oversized plug. I did not know about it.

[Steve]

Good bit of info on the oversized plug. I did not know about it.

Yeah, just be prepared to pay for it.

It's a whopping $2.25 or so.

.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Look for a Motormite PN 65217 Should work. The thread is different but it will work because you are rt threading it anyway.. Put some grease on it and turn it in 1/4 turn & back out turn in and back out and so on...