Little balls in the oil.

[Anonymous]

Where oh where do tiny little ball bearings live inside a GS 1000 engine ? I pulled the sump plug and it had a cluster of poppy seed sized little balls attached - the oil contained lots of flakes of brass. No funny noises or power loss. I've looked long and hard at the bike and the manual, don't want to pull down the motor unnecessarily as I ride the old girl to work daily. Must have been a really small bearing that let go!

[redliner1973]

Only place that readily comes to mind is the small clutch-release bearing. You can check this pretty easily, just remove the clutch cover and it is right there. :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Take off the sump plate, you will probably find more stuff sitting there. That might give you a better idea what has fallen to bits.

Kim

[Anonymous]

Poppy seed sized balls? Nothing that size in a GS thou.

Has the engine ever been bead or shot blasted? That's what it sound like to me. If it is that's seriously bad news.

[Guy]

I don't think you've much choice about pulling down the motor. Don't want to sound like a pessimist here, but steel balls? bits of brass?

[focus frenzy]

Poppy seed sized balls? Nothing that size in a GS thou.

Has the engine ever been bead or shot blasted? That's what it sound like to me. If it is that's seriously bad news.

No, Tim is correct, there is a small thrust bearing on the clutch actuation shaft that uses balls about that size.

[Anonymous]

Poppy seed sized balls? Nothing that size in a GS thou.

Has the engine ever been bead or shot blasted? That's what it sound like to me. If it is that's seriously bad news.

No, Tim is correct, there is a small thrust bearing on the clutch actuation shaft that uses balls about that size.

You've got big old poppy seeds over there then!! 8O In England we get poppy seeds not much bigger than a grain of sand. Usually on trendy bread. Of course everything's bigger in America!

I know the bearing you mean, but I'm thinking of smaller poppy seeds than you.

Perhaps John could clarify this point? To me poppy seed size is exactly the size of the lead shot used in shot blasting.

[redliner1973]

Well then, are they hard, or do they 'crush' easily in hand? :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Little balls in the oil.

Thanks for all the ideas guys. To clarify an important point - our Aussie poppy seeds ( straight from Suzi's sump ) are about 1.5mm. dia. That's roughly a sixteenth in real numbers. My ones here are steel and too trendy to waste on bread. I've already removed, checked and cleaned the sump, strainer, new filter, etc.
Well, I pulled the clutch cover, the actuation shaft feels to move O.K. I need a press to get to the bearing and don't have access to one right now. Banged and shook the clutch cover and nothing fell out. Put all back together, ran motor to warm it up, drained oil, everything nice and clean. I'll ride it for a bit, drain oil again and see what develops and let you all know.
Once again, thanks to you all.