Look at your OIL in the sunlight..

[duckling]

And what do you see? On my older vehicles, I sometimes see the glimmer of fine metallic particles. I tell myself that is normal wear, perhaps that they're just still getting broken in, and that all is well since I the fluid levels are normal and nothing has overheated. I do no heavy duty driving in adverse conditions, either. However, after a recent cylinder hone on my FZR600, and after a test fire-up procedure when I began to warm up for a carb sync. job, I drained off some oil and noticed larger flakes, copper and whitish metal, along with the finer steely-looking particles. The coppery ones were occasionally long, and so I fear the inevitable failure of main or other bearings has begun to take place. I dread putting more money into my motor, only to have the thing throw a rod or spin a bearing somewhere down the road. The bike has seen some race use in another incarnation. There are safety-wire drilled fasteners all over it and racing alternator cover. Is now the time a rider like myself would need to consider euthanizing a doomed project bike before losing it all?

[yamaha_george]

And what do you see? On my older vehicles, I sometimes see the glimmer of fine metallic particles. I tell myself that is normal wear, perhaps that they're just still getting broken in, and that all is well since I the fluid levels are normal and nothing has overheated. I do no heavy duty driving in adverse conditions, either. However, after a recent cylinder hone on my FZR600, and after a test fire-up procedure when I began to warm up for a carb sync. job, I drained off some oil and noticed larger flakes, copper and whitish metal, along with the finer steely-looking particles. The coppery ones were occasionally long, and so I fear the inevitable failure of main or other bearings has begun to take place. I dread putting more money into my motor, only to have the thing throw a rod or spin a bearing somewhere down the road. The bike has seen some race use in another incarnation. There are safety-wire drilled fasteners all over it and racing alternator cover. Is now the time a rider like myself would need to consider euthanizing a doomed project bike before losing it all?

D, sorry but

Without being there with you I could not say "oh s*it" or say "normal wear & tear "

[duckling]

I realized that the worrysome copper bits are most likely NOT bearing material, but Permatex Hi-temp copper gasket spray that I generously coated my new head gasket with. Still there is a lot of silver sparkle in the pan, which I could show everyone, but that wouldn't really help. I saw the three kinds of metal, and had a panic attack. Steel is normal after a cylinder hone job. The aluminum is probably due to a recent repair, now that I remember, that the machinist didn't clean up after (stuff in the oil passageways). I have got to be more thorough in the future.

[yamaha_george]

D,
glad you calmed down & thought it thro and now you know what is acceptable procedure on bike work .

[duckling]

D,
glad you calmed down & thought it thro and now you know what is acceptable procedure on bike work .

Let's open it up for discussion. I've thought it thro, but want to hear from you all. What is an acceptable procedure on a bike?