Routine oil change but found this.....

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

When I loosened off the sump nut these bits fell out with the washer in the drip pan.

It looks like thread from the sump.

I have put new oil in and the washer and nut has tightened ok. I have had the bike running so it's hot and there is no leakage. Not been out for a run on it yet though.

Not sure why/how this has happened.

[prezz1]

Hi, Its just a spring washer, it keeps the nut on very tight, you will find these around your bike, you don't need it on, if you find you are having to tighten the nut up more than, normal, then just put on another spring washer, dave

[Westbeef]

You’ve not got my old bike have you?

[Westbeef]

Hi, Its just a spring washer, it keeps the nut on very tight, you will find these around your bike, you don't need it on, if you find you are having to tighten the nut up more than, normal, then just put on another spring washer, dave

 

Looks too thin too be a spring washer imo.

[Jevi]

It looks like a stripped thread

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

I think it's stripped although nut still tightened. so the last time it was tightened it must have stripped??

[TimR]

Possible helicoil insert ..

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

I'm going to have to Google that

[fastbob]

Its not a spring washer , sump plugs don't have spring washers.

[fastbob]

I think it's stripped although nut still tightened. so the last time it was tightened it must have stripped??

 

Hold on a minute, what's this thing made of ? It's white right ? So is it metal or plastic?

[TimR]

I'm going to have to Google that

Instead of retapping a thread you make it slightly larger and thread this in as a new original sized thread

If not fully/ correctly inserted they can break off the end but the main section remains hence it tightens

[fastbob]

Hi, Its just a spring washer, it keeps the nut on very tight, you will find these around your bike, you don't need it on, if you find you are having to tighten the nut up more than, normal, then just put on another spring washer, dave

 

You don't have spring washers on sump plugs , how would the sump washer form an oil tight seal ?

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

You’ve not got my old bike have you?

 

You have had the same issue??

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

I think it's stripped although nut still tightened. so the last time it was tightened it must have stripped??

 

Hold on a minute, what's this thing made of ? It's white right ? So is it metal or plastic?

 

It's metal pieces

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

I'm going to have to Google that

Instead of retapping a thread you make it slightly larger and thread this in as a new original sized thread

If not fully/ correctly inserted they can break off the end but the main section remains hence it tightens

 

The nut is on tight now with no leakage but this looks like a fix going forward. Is it difficult to do?

[Tango]

Yeah.....looks like bits of thread from the sump plug hole.......could have been over tightened in the past.

[fastbob]

I think it's stripped although nut still tightened. so the last time it was tightened it must have stripped??

 

Hold on a minute, what's this thing made of ? It's white right ? So is it metal or plastic?

 

It's metal pieces

Right, ill go with part of a Helicoil as well then. How about an extreme close up ?

[Westbeef]

You’ve not got my old bike have you?

 

You have had the same issue??

 

I cracked my sump and stripped the thread a little. Check for cracks and put the plug back in with some RTV silicone and you should be ok.

[Guest]

Keep an eye on it - if it don't leak, don't mess with it. My money's on it being a bit of helicoil insert as has previously been suggested.

[Stu]

If it's tight and not leaking then leave it till the next oil change

Definitely looks like part of a helicoil

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

Hold on a minute, what's this thing made of ? It's white right ? So is it metal or plastic?

 

It's metal pieces

Right, ill go with part of a Helicoil as well then. How about an extreme close up ?

 

Best I can do with my lousy camera phone and poor photography skills

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

You’ve not got my old bike have you?

 

You have had the same issue??

 

I cracked my sump and stripped the thread a little. Check for cracks and put the plug back in with some RTV silicone and you should be ok.

 

No cracks in sump as far as I can see, plug and washer is already back in and 3 litres of new oil. I didn't think to use any silicone though.

[Foxy Stoat seeks Pig]

Thanks for all the input so far, very helpful as always

I tempted to leave it and see how it goes before I start buying helicoils, tap wrenchs etc. Have been looking on youtube though, seem like a handy bit of kit to have.

[megawatt]

Doesn't look shiny enough for a helicoil. The cross section is diamond shaped. Looks like alloy thread or thread insert. Either way, you will probably have to repair the sump thread eventually.

[fastbob]

It's metal pieces

Right, ill go with part of a Helicoil as well then. How about an extreme close up ?

 

Best I can do with my lousy camera phone and poor photography skills

 

Ok thanks for that , the bad news first, these now look like ripped out pieces of thread . They have a smooth triangular shape on the inside but are rough and flat on the outside suggesting that they have been broken away from the sump. The good news is that it hasn't already been Helicoiled so that is a repair that a good engineer can easily carry out. I don't know but there is a very good chance that the whole sump casting can be removed with the engine in the frame. If you do remove it this will present a rare opportunity to inspect the oil strainer gause and clean it if necessary,something that very rarely gets done in the life of a bike . An alternative might be to get a sump off eBay.

Edited October 28, 2017 by fastbob