sand in the crankcase GPZ 550

Ok now that I have your attention, it's not alot of sand. Just enough to fit on the tip of your finger maybe more. I was pulling off the top end today of my 81' GPZ 550 to change the base gasket as well as cylinder head gasket. Now when I pulled off the cylinders, there was so much sand, gravel, road grit, and what have you it was impossible not to let any fall in. I saw about 3 little clusters of sand go down, but i have a feeling it might be more. So my question is, what do you guru's do when this happens? Do you flush it out with more oil? Gas? Kerosene? Tell me all about it.

too late to tell you, but for others, whenever you plan lifting the cyl block off, first, spend plenty of time with compressed air blowing of the dust around the cyl. studs, poking there with a something pointy

Then, always take the bike to be pressure washed around the fins and get more of the road grime off. Even if there's still dirt it will be wet and less likely to fall inside.

now that it happened, mmm... not so good. start with a strong vaccum cleaner to try and suck as much as you can and as a minimum, take at least the sump off and try to wash down the grit.

if it was a 900-1000 with a roller crank, wouldnt worry that much as its less sensitive to dirt particles but on a plain bearing motor like the 550, i'd be more concerned. depends really on you and how much of a risk you want to take. there's no magic method to make sure every little grain of sand got out other than splititng the cases.

Sorry; I'm no help here; but I have a related question. How could one prevent the sand, etc. from falling into the crankcase? I assume (this could be a mistake) that the grit was somehow hidden in the area where the studs enter the bottom end and the recesses near them as circled in pic below. Are there other places where the grit hides? Would packing those areas with thick grease prior to dis-assembly hold the grit in place so it wouldn't fall into the bottom end? Thanks, Ed

Worst case, the sand you missed will score the oil pump. It's kind of hard for it to get to the bearings because it goes through the oil filter first.

Dump about a gallon of kerosene/diesel into the motor, all at once if possible, so it will splash around and hit everything, followed by about a gallon of used oil from your last oil change. After removing the sump of course. Then continue with your plans.

Good thing Kawasaki designed an oil filter into their motors, eh

Thanks steell that's what I will try. When you say "the sump" you mean the oil filter right?

Yes, 650ed, that is where the majority of the grit and shit was located. But i was surprised at how much. I shouldn't have been to surprised cuz this things been leaking really bad for the last 300 miles or so. I mean bad enough that you woulda thunk this was an early 80's HD not a Kawi!

I'd drop the pan and wash down from the top with mineral spirits.

dfinnegan71 wrote: Thanks steell that's what I will try. When you say "the sump" you mean the oil filter right?

Oil pan

Ya oil pan that's what I meant. Geez If i am tearing down a motor i better know the difference! And hey Bountyhunter, I happen to have a gallon of mineral spirits hanging around the garage here....great idea.

650ed wrote: Sorry; I'm no help here; but I have a related question. How could one prevent the sand, etc. from falling into the crankcase? I assume (this could be a mistake) that the grit was somehow hidden in the area where the studs enter the bottom end and the recesses near them as circled in pic below. Are there other places where the grit hides? Would packing those areas with thick grease prior to dis-assembly hold the grit in place so it wouldn't fall into the bottom end? Thanks, Ed

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Ed,

I love how clean you keep your bike!

Ed,

Where did you get that pretty "spring" cover for your clutch cable? That looks like a well-thought addition...

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationThanks Larry!

DoubleDub - that's a genuine Kawasaki cable. I noticed that some of the aftermarket ones don't have the spring. I'm probably wrong, but I think the spring helps to keep the lower end of the cable sleeve firmly seated in the engine cover. Here's what the new old stock (NOS) KZ650 part looks like: