That pressure relief spring...

[dougie]

Looking for the current conventional wisdom.
Inside the oil filter housing - that pressure relief ball and spring.
In Jeff's (ME109) case the spring broke and ate his bearings.
I am wondering (at 120,000 km) if I should just check it, or replace it anyway on suspicion of metal fatigue.
Springs are funny things - not all that rare for a new one to break prematurely and an old one last a long time.

[ME 109]

Top of the morning to you Doug. Btw, how's that hip of yours?

The oil filter 'bypass' spring and ball.............. if the ball is spring loaded, I would be happy with that, no action required.

A check at each oil filter change is a good idea.

If the spring does break, imo it will take some time for the spring to break into smaller pieces, which is when the problems begin.
I think the time for the spring to break into smaller pieces is longer than an oil filter change interval at 6,000 miles.

Anything with a diameter of just under 1/8" will do for a testing poker.
The length of the poker needs to be about 7-8"

The 'poker' needs to have a squared end and not a pointed end (as in a skewer) as it slips of the ball too easily.

The ball only needs to be pushed in a max of 1/8", and will not harm anything.

A simple check for peace of mind.

[Garnet]

ME 109 wrote:

"Anything with a diameter of just under 1/8" will do for a testing poker.
The length of the poker needs to be about 7-8"

The 'poker' needs to have a squared end and not a pointed end (as in a skewer) as it slips of the ball too easily."


So the awl that I've been useing isn't such a good idea.

[dougie]

Top of the morning to you Doug. Btw, how's that hip of yours?

The oil filter 'bypass' spring and ball.............. if the ball is spring loaded, I would be happy with that, no action required.

This weekend is oil changes and get ready for winter projects.
Thanks for the tips, I will check the spring as you described.

Hip is good Jeff - thanks. It won't ever be the same as before, but at my age more than a few parts are like that.
How many chaps can say their body contains more stainless and titanium than their bike?!
Cheers Mate.

[ME 109]

So the awl that I've been useing isn't such a good idea.

I dunno Garnet, what is an awl?

I use the pointed end of my chainsaw file perfect diameter, squared end and perfect length.

I tried to use a piecost once but it was no good.

[Scot]

How many chaps can say their body contains more stainless and titanium than their bike?!

I can! Well . . . I could back when I had a bike.

I've got a pretty good sized chunk of stainless steel holding my right hip together . . . from hitting the side of a 4 wheeler at about 50 mph.

[dougie]

How many chaps can say their body contains more stainless and titanium than their bike?!

I can! Well . . . I could back when I had a bike.
I've got a pretty good sized chunk of stainless steel holding my right hip together . . . from hitting the side of a 4 wheeler at about 50 mph.

Hi Scot.
Hope you trashed the 4 wheeler.

[Scot]

How many chaps can say their body contains more stainless and titanium than their bike?!

I can! Well . . . I could back when I had a bike.
I've got a pretty good sized chunk of stainless steel holding my right hip together . . . from hitting the side of a 4 wheeler at about 50 mph.

Hi Scot.
Hope you trashed the 4 wheeler.

Yeah . . . caved it in real well; but of the two vehicles involved, my '78 R80/7 certainly got the worse end of that deal!

[dougie]

Yeah . . . caved it in real well; but of the two vehicles involved, my '78 R80/7 certainly got the worse end of that deal!

Shit.
Can you ride?
Are you getting another bike?

[Scot]

Shit.
Can you ride?
Are you getting another bike?

Yeah, Dougie. No worries. That whole deal happened back in '93, and I've had another bike since then. Unfortunately, I had to sell my pride and joy 4 months ago because I lost my job. Now that I'm back among the employed, I'll be shopping for another probably next year. I'm thinkin' maybe a Guzzi or a K75RT.