valve cover damage

[twist]

one of the unfortunate characteristics of the boxer motor is that if the bike goes down, damage to the valve covers is likely to be moderate. If a valve cover is damaged to the point that the rocker arms are visible, should one expect damage deeper into the head/motor? What are the chances that bits of metal and or road debris make it down into the sump or worse? I expect the only way to know is to take the whole thing apart? What does the experience from riders here say?

[Kurt in S.A.]

Can you define "goes down" a little bike more? What were the specific circumstances?

Big chunks won't be able to get through the small drain hole back to the sump. What does make it there is going to first be strained out by the mesh screen. After that, one would hope that the oil filter would do its job.

I'd probably make sure the valve area is fine, drop the pan and clean as well as the screen, change the filter, and change the oil. Maybe double check the head bolt torque. Then just ride and keep an eye on things.

Kurt in S.A.

[ME 109]

If you've not started the bike after holing a cover, take the cover off and clean all you can see.
There is always the question of whether just alloy may be floating around in there or whether stones from the road surface have entered.

Perhaps it depends on the particular circumstances such as the size of the hole, the road surface, if the motor continued to run while on its side.

Pulling the motor down is rather extreme.

How big is your hole?

[ME 109]

I didn't see Kurts reply before posting mine so a bit of doubling up.

What about the lifters? Any chance of them getting a feed of alloy?

[twist]

an off camber, decreasing radius switch back with a little bump in the middle happened. Went down kinda slow but as front tire caught traction it spun around dropped onto the other side. Right side has big hole, Left side small hole mostly cracked thru. It only ran for about 20 seconds after it came to rest, I got to it and shut it off. Right side looks like valve cover collapsed onto rocker gear a little but it was running when I shut it down. Haven't tried to start it again yet. I just got it really tuned and I was on a road I know well and have ridden it 100's of times. Lost concentration, failed to hold my line.

[ME 109]

You did it with style!

Sounds like the left is not a concern.

At least with the right cylinder being on the deck, gravity will have assisted in keeping much debris in the valve cover and not traveling down the push rod tubes.

Examining the inside of the cover will give you a good idea of how much crap may have been flying around.
A visual should be sufficient to see if there has been any significant contact between valve cover and valve gear.

I spose if you were sufficiently concerned, pulling the valve gear off and removing push rods would enable you to see if there are any chunks down there.

More knowledgeable chaps may have better ideas.

[Deleted User 62]

Bummer about the crash, any other damage? If it was me, I'd also check the valve clearance and maybe re-torque the heads, put new valve covers on, check that the forks aren't sticking and go.

[twist]

sadly, it's going to take more than that.

[ME 109]

Whilst we're talking about damage, are you OK Twist?

[twist]

thanks for asking. I'll heal but the bike has to be fixed. I'm walking and irritating my wife so I must be OK.