Triumphrat

silver955i

I bought a 2001 955i about 3 months ago with 2,000 miles on it. Not sure of maintenance history. I just completed the first oil change since I had the bike and I found what appears to be metallic particulates in the drained oil. Here's the kicker.....they are a copper color and do not respond to a magnet. Check out the picture I have attached............any thoughts on this one. I can see if it was silver metallic and perhaps the oil was never changed after run-in, but copper color????

fivehundo

Well, I can't see the picture (must mean you used photobucket since I can't see it at work)...

Aluminum soaked in oil can sometimes appear to have a copper-ish hue. Also, if it gets heated up enough, it can change colors into pretty much every color of the rainbow. It would also not respond to the magnet.

Probably aluminum...

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bradtx

silver055i, I'm not sure myself, but it may be babbit material found on plain bearings. This would indicate irregular oil changes over long periods of time or one very high milage interval.

When my brother (not mechanically minded) went 14K+ miles on an oil change, I found a similar, but more silvery colored material in the drain bucket. The oil I put in was Kendall GT, which has a high copper content. It worked and the engine was fine 'till traded many miles later.

Run for a couple of hundred miles with the Kendall, change oil and filter...use Kendall again.

Good Luck,
Brad

Brooksie

With 2000 miles on it, it would seem pretty quick to have heat breakdown on anything. I would try and flush the engine a couple of times this winter and then use the Triumph synthetic oil for spring start up. With so few miles on that beautiful bike, it would be surprising if the rod babbited bearings were letting go that quick, unless the bike was run dry by the previous owner. Probably just the oil breakdown. flush it a couple of times with cheap oil and then put in the good stuff. Don't skimp on oil or filters. My advise is stick with OE stuff unless you can't find a dealer.

bradtx

AHHH! Silver, I should've worn my cheaters...2K looked like 20K. Follow Brooksie's advice.

Brad

silver955i

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll go with Brooksie. I think it is oil breakdown. The two...yes two people that owned the bike before me (put 2,000 mile on it LOL LOL LOL) so I don't think they had a clue as to the proper maintenance of a motorcycle. My guess is that oil was at least 2 years old..maybe more .....thanks for the help guys...I was just trying to see if anyone thought it was something major......ride safe.

Silver

Nickwiz

Most engines will wear a bit from new. If it still had its cheap old running in oil in it then that'll be what the metal is. All the pointy bits leftover from manufacture that wear smooth during running in period. change the oil again more frequently and listen for nasty noises. If the next oil change is clean and there's no nasty noises stop worying.

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Pinballer

Could have been clutch material.

Why guess? Order a oil analysis kit and send it to be checked. They are like $20 from AMSOIL and you will get an exact reading of everything in your oil and a guide to what means what.

Good luck!