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Noise & Metal flakes in gear case oil-too much or normal

Posted: 12:09 pm May 19 2017
by mr.anderson2010
Got a new to me 2000 kdx220r. Had fresh case oil, went for a trail ride, unloaded bike at home and rode it to the shed, heard a scratching noise when running like metal on metal, the noise is every couple seconds but is more frequent if you increase rpm.
Seems like its coming from clutch side of bike but hard to tell.
I pulled a oil sample out and i attached the picture where you can see metal flakes in it.
If i test whether this is magnetic or not would it tell me anything?


Re: Noise & Metal flakes in gear case oil-too much or normal

Posted: 01:41 pm May 19 2017
by david
You can have basically 4 different materials in there. Bronze, aluminum, steel, or clutch friction material. If you can hear something grinding, stop running it and tear it down to find out what is going on. Likely the reason he sold it. It's easy enough to pull the clutch cover off and have a look, but if you don't see something there you will need to go deeper.

Re: Noise & Metal flakes in gear case oil-too much or normal

Posted: 03:17 pm May 19 2017
by bufftester
IF it's making noise I'd open the clutch cover side and take a better look. The oil can have a shiny "glitter" appearance from clutch plates depending on the brand being run, but any metal is not good.

Re: Noise & Metal flakes in gear case oil-too much or normal

Posted: 03:19 pm May 19 2017
by Timtee
You need to open it up and see what is causing the noise.

Noise & Metal flakes in gear case oil-too much or normal

Posted: 04:42 pm May 19 2017
by mr.anderson2010
Would cheap clutch plates cause the glitter appearance?
Wearing fast. Its silver colored, likely aluminum is what it looks like.
Thanks, i will pull clutch cover tomorrow. It runs great, supposedly had new piston and rings put in it end of last season.

Re: Noise & Metal flakes in gear case oil-too much or normal

Posted: 04:47 pm May 19 2017
by mr.anderson2010
That oil sample is just after a 2hr ride, changed it before i went, looked like it was changed just before i bought it and he gave me 2 quarts of the Lucas oil he was using in it.
Also should note that its very hard, sometimes not possible to find neutral when bike is running.

Noise & Metal flakes in gear case oil-too much or normal

Posted: 10:24 am May 20 2017
by cornishwrecker220
Check your kickstart return spring .....its installed around a plastic nylon bush , it can move on this bush & can dislodge from its locating hole in the engine case..... The locating lug from this spring will touch the clutch basket & when running will make a weird noise , if it's touching the gear on the back of the clutch basket then the noise will sound like the grating noise you describe... A similar thing happened to me & when I stripped off the side casing the kickstart spring had moved & was resting on my clutch basket!
I ended up having to fit a new spring & collar as my one was worn.... :mad: