This week I am doing the first service on the engine since the
rebuild. It still runs sweet and there have been no issues to
resolve. It is at about 2500 miles and therefore due for oil
change and valve adjust. I had intended to include a photo of
the filter innards to illustrate the metal flake that I expected to be
present in the break-in oil, what with with new pistons and
cylinders wearing in. I didn’t take the photo because I just
couldn’t see any metal in the filter whatsoever. That did surprise
and impress me.
The only thing I have found to be a problem is the unexpected
failure of that set of aftermarket aluminum valve covers on the
lower or exhaust valves. They looked great and even had “Made
in Germany” cast into the inside surface (certainly they were not
made in Europe but in Asia). Anyway the pressure from the
normal expansion of standard, black rubber gaskets was too
much for the aluminum castings. They cracked and broke away in
two places………I didn't suspect anything because the failures
were on the upper edge and thus didn't cause noticable oil
leaking.
This photo illustrates the damage.
And here is a somewhat closer look at one of the failures.
Needless to say, I am going to scrap them and replace the
magnesium original covers.
