57 Golden Flash, water in engine\gearbox

[Tarsier79]

I received my new Baby a few weeks ago, and am still a few weeks away from getting seriously stuck in to the restoration. I was in the garage this morning working on another bike, and for some reason, decided to pop the side cover off the A10 engine, which wasn't too difficult as it was only held on with one screw. I got a puddle of what appears to be water. I had an oil pan nearby, so it didn't make too much of a mess. God knows how it got there, and if there is more further inside the engine and gearbox.

It doesn't look like it has caused any corrosion yet, but I am going to have to investigate further before it does.

[Peter in Aus]

That is not good
Pull the sump plate of and see what is there!
Peter

[Tarsier79]

OK, did that, and there was some sitting just in the well. I also opened up the screw in the bottom of the gearbox, and got some watery rusty liquid. The good news, opening the gearbox revealed some other parts I will have to organise. Unfortunately ran out of time to fix this problem properly. It will have to wait till next weekend.

[KiwiGF]

If the cover was only held on with one screw that's how water could have got in (rain or being washed maybe), the mystery is why it did not leak out! Inside the cover is very clean, no sign of any grease in the Dynamo chain area (chain is missing of course) ....I assume you've cleaned it as opposed to this engine not having run since a rebuild?

[Peter in Aus]

If it was me I would be doing a full strip down ASAP water in engines and gearbox's is bad new
Peter

[Tarsier79]

Not sure why this was moved here. I didn't think I was asking a technical question.

[a10 gf]

Not sure why this was moved here. I didn't think I was asking a technical question.

A description of a problem that may imply a complete engine and gearbox stripdown seems (to me) to be very technical related.

If lucky, the engine may have been only water in the bottom\sump and no serious damage (rest of engine hopefully saved by residual oil film). From the description (watery rusty liquid) the gearbox seems the most concerning.

[Tarsier79]

Anyway. I pulled the gearbox apart this arvo. No major damage as far as I can see.

[Peter in Aus]

Now that is good news
Peter

[mugwump]

Water in an engine causes more damage to  bearings than anything else. I would strip the engine.

[Tarsier79]

Yes. I agree with you. In the state the engine is in, it won't take much to strip it. In the mean time, I emptied a can of wd40 into both housings to try flush any leftover water, and protect until I am ready totend to them properly.