Metal fragments in valve cover.

[PeteM1965]

Hi. I removed my valve cover to adjust the valves. They were very noisy but the bike was running normally. On removing the cover I found metal fragments on the bottom of the intake side of the valve cover. I did not notice anything broken or missing.

Any ideas what this is?

 

[beemerguru]

Not needles falling out.

I couldn't get a clear picture when blowing it up. See if you can pull everything out with a magnet (steel) or with tweezers (aluminum) and take another pic on a clean sheet of paper.


It might be time to pull the rocker arms

 

[20774]

Bike model and year? It might be the ends of the rocker arms that have a lip/cage which is designed to hold in the needle bearings.

 

[GTRider]

+1 on bike model and year. If it’s an ‘85 or newer those bits could be the remnants of a broken rocker shaft shim.

Best,
DeVern

 

[PeteM1965]

The bike is a 1971 R75/5 (prod 12/70). The shards are attracted to a magnet. They are very thin.

The rocker arm on that side had some vertical play which I adjusted. The valve adjustment was slightly loose. After making all adjustments the bike ran without the loud clicking noise it had been making.

 

[GTRider]

The bike is a 1971 R75/5 (prod 12/70). The shards are attracted to a magnet. They are very thin.

The rocker arm on that side had some vertical play which I adjusted. The valve adjustment was slightly loose. After making all adjustments the bike ran without the loud clicking noise it had been making.

Given the vintage, I agree with Beemerguru and
Kurt- time to pull the rocker arms and inspect the needle bearings, if the bike has been so equipped, or to see if what you found is the remains of a “stop disk”, part# 11 33 1 257 825.

Best,
DeVern

 

[80092]

71 / 5 has bushings for the rocker arms unless upgraded. The fragment remnants do resemble a shim.
I would disassemble the rockers and inspect

 

[PeteM1965]

Thank you for the advice. I will disassemble rockers and inspect.

 

[Lendog]

The bike is a 1971 R75/5 (prod 12/70). The shards are attracted to a magnet. They are very thin.

The rocker arm on that side had some vertical play which I adjusted. The valve adjustment was slightly loose. After making all adjustments the bike ran without the loud clicking noise it had been making.

looks like a possible oil circulating issue as well