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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Cracks in Head Cover
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Message started by youzguyz on 07/19/16 at 15:48:29

Title: Cracks in Head Cover
Post by youzguyz on 07/19/16 at 15:48:29

I opened up Mad Hammish to fix an oil leak. At first, the infamous plug cap leak was suspect. Pulled the head cover, and noticed very little sealant between the cylinder and head cover. That would explain it as well.

Started cleaning it up, and noticed.. this:

http://https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13769428_1388264297856977_6338124588460996820_n.jpg?oh=93b64a4c2f76b4049caab80c65a27cfc&oe=57F0C089
and this:
http://https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13770297_1388264307856976_7623962361937857950_n.jpg?oh=d5b6759470b9caceafa9ab7fcc3a70d8&oe=58255F54
and this:
http://https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13697276_1388264311190309_3936082319493905751_n.jpg?oh=3476df7a40d3338e0c526a518e3f586d&oe=5822898A

Now, none of those cracks appear to go all the way through. There were some spider cracks on the outside, but not in the same location as the ones on the inside.
None of the walls of the bolt holes show cracks. No cracks in the cam journals. No cracks in the walls of the rocker arm shaft holes. No cracks in the mating surface.

I tried to get some pictures of the outside, but nothing showed up very well.

Anybody ever see anything like this before?
This is the first time I had the head cover off Mad Hamish, and I don't remember seeing this on Thumper from way back when.

All I can think of is someone may have over torqued the bolts at some time.. but the bike only had a couple thousand on it when I bought it.
Maybe the PO would know something.

Am I worried about it?.. not really.
The only think I could think of doing would be to coat the inside with JB Weld in case there is a leak, but I think that could cause other problems if it ever flaked off. I might do something similar to the outside though.

Title: Re: Cracks in Head Cover
Post by youzguyz on 07/19/16 at 16:02:52

P.S. Let me know if the pictures don't show up. I am .. experimenting

Title: Re: Cracks in Head Cover
Post by LANCER on 07/19/16 at 16:17:21

Every head cover I have or taken off has similar cracks. I believe it is a manufacturing biproduct.
Never had an issue with any of the head covers due to these little cracks.

Title: Re: Cracks in Head Cover
Post by Kris01 on 07/19/16 at 17:51:32

It's just Suzuki's cost-cutting metallurgy. Fahgedaboutit! ;)

Title: Re: Cracks in Head Cover
Post by Ruttly on 07/19/16 at 18:34:16

Totally normal , casting flaws , nothing to worry about , caused by rapid cooling in casting process

Title: Re: Cracks in Head Cover
Post by Kris01 on 07/20/16 at 18:33:52

Nearly every aluminum casting that I've seen looks like that.

Title: Re: Cracks in Head Cover
Post by youzguyz on 07/20/16 at 18:53:43

Thanks for the feedback people.
I kinda figured that it wasn't an issue, but I don't crawl inside these things anymore than I have to.
Ride 'em as much as I can.. Fix 'em enough to keep riding