My mate picked up a savage the other day. It was an LS400 which has had the 600 put in it. It also has a chain (apparently the 400s has chains not belts) and it's got a small oil cooler on it mounted right up where the frame splits.

Anyway, I digress. We started it up yesterday and it's got a rather bad grinding sound coming from head. Bike runs ok, and he might not have really noticed but compared to my savage, I know it doesn't sound right.

Really sounds like the cam spinning around in there.. cos it's a spinning sort of grinding. Not knocking or rattling.

Anyway, I'm wondering what to tell him. Do you think it's worth taking the cooler off and putting some decent oil in in the hope the sound goes away? Or, take the top cover off and inspect the cam? Or is he probably looking for a head replacement?

I'd take the head cover off at least.
I saw 1 where the cam mounting bolts had backed out.

I would not run it without further inspection

So....tell us a bit abot how this cooler is plumbed into the system.  Maybe it contributed to a problem with oil flow to the cylinder head.

Dave

Here is a shot of the cooler:


We took the head cover off and had a looksie. There was plenty of oil up there so it certainly wasn't dry. The journals are a bit worn.. you don't need to run a finger nail over them to see they are scratched up a bit. That said, it doesn't seem THAT bad in my un-educated opinion. Certainly not as bad some of the other pics I've seen on here.





What to you guys think? Is it worth giving these a bit of a light rub with some light sandpaper to smooth them out a bit? Or just throw it back together and put some better oil in it and hope it quietens down a bit?

Apart from making a bit of rough cam spinning noise is there anything particularly wrong with continuing with this head?

Out of interest, what the worst that can happen from just throwing it back together and riding it?

Don't know anything about a plastigauge, but I'd be tempted just to give them a tiny rub with 800grit just to take off the rough bits.

Dunno? The cam doesn't really touch that part though does it?

I'm no mechanic, but I wonder if enough lube has been getting around with the cooler and it's piping. It would be interesting to see how much oil comes out if you drain it, perhaps there should be some extra for the cooler and its piping.