Oil Passage Plugs

[Laverda Dave]

Personally speaking I would remove the other two as well. If you found slurry being one plug there will probably be similar behind the other two plugs. I realise you may have to butcher them to get them out although you could try localised heat from a blowtorch as I did with mine and this will help to get them out. You may have to buy three new plugs if you are really unlucky but I would rather spend £40 on new plugs than £2000 on an engine rebuild if any trapped slurry or blasting media finds it's way into the oil.

[Laverda Dave]

Personally, I’d remove them. Some of that slurry you have described may be lurking there. On the subject of cleaning oil galleries, what is your plan for the cylinder head camshaft galleries?

Snap (but you got there first 😁). I think the opinion is to take them out!

[Sesman]

Nurse Julie may be able to help with gallery plugs?

[Laverda Dave]

They are expensive, about the price of a half bearing shell but there are only three plugs but 18 half bearing shells to replace if blasting media finds it's way into the oil!

[TezzerTel]

I thought the other 2 were just under the crank and didn't involve any oil passage ways?

[Laverda Dave]

I'm not 100% familiar with the 500/550 but they are pretty much similar to the 400/4 in terms of engine architecture. The 400/4 has the main lower oil gallery below the crankshaft. The gallery is sealed in three places by the plugs these being below the points housing, adjacent to the oil filter and behind the alternator housing. When you take the two ends plugs out you can see right through the oil gallery and this makes it easier to clean. If you have found sludge behind one plug it will likely be behind the remaining two as well.

[TezzerTel]

I'll have another look tomorrow but I know I can see both ends of the other 2 plugs

[Sesman]

And the camshaft galleries?

[Murf]

In regards to cleaning out your engine I would definitely remove the gallery plugs.  Also give the inside of the cases a scrub with a small wire brush as particles of blasting grit can become embedded in the aluminium.  In general when you think you have done a really good job of cleaning the engine and got it as good as you can, have a cup of tea and then start the process all over again. Repeat a number of times, the grit hides everywhere and as already mentioned clean all threads thoroughly, grit loves threads. Check them with a bolt to see if it goes in easily without a gritty feel before assembly.
I stress caution because I have seen photos of a couple of CBX 1000 engine where all the grit was not removed, totally destroyed within a few miles.

[TezzerTel]

Yes I plan on cleaning the cases at least a couple more times. I didn't blast anywhere on the inside of the cases but obviously they have been in the blast cabinet so hopefully there isn't anything embedded in the alloy