Hey guys. I have a 2012 Street Glide. During the engine oil change and checking oil level a third of a paper thin washer came out stuck to the dip stick. If a full washer it would maybe be 3/8" diameter or slightly larger, It was moon shape with some shear or machining marks on it. I cut the filter open and no metal was in it. I've got 21,000 miles on the bike. Any ideas where this may have came from? Couple guys say just ride the bike but he'll I'm freaking out. Some input would be appreciated. Thanks..

 

i would stick a magnet down in the oil and see what i find, then change the oil and see what in the drain oil. sounds like it might be a shim came out of something. engine making any noise ? it came from somehwere.

 

I think I'd take the specimen and head down to the H-D dealership and talk to their engine tech.

This is something that is NOT going to go away or get any better.

Better to "address" the issue now that to wait for a catastrophic event!

 

3/8" being i.d.?

Paper thin describes a shim type to me. Which would generally lead me to suspect someone of attempting to reduce tap on one of the rocker arms.

 

This is a great idea OP. I'd suggest the same. Better safe than sorry. Just make sure you talk to the engine rebuilder there not a regular service person.

 

It's 3/8 to 7/16" OD. So your saying that you think it could be a shim from a rocker arm?

 

I mixed the oil with my other waste before I thought about getting a sample. I did cut the filter apart and there was no metal particles in it. I guess I need to go talk to a mechanic. I'm not fuzzy about riding it right now. Thanks guys.

 

It seems about the right size. I'm not willing to jump up and claim "it's that!". Just that this is something that is a round shim of roughly that size used in these engines. There may be something more, like shims to align the cam chain sprockets. But I wouldn't expect to see a chain sprocket shim get worn, and I think those are larger.

If the rocker arm shims are installed incorrectly, they could get worn down until they tear and fall out.

 

Time for a performance upgrade perhaps.

 

Given the small size of the oil passages and path of the oil, I really wonder how a piece of metal that size could possibly flow from the engine to the oil pan. It doesn't seem like that could ever happen.