I'm taking a trip Thursday morning from Dallas to northern Arkansas and was changing oil today and found when I took out the primary drain plug it had a couple of pieces of metal on the magnet about 1/16" long. Bike is an 06 FLHXI. Just hoping it's nothing major. Need some help with what to do next. Thanks.

 

It's normal to pick up metal specs on the drain plug. Sometimes it will look like Don King's hair.

 

Not the Don lookin stuff but small chunks. I kinda expect the gray fro on the magnet to a certain extent. Ok, went out to measure the size of the pieces with calipers and they appear to be magnetic. Stator maybe? I'm kinda crunched for time.

 

hows the bike sound? metal chips becuase of bearing failure will sound noisy , but metal chips as a result of missed starter gear alignment wouldn't be too revealing during normal operation. Are you getting the bang grind sound on subsequent starts of the day?

 

Largest chip is .125" x .06". Haven't noticed any noise except the other day the wife noticed a squeeking noise but when I pulled the clutch in it quit. No trouble on starting lately. Did just change the battery though. Maybe a starter issue. Old battery was starting to drag. Guess I'll just put in new fluid and keep an ear on it for anything unusual. Hopefully the magnet catches any lingering chips. One thing though, the inside part of the chain rivets seem to have rubbed against something. That's all I can see.

 

you didn't say how many miles you have on your bike. seems like inner primary bearings crap out at 15K intervals when they do crap out...some folks have gone 40K plus miles with the original IPB. If you have had starter grind metal chips is likely clutch hub ring gear teeth to starter drive teeth. These are usally very dark in color. IPB failure would be noisy and the chips are lighter in color.

 

I've got 25000 on it now. This trip is probably gonna be 800 miles anyway. Haven't heard any unusual noise from the primary. Guess I'll see.

 

I have some metal particles on my primary drain plug as well and wonder if I should be concerned at this point.
Dealer replaced my stock compensating sprocket with a Screamin' Eagle compensator about 2000 miles ago and refilled primary with HD Primary oil (I normally use 20W50 Amsoil in there). I have it apart to replace the 39929-06A automatic chain tensioner with the 39929-06B model. Picture attached of the drain plug prior to cleaning (I will also replace the damaged O-ring).
I am thinking this may be new metal from the new compensating sprocket installation. I am not getting any other tell tale noises from within the primary area.
I may well just reassemble the lot and run it to see if additional metal presents itself. May be a bearing coming unglued but like I say, no new noises occurring or drive train malfunctions.

Suggestions???

 

That is what I was thinking as well. I'd say you are fine but if you are worried about it then change your primary oil earlier than called for or just check your plug in about 500 miles. Have a rag handy

 

Good plan....

Thanks!