Engine casting fault?

[Scaredy Cat]

Hi all,
just giving the underside a much-needed wash today (Scottish winter+salt)and noticed what looks like a casting flaw in the engine casing. I've attached a picture. Any ideas if this is normal or should I be worrying?

[wjbertrand]

Hi all,
just giving the underside a much-needed wash today (Scottish winter+salt)and noticed what looks like a casting flaw in the engine casing. I've attached a picture. Any ideas if this is normal or should I be worrying?

Hard to tell if there's flaw or not. Sometimes aluminum castings have material knit lines (for lack of a better term) that look like a crack but don't run past a few thousandths of an inch down. Was there oil leaking or any other evidence that it runs all the way through?

I had a similar looking situation on another bike I owned but there was enough of an oil leak to leave a small puddle under the bike every morning. one day I decided to thoroughly clean the area and them park myself in front of it and watch. Sure enough, the oil appeared but not from where I had suspectected. Turned out that a damaged o-ring behind the neutral switch cover, directly above the area I was concerened with was the culprit. Replaced it and never had a problem again.

[Scaredy Cat]

No sign of any leakage (not that it would have been obvious under all the crud anyway)!. I'm hoping it's just a surface flaw. I'll clean it all up properly and have another look.

[STArnie13]

That doesn't look good to me. It might not be a problem but I would keep an eye on it. You might mention it to the dealer. Honda won't fix it if it isn't leaking but it could help to have it on record if it fails later.:03biker:

[ride2day]

Hey Cat I wouldn't worry unless you see oil dripping or forming. My 03 has a few marks like that on various places on the block. I think the are just casting marks and since manufactures no longer have to polish and paint their engines anymore cuz their hidden by plastic you see more of this. Now I do believe they have casting problems w/their ST cylinder heads. Mine is in the shop as I type for the 3rd head. Hopefully third times a charm. Now where these are leaking there are no visibile cracks to the naked eye. I just wonder how many more there are out there that people don't know about cuz they never remove the plastics and see them????????????????:03biker:

[ckhkjh]

S.C.-
check out this thread. http://www.my-mc.com/messages/1/54105.html

I discovered the same thing all over the underside of my ST. Turns out what you are seeing is not uncommon.

[Blue STreak]

I agree it's probably not a problem, but I also agree that you should ask your dealer to check it out, just so that it's documented while under warranty, in case it does turn out to be a problem later.

[Scaredy Cat]

Thanks for the info guys, that puts my mind at rest!
I'm gonna abrade and polish it a couple of thou just to see though.... :)

[Scaredy Cat]

OK, polished it out just to make sure, no probs now. Phew.
Thanks for the info.
Now I look at the rest of the castings, none of it looks "cracked" but it ain't too pretty.
I guess I should stop worrying and go ride. :biker: