Ballabio oil pump failure

[dangerous]

A mate on the local kiwibiker forum has a 04 Ballabio that has just shat its self in a big way, its only done 6900 non thrashed ks and the cam and a number of other bits are badly pitted

Not 100% sure but it seems that the oil pump was a mess and lack of oil cased the cam to fail plus a follower jammed in the head.

I havent heard of such a failure... what do you guys know?

[Ryland3210]

Did the oil filter loosen up? That's been a not too infrequent cause.

What make and model was the filter?

[Greg Field]

I know of three '04 Ballabs/Coppas that had cam failures. It is more likely that the cam failed, shedding lots of fine metal particles that would then take out the oil pump, than that the oil pump failed, taking out the cam.

[pete roper]

While I haven't had any first hand experience of this I think Greg has it nailed.

 

There was a period back in '03-'04 when the factory had shut BOTH of its nitriding ovens. One was being closed permanently and the other one was being replaced/refurbished. During that period ALL of Guzzis case hardening and nitriding was being sent out to 'Guiseppe's Pizza Shop and Nitriding Works' in Innoccenti! Oddly enough this period also corresponds with the production of the cam-failure prone Hydro valve Calis and while there definitely WERE other issues with them the fact that they had chocolate cams didn't help.

 

The oil pump is a VERY simple spur gear device. While I've seen them wear out I've never seen one fail catastrophically. If the pump is severely damaged? As Greg sez it's most likely because it has drawn a host of bits of 'Cam and Follower Frag' through itself. Remember the pump is the only component of the engine that gets unfiltered oil so it will suffer if the lubricant is full of munt! When it gets rebuilt I believe it is wise practice to replace or at least thoroughly clean and back-flush the oil cooler as well. If this isn't done any gribblies that have got past the filter can reside there and continue to damage stuff. It would also be worth while pulling the front main bearing and inspecting it for damage. If it is scored then chances are the big ends and the rear main will also be toast and it will be time to pull the motor out and go through it thoroughly, top to bottom!

 

Pete

[rocker59]

If not a cam failure, then it sounds like the oil filter backed off, causing a drop in oil pressure.

 

I torched a Quota last year when the oil filter backed off and I lost oil pressure.

 

Today when I changed the oil on my Nero Corsa, the filter was only finger tight !!!!

 

When I installed the new filter, I tightened it 3/4 turn past gasket contact, then added a hose clamp per Greg Field and others' suggestions !!!

[Guest pedro]

I Havent seen the parts yet but I intend to take some photo's. the bitch of the thing is not that it failed but that it will take three months to get the parts from Italia to NZ. I guess they are sending a man in a rowing boat to deliver? then i worry that the new parts will not last any longer.

Only time will tell.

[dangerous]

Welcome to V11LM ma man, I cant see how it will take 3 months i was tole 2 weeks for a screen to arive yesterday, stir ya dealer up hes not up with the play.