Steptoe, sir. I am sure that you know that countless 1150 owners are now removing their valve covers in dreaded anticipation. Well done. Thank you. I just ran out now to have a look at mine. Have you any thoughts as to what may have caused this damage? It looks to me as though that head was over heated a bit. Great pictures.
Two suspected causes of cam follower damage are valve lash too tight and lubrication failure. By the looks of those heavy varnish deposits there was overheating and/or extended oil change interval. The engine calls for API SF/SG. Newer automotive oils are SL/SM with low levels of ZDP.
It's known as zddp here -Zinc Dialkyl Dithio Phosphate. A motor oil additive. It helps to reduce metal-on-metal wear... This resolution thread may not be an issue for Mike anymore.... http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=838185&page=4
That's the righthand side of the engine in the pictures - The left hand side was in perfect condition
Well, yes, I am one of those "countless 1150 owners". I had a bad sound developing on the right side of the engine. Removed cam and - here you go, the same picture with the exception that only half of cam and one follower is broken - the exhaust side. For the intake part all seems well. Maybe that's why the sound is not that loud compared to videos in this thread. I wonder if it would be possible to fix the cam somehow (welding/grinding/hardening)? Also would be interesting to find out the cause of this problem. I would rule out the wrong oil, lack of oil and prolonged change intervals. Normally I keep valve lash on "tappy-happy" side...
That's the sound of a worn TB shaft bushing. Been there had that. Put a finger against the the TB cam, pulley thingy and you'll be able to verify straightaway. Glad the problem was solved [sic] but hope you didn't get injured in the process.
I had. Other than the bike having been destroyed (in effect "solving the problem") what else did I miss