Timing Chain Mishap

Hi,
Just finished adusting valve shims and tensioning timing chains. Started preparing to refit cam covers and stupidly dropped a cam cover stud that dissapeared down the rear bank timing gear!
I looked down with a torch and fished around with a magnet for a bit but no luck retrieving it.
Any advice would be appreciated as to how to move forward to rectifiy this.
Going to get an endoscope and have another look this weekend.

 

If you have access to a lift remove the oil sump cover and the stud may have found its way there. I seem to remember there being a fairly clear path down to the sump. Either way taking the sump off should offer the greatest access shy of engine removal and disassembly.

 

Easily done, I wouldn't beat yourself up about it.

No 1 - Do not rotate engine until you have found it. (obvious I know but had to say it)

As Rob said above, remove the oil pan, a little tricky getting the sump baffles past the oil pick up but doable from underneath.

The front bank (next to the firewall) almost drops straight into the sump, the rear bank (boot end) doesn't quite get there because of the gearbox so getting a magnetic pickup in is limited.

Keep fishing around with a magnet in the first instance, I did this once and got lucky after a hour. Boy was I pleased to see that washer Now I cover the timing gear up until the cam cover is ready to go on. Lesson learnt

Best

tony

 

PS - as a last resort before removing the sump - if you have the old oil (or new oil come to that - its worth it) try flushing oil down the timing gear case to flush it into the sump!

 

Rob/Tony,

Thanks for the kind words and advice.

Fished the little devil out using endoscope and magnet. What a relief!

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Sweet -Well done ! I know the feeling
Tony

 

Punching the air mate!

 

Nicely done. Congratulations

 

and what was on your mind when you see the stud dangling on the magnet.........I bet it was ------.FFS don't drop...

Best

Tony