Dropped the cam sprocket roll pin inside the case
 

Last night after playing around with the cam timing, I was about to go to bed and call it a night when I slid the cam sprocket roll pin out (using a screw) and it fell off into the cases. I searched and searched and could not see it with a flashlight. So after awhile of looking to no avail, I decided I needed to pull off the chain housing so I could get a better look.

During this time, I thought, I wonder if it would roll down to the oil drain plug?

So after pulling the left cam out, pulling the chain housing, and looking inside, I found nothing!

Argh! So what do I do? I decide to pull the oil drain plug.

Well low and behold, there the pin was.......stuck to the magnet of the oil drain plug.

Moral of the story; do the easy stuff first.

Now I have a torn cam retainer gasket that I will have to replace! :mad:

Wish I'd of known.....:(

It's a good idea to stuff some wadded up paper towel into the open area above and below the lower side of the timing chain where it goes into the case while working with that pin or the 6mm bolts and wavy washers for the cam thrust plate in the chain case.
It'll keep things from falling in if dropped.

You can still turn over the motor during cam timing with the paper towel wads stuffed in there. The chain won't catch on it or tear little pieces off.

Excellent story and a good reminder to all to stay calm and do the simple things including blocking the openings of everything while working with small parts. I got lucky once during my rebuild and got more religious about using rags, etc. afterward.

Yep, the bottom of the chain housing and case makes for a nice ramp!

I had that happen to me too during my rebuild, but I was able to fish the pin out through the cam tower using a cheap Harbor Freight telescoping magnetic pick-up tool... I swear that's some of the best money I've ever spent at Harbor Freight!

Curt

I always use an old spark plug to hold that little pin,,,

I always used the spark plug to take the pin out of the sprocket holes, but putting it in seemed easier with my bare fingers- at least until I dropped it (that's where the magic magnetic wand came in)! They say hard lessons make for long memories!

Thanks for sharing your hard lesson with us Cory!

Curt

Similar experience but with the woodruff key, managed to get it out by rotating the engine and bouncing it. I think I got lucky and it got itself glued to the chain with oil. Always stuff something in those pesky holes

I bet! I could have done the same until I rotated the engine and heard it roll further down.

You have all of my old ones! haha :)

Yepper, that is why I posted. Maybe others might try and save the pain!

Yes, this engine is not forgiving!