Help! Can you identify this spring?
 

ok, this is a bit embarrassing, but I'm over that. :) I pulled the engine / tranny from my 1986 911 seven months ago, tore most of the parts off of it, put it back together and then back in the car. Looking very good, Except, yes, 1 part left over on the bench - a spring. Can anyone identify this part? I've poured over the PET a couple of times and I don't see anything that matches or that jogged my brain.

A couple of hints to go with the pictures.
The spring is what I would call a moderate compression spring, that is, it resists compression (as opposed to an extension spring that will snap something back into place after you stretch it) and it does so moderately - you can compress it between your thumb and forefinger with some force. It reminds me of the oil pressure relief valve springs but not as stiff. BTW, I tore most the engine apart - I had to replace a broken dilivar head stud, so I went down to pulling the cylinders and pistons off of the block, and while apart I disassembled most of the parts to clean and / or replace. It's now back together and running, BUT it does idle very roughly (runs fine at 2000rpm and higher). Does the spring go to the throttle body or air throttle? It also reminds me of the return spring on the throttle body but that is in place and is an extension spring as well. Thoughts??

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1484966978.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1484967002.jpg

I don't recognize it from anything I ever worked on Carrera.
Bruce

Thanks Bruce - maybe I'll have to scratch my head and see if I can remember working on something else in the garage that's missing a spring in the last half a year....

could it be the oil pressure relief spring?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911-engine-rebuilding-forum/712724-ultimate-oil-pressure-relief-valve-thread.html

there are 2 and on that page a ways down there are measurements for both springs

part 930.107.531.01

reading again your post looks like you may have ruled that out.
did you order a kit? sometimes the kits come with new springs and pistons

They're too light to be pressure relief springs
Bruce

Did you rebuilt your chain tensioner.

I think it's too light for the oil relief springs.

chain tensioner - you mean the camshaft timing chain? yes i did - both sides (camshafts were re-ground) - I don't recall a spring in there...?

Chain tensioner

pictures from this thread
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/855908-tensioner-quandary.html
show springs -but not quite same size/length. I know there are/were several iterations of designs though.

Thanks so much for your responses - much appreciated. No, I did not rebuild the chain tensioners, I only removed them as complete units, so that's probably not where this silly spring goes. I'm resigned to believing that this spring has nothing to do with my 911, but rather some other project that wandered into my garage during (or before?) my 911 project. Thanks again everyone for looking and trying to help!