Disaster, chain link clip fell down when finishing the valve adjustment

  • Thread starter Thread starter Erivaj
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Erivaj

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Hi,

I am desolated  :-[, I was adjusting the valve clearances and when everything was finished, the clip of the conneting link of the chain has fallen inside the engine. It is incredible, I covered with clothes to avoid it but the clip throw the clothes.

Are there any way to take it easily?

:'( :'( :'(
 
Relax Erivaj ;)

There are a few ways to retrieve the clip. First off obtain one of those long flexible stems with a magnet and try fishing through the cam-tunnel for the clip. Be patient and try several times. Failing success with that method you can drain the oil, remove the exhaust collector and unscrew the timing chain support. This will enable you to get in with your hand (careful, sharp edges!) and search for the clip. The flexible magnet will aid you in case your hand doesn't reach far enough.

Been there, done that!

Regards,
Gerald
 
Javi, don't panic.
If you take off the exhaust and then the pedestal cover that supports the underside of the cam chain run, the oil will pour out and hopefully flush out the clip. If not you could then try wiggling your finger into the crankcase at this hole to feel for it. If you have a magnet on a stick you may be able to fish for it too.

Edit:
Damn Gerald, beaten to it again!  :D
 
(Late entry, sorta redundant now)
Erivaj

If you're like me, you'll end up getting pretty good at retrieving the clip. I used to drop mine a lot. Usually it just falls straight down and is fairly easy to retrieve.
1. Try one of those long flexible magnetic retriever tools. You can use the telescopic or the flexible long spring type, just remember the telescopic ones can be crushed quite easily. Don't use the ones with the really big magnets, they're too hard to manipulate and the clip is very light anyway. Drain the oil first, though.
2. If that doesn't work, take the middle exhaust pipe off and then take the camchain damper out from under the motor, and look down the camchain tunnel. I have an LED worklight that I position under the damper opening that provides good illumination without blinding me when I look down the camchain tunnel. You may be able to see the clip lying just 1-2 cm from the opening. When you know where it is, use a suitable tool to manouevre it out through the opening. It's tempting to reach in with a finger, just be careful not to push it further in.
3. I've never needed to go to this step, but you could make a magnetic retrieval tool using a piece of bent steel rod with a small but powerful magnet epoxied onto it, and reach into the bottom of the crankcase through the damper opening or through the oil filter opening. This will require removing the entire exhaust and new gaskets when you install.

Others may have other suggestions. It's amazing the stuff that does fall down the same way. A couple of years ago somebody posted a picture of an 11mm spanner that they'd found in the bottom of their motor, that obviously fell down the camchain tunnel and whoever was working on the bike at the time didn't even notice! A few beers in the shed is one thing, but it can be taken to excess...

Ken
 
A chap I used to know pulled an oil-seal garter-spring out of the crankcase drain plug hole of a new Bonneville.
 
Ed Case said:
A chap I used to know pulled an oil-seal garter-spring out of the crankcase drain plug hole of a new Bonneville.
Click to expand...
Pretty clever bloke, did you see him get the new one in place the same way? We could do our selector retainer springs that way.
We had a new HD we had to replace a new complete engine on warranty, the original was still full of casting sand. Heard of one with a rattle caused by a scrunched up coke can from the factory. That was AMD at its best.
Usually things are missing so it is a bonus to get something extra.
 
Hi Erivaj, bad luck but not a disaster, just follow the advice given already. Note that when you reinstall the cam chain support pillar there is a right and left side to it. It will go in either way but only one way is correct. It is thicker on one side but I'm having a senior's moment here and can't recall which side the thicker part faces. Someone on the list will let us know for sure.
Dennis
 
andychain said:
If all else fails I will supply a new clip

Andy
Click to expand...

:D :D :D ... I hope I will retrieve the clip.

Thanks to everybody ... I will check in place and I will let you know news.

;)
 
I bought my bike as a project, with a broken camchain.  The previous owner had fished out the camchain, and the link, but the U shaped spring clip was still in the bottom of the crank cases.

As I had the top end off the engine anyway to mend the broken valve and guide, I had better access to go fishing inside the cases to try to retrieve the clip.

I tried everything!!  Including washing litres of paraffin through the engine, with the oil strainer, camchain support and drain plug out, magnets on bits of wire sticking fingers inside, nothing worked.

I resigned myself to removing the engine and splitting the cases, and there was the clip, sitting on the bottom, between the two openings in the crank case. 

I doubt that there was another way of getting it out when it was stuck there!

Best of luck!
 
This week I just finished rebuilding the G/box on my BM 100gs. Couple of weeks back I noticed a knocking sound coming from the driveshaft/gearbox. Thinking it was a uni [g/box rebuilt prior to buying it] I removed the drive shaft and it was in perfect condition. When I turned the output shaft on the box it was very notchy so after a couple of fuck fuck fucks I ordered a complete G/box bearings/srpings/seals kit $400!!.
My best mate and BM expert rode down from Perth with his special tools and measuring plate to rebuild it. On removing the cover we saw the circular spring from the clutch rod seal sitting in the race on the bearing.
The seal had been butchered in and when the clutch rod was pushed through it must have knocked the srping off. It happily sat in the box for many thousands of kms until it decided to move into the bearing.
Could have just replaced that bearing/seal and shut it up again but as I'd already brought the kit we replaced everything anyway. The box was spotlessly clean so that was a good sign. If it wasn't for that spring It'd probably gone for another 100,000 kms. The box was rebuilt by one of the BM clubs experts too!!! Just goes to show you can't trust anybody. If you can do it yourself it's worth doing or at least have ago at it anyway.
When doing valves adj. on triples, stuff rags everywhere, dont leave any gap open as murphy's law dictates. :D  I once lost a 10mm open ender and after much head scratching gave up looking for it. About a year later I found it under the starter motor on my old SF2.
 
motoddrob said:
About a year later I found it under the starter motor on my old SF2.
Click to expand...

EVERYTHING I drop seems to end up under the bloody starter motor! Carb jets, spanners, carb nuts and washers, O rings, battery bolts....

I replaced my inlet manifolds last winter, and the order of removal was thus:

Tank, starter motor, carbs......

Saved loads of time!

Chris
 
A few years an old rider in town did the same on a Suzuki 850 and being an old bushie roped the bike upside down an finally got the link to reverse its path. Unfortunately he's not around for details of his method.
Ian
 
Hi,

Finally last montday, after 3 hours, I get the clip (see photo below) with the magnetic stick and dismounting the lower chain dumper.

:D :D :D

Thanks ????????

... now another question, I remove all the spark plug caps, and I didn?t mark them. The ignition coil has 3 outputs and I have conneted like this:

- Right output to the right cylinder
- Left output to the left cylinder
- Foward output to the center cylinder

... Are they OK?

DSC01519r.jpg


 
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