01 1150gs Wire in Oil

[roger 04 rt]

2001 R1150gs Wire in Oil

I went to add oil today to a new-to-me 1150GS. 40K on the odometer. As I looked down, I spotted the piece of stainless steel, fine gauge wire in the photo (ends have cut marks). The wire isn't spring steel to the best of my limited knowledge. My question is, is there any possible source for this wire from inside the engine?

 

[tangoalpha]

I went to add oil today to a new-to-me 1150GS. 40K on the odometer. As I looked down, I spotted the piece of stainless steel, fine gauge wire in the photo (ends have cut marks). The wire isn't spring steel to the best of my limited knowledge. My question is, is there any possible source for this wire from inside the engine?

View attachment 63573

Oh my gosh! I can't possibly think of a single reason why that odd piece of metal would be in your crankcase, except that maybe somebody was careless when changing oil, left the oil filler plug off and the piece of metal fell in there. It's small gauge steel by the looks of it and wouldn't be used for anything inside of a crankcase, at least not that I could imagine. It will be interesting to hear the opinions of others, but from what it appears that was either an accident or somebody was malicious and deliberately put it in there (maybe someone angry towards the prior owner). Thankfully you found it. Good catch!

 

[PGlaves]

That wire is a clip used to retain gear shift linkage ball joints. The straight piece goes in a small hole in the female portion of the ball joint which then prevents the ball from disengaging. The semicircular portion then pivots and clips around the linkage shaft.

Part Number: 07119987611 SAFETY CLIP

 

[kioolt]

I went to add oil today to a new-to-me 1150GS. 40K on the odometer. As I looked down, I spotted the piece of stainless steel, fine gauge wire in the photo (ends have cut marks). The wire isn't spring steel to the best of my limited knowledge. My question is, is there any possible source for this wire from inside the engine?

Why do you think it came from inside of your engine. From your post you were just adding oil. Where did you find this clip?

 

[roger 04 rt]

Paul, How is Texas where you are? (We have relatives in the Houston area who are okay.)

It's not that clip although I agree it looks like it. Having never broken down an r1150 engine I'm having a hard time imagining how that wire got into the valve area.

 

[roger 04 rt]

Why do you think it came from inside of your engine. From your post you were just adding oil. Where did you find this clip?

It was inside the valve cover below the filler cap.

 

[omega man]

That wire is a clip used to retain gear shift linkage ball joints. The straight piece goes in a small hole in the female portion of the ball joint which then prevents the ball from disengaging. The semicircular portion then pivots and clips around the linkage shaft.

Part Number: 07119987611 SAFETY CLIP

Hope that wasn't learned the hard way.
OM

 

[PGlaves]

Paul, How is Texas where you are? (We have relatives in the Houston area who are okay.)

It's not that clip although I agreed it looks like it. Having never broken down an r1150 engine I'm have a hard time imagining how that wire got into the valve area.

We are at 3600 feet MSL and 650 miles away. No Harvey related rainfall so our area is fine.

 

[dieselyoda]

Can you pick it up with a magnet?

 

[AntonLargiader]

It does look like a ball joint clip but not exactly. Could it be safety wire that got cut off something and then fell in? Maybe someone used a twist of wire to keep the cam chain on the sprocket during a head gasket job and then forgot to take it off again.

Bottom line is I can't think of anything in the engine that would yield that.

 

[roger 04 rt]

Can you pick it up with a magnet?

Good question, I'll check.

Edit: it is very slightly magnetic.

It does look like a ball joint clip but not exactly. Could it be safety wire that got cut off something and then fell in? Maybe someone used a twist of wire to keep the cam chain on the sprocket during a head gasket job and then forgot to take it off again.

Bottom line is I can't think of anything in the engine that would yield that.

It feels and looks like aviation safety wire. It has a round cross section, can be bent and the ends look like they were cut with dikes.

I was hoping that you more experienced guys with the engines would be able to say "I can't think of anything in the engine that would yield that". I plan to pull the valve covers and change the oil & filter to make sure there are no other "friends" around.

 

[dieselyoda]

My guess at slightly magnetic would be stainless steel.

Open up your filter after you change it and see what is in there.

 

[roger 04 rt]

Although it looks like a "drop in". I'll pull the valve covers, change the oil and dissect the filter.

 

[tangoalpha]

Although it looks like a "drop in". I'll pull the valve covers, change the oil and dissect the filter.

What did you find out about this or have you not had a chance yet to pull the valve cover? Inquiring minds want to know.....