Drain Plug Surprise

[dougjordan]

Found this washer stuck to it after a oil change , after putting in a magnetic plug. 100k on it. 78 R100/7. Any ideas where it could be from ?.. 10 mm dia with a 5mm hole 1mm thick.

 

[SatchelHopkins]

My granddad was a pilot in the war and afterwards became a diesel mechanic for his career. He turns 104 next month and his hobby is still to work on lawn mowers. When I was 18 he guided me on how to rebuild the engine on my truck. Afterwards we had a number of bolts left over. I'll never forget what he told me. He said that the extra pieces are only important if you know where they were supposed to have gone. If you don't even know, then it likely doesn't matter. I'm not sure how true that is, but I've pretty much stuck with it ever since. Good luck.

 

[motorhead1977]

Ditto! Once rebuilt a FIAT 850 engine (903 cc's) and ended up with 4 long bolts left over without any clue where they belonged or what they were for. My Navy trained machinist uncle who was guiding me through the rebuild said "let's just turn it over and see if/how it runs so we did. Ran extra fine and purred like a kitten. Never had any issues with it so we hung the bolts on the shop wall labeled "FIAT performance inhibitor bolts".

 

[HSVPhil]

It’s a lucky coincidence that the washer came out vertically, and U had a camera located nearby, Mitch!
Might I suggest that it was likely Cosmic intervention, and thus No Need to Fret!
How many BMWs are you sequestering in middle-AL?

Leaving for the BMWMCOGA Rally on Friday; YOU?

Ciao, HSV-Phil mit HSV-Karen.
Keep on keeping on!

 

[ccolwell]

If it would fit through the dip stick hole I would start looking for practical jokers. And safety wire the dip stick.

 

[GTRider]

There are a couple places where a dropped washer or other hardware item can end up in the crankcase, especially if the bike has had prior work in the cam chain area. That washer looks close to the size washer that’s used on the bolts for the timing case, so that’s a possible source. What I’m wondering about tho, is what looks in the picture like wear marks—as in where has that washer been situated so as to acquire that wear pattern?

Best,
DeVern

 

[dougjordan]

There are a couple places where a dropped washer or other hardware item can end up in the crankcase, especially if the bike has had prior work in the cam chain area. That washer looks close to the size washer that’s used on the bolts for the timing case, so that’s a possible source. What I’m wondering about tho, is what looks in the picture like wear marks—as in where has that washer been situated so as to acquire that wear pattern?

Best,
DeVern

Wear marks I hope and not pinched ( cam or valves) Owned since new so know history. Have had pan off several times and not there. Been looking at schematics saw the washers in timing area. Wouldn't think a washer that size would be use inside the engine.

 

[GTRider]

Wouldn’t necessarily have to be used internally, just needs an access point where it could fall or bounce through an opening. Front timing case, oil filter canister, breather at top of the block; all could be possible entry points. Most of the washers that size that I’m aware of being used internally are waverly washers, which yours isn’t.

And lastly, there’s always the possibility it was dropped in on the assembly line, though doubtful since you’ve previously had the pan off. My own ‘83 R80ST, shortly after taking delivery, was discovered to have the RH intake tube stuffed full of electrical relays- that were causing noticeable issues with performance and mileage. The dealer ran the info (and the relays, darn it!) back up the channel to BMW AG and the response was that there had been “some unrest on the assy line from foreign workers.”

Also on an R80 of that vintage, at an oil change around 25k miles, it coughed up a pin about 10mm long but larger in diameter than the pin used to retain the front main bearing. But just to be sure, we pulled the timing case and front main and sure enough that pin was still staked in place. The only other possibility we could come up with was maybe the hanging pin for thrust washers at the rear of the cases-but that would be sandwiched between case and crank, so how could it ever get out?? The resolution was to shrug and put the bike back on the road, as none of us were ready to strip the engine down to a bare case and check that pin, and we couldn’t find a part# to order a pin for comparison. That bike now has 80k on the clock and is still one of the smoothest and sweetest running boxers I encounter.

While I dislike unanswered questions and unsolved riddles as much as anyone, sometimes you have to just shrug and move on; the solution reveals itself or it doesn’t!

Best,
DeVern

 

[dougjordan]

I did have the breather break on its own years ago. Replaced with the reed style. I bet the wear marks are from the spring. Thinking the spring was sandwiched between two washers that size.