OK, it's winter in Michigan. Lots of time to modify. I'm doing the manual CCT thing with some very nice looking Krieger units. I pull the rear cam chain cover off and notice what I thought was a washer laying down by an oil port under the cam chain. I got my trusty little screwdriver/magnet and proceeded to bump it down the oil port. I shined a light down into the engine and found that I could see it if I shut my right eye, so I made a long magnet with some baling wire and a refrigerator magnet and proceeded to push the little bastard somewhere I can't see at all. So I drained the oil and pulled the oil pan off the bottom of the engine in the hopes that it had made it all the way. No such ##### luck. I found my good, flexible, 18" magnetic pick-up and have been fishing around for a while with no result. So now I look at the schematic and find that the manual says that there should be an O-ring on the locating dowel in the center of the rear cover. My question is, does anybody know if it's a washer or an O-ring? If it's an O-ring (I would have bet it was a washer), what if I just went about my merry way and let it get eaten up in the engine and changed my oil real soon in the spring? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

It's a rubber o-ring- I think it compresses at the same time that your valve cover gasket does when you tighten the four bolts. But at least you know your magnet isn't broken.

As for the second part of the question... some of these guys know that I'm not totally adverse to crap floating around in my oil (ha!). What are the chances of getting the clutch cover off? You'll probably be able to find it there, but have to drain the coolant and possibly get a new gasket to do this. Maybe fish around with wire again knowing that you have to push it to the bottom and not just grab it like a magnet.

 

Maybe compressed air or a skinny attachment to a vacuum...

 

I ordered gaskets last week for the right and left cover. (lightened flywheel is next) It wouldn't hurt my feelings too much if I didn't have to use the right one. Thanks for the reply and I just want to say that I think you've built up a real nice bike!

 

I dropped a cam chain guide bolt in the same spot. I dropped the pan and it wasn't there, so I got under the bike with a light, a magnet, and some wire and was able to fish it out that way. I found it resting on one of the clutch springs, clutch side and towards the rear head. If you can't get it, I would say run it for a while and pull the pan again to see if it comes out. I can't see it causing a big problem, but you don't want to leave it there

 

Thanks much! I'm still a relative noob in this world so I take that with a