[Roadsters] Oops - dropped a washer . . .

[Fred Katz]

It’s been a while since I pulled apart a 2000 engine. If the washer jumps into the timing chain, you risk major damage if either timing chain blows apart because then you damage pistons and valves. If either timing chain gets damaged but remains intact, you get metal shards mixed in the oil which isn’t good for the bearings. I encountered that on an engine I rebuilt; the chains and valves were intact but I had to replace piston rings and crankshaft bearings due to the metal fragments doing wear damage, and I considered that to be minimal damage.

Dropping the oil pan to do a look-see is a good idea, along with a snake camera (they have a LED light at the camera end to light up what you’re looking at).

Fred
66 2L
SSF, CA

> On May 15, 2017, at 12:39 PM, John Stromgren via Datsun-roadsters <datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net> wrote:
> 
> Hey, All
> 
> I was removing the front right headbolt and dropped the washer down the front of the engine, somewhere deep below the timing chain, where I can't see it.
> 
> How much trouble am I in?
> 
> John
> SRL311-14061
> Portsmouth, NH
>