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Metal fragments in sump


rich71

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I hope somebody could help identify these 2 metal fragments i have found in my sump, the engine is a 1.6K wet sump....I have looked at an engine manual for the k series but can't find anything of similar size/shape. The engine runs just fine with no unusual noises, smoke etc so I am hoping that it is from an external source at some time in it's life. 

They look like it is one piece that was once joined as 2 of the faces match, the long edges are all smooth so i don't think it was ever wider than 5-6mm.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/89doe50iegrj4jt/IMG_0502.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mjgt30chcwqfqv0/IMG_0504.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/21o4u97h2ayickf/IMG_0503.JPG?dl=0

Thank you to anyone who can help

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Can't help with the identification, or why they would be in your sump, but they don't look like they've come into contact with anything - which has to be positive - and if something that large had been you'd certainly know about it.

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I've never had to work on them so not sure of the size so only familiar with the rough shape but could it be a bearing? It would probably make a racket if it was so hopefully only an outside chance.

http://www.seriouslylotus.com/drivetrain/rover-k-series-drivetrain/k-series-standard-type-crankshaft-bearings

http://www.myfreelander.co.uk/Engine/18k.htm

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John, that's what i initially thought but they are not wide enough, they are only 6mm and the edges don't look like they have come from something wider. I would also have thought noise would be noticeable but it runs with a nice tone and revs up just fine...i am somewhat concerned but am beginning to think and hopefully it's/they are from something else, although i don't understand how they would have got there unless dropped in from above.

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Yes they are, although they are not themselves magnets which i thought they might be at one stage.

They do look quite old even the ragged ends which means to me as though it's not a recent thing, apart from noise if it were the bearings how would i know?

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How intriguing -- not to say alarming!

It's difficult to imagine that they originated from some engine component.  Could it be they're part of something ferrous accidentally dropped into the sump while it was off during a rebuild or bottom-end work?.  Could the chips along the edges have been caused by contact with a rotating crank as they jiggled about?

JV 

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I have had the car a year, to my knowledge and looking through receipts i can't find any evidence of a previous rebuild, but over 20 years who knows. The sump foam was changed in 2014 as was written on the sump so i would have thought it would have been after then or the debris would have been found.

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Also if they had come from above, let's say bearing then the baffle and foam would have stopped it above, mind you perhaps it did and by removing these to change the foam that's when it dropped into the sump....it may have been there since a previous rebuild and maybe hidden somewhere, is that possible or am i trying to appease myself? 

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Ignoring what the fragments look like in order to eliminate the engine, if the foam is in place what lumps of metal are there in the area? The only ones I can think of are the pick-up and the baffle plate.

If they are not part of the car could it be the remnants of something used as a third hand to hold things in place while the foam was changed?

Failing that I reckon the last person to have the sump off put the metal in there as they were doing two jobs at the time and forgot to remove them when the sump was refitted.

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it could be...

does anyone know dimensions of the bearings to compare, like the ones on the left out of curiosity

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjKz_yLpPrOAhUBKcAKHdheAGAQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqedmotorsport.co.uk%2Fqed-shop%2Fview-all-products-in-shop%3Fkeyword1%3Dk%2520series%2520spigot%2520bearing%2520caterham&psig=AFQjCNGij9Tm9SsAnzMcqMrDnvZ0_m2d4w&ust=1473235470480523

The other thing i thought of while looking through the overhaul manual to help identify is the flywheel locking tool referenced in the document below (18G 1674), i can't find any actual images of one online

http://www.vgkracing.com/k%20engine%20EU3.pdf

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