Metal Piece in Sump

[Jimbola]

Hi all,

New member from UK here with a V50 Monza purchased late last year and only just become roadworthy.

Many new parts fitted and now running well, however, removed the sump and found this is there  does anyone have an idea where it came from? Obviously not the heads as no way to get into the sump, I've searched the manual and can only think oil pump? pressure valve? any better ideas before I start to pull it apart?

Thanks in anticipation.

[guzziart]

My wag here is a piece of lifter...that's all I got.  I'm sure somone that knows what they're talking about will be along shortly.  If you have the pan off, have you tried looking up into the bottom of the engine to see if anything looks suspicious?  I don't recall if the cam & lifters can be partially viewed from a look up. 

Art

[pressureangle]

Lifter was my guess, but I have no experience with smallblocks.

[guido guzzi]

Not sure if smallblock lifters can fall into the sump... If the bike runs well and idles I'd guess the debris was left over from a past failure. 

[Frenchfrog]

maybe a valve keeper ?

[Chuck in Indiana]

So.. uh.. *why* did you pull the sump? Noise? Low oil pressure? Just to have a look up her skirt?

[Mr Revhead]

Lifter piece. Can definitely fall into the sump.
Have you had the heads off and checked the valve gear? Cam?
They are known to drop valves due to valve train issues. Springs to stiff, wears the cam and followers.

This could be from a previous failure as well

[Moparnut72]

Looks like a valve stem keeper. There may be a valve being held by only one. Easy to check. I would check those first thing.
kk

[guido guzzi]

Looks like a valve stem keeper. There may be a valve being held by only one. Easy to check. I would check those first thing.
kk

Way too big to be a valve keeper: 12-15 mm

[Moparnut72]

Ok, not much on metric measurements.
kk

[Wayne Orwig]

Just a wild thought.
How about a broken of bit of the plunger on the oil pressure relief?

[Stretch]

I'm not an expert on the V50, but it looks like a piece of camshaft to me.

It looks too big to be something from the top end that could make it all the way down
to the sump.

The polished part looks like a wear item, and is roughly the right shape and size for part of
the camshaft. It doesn't look like part of a lifter.

No way to tell if it's from a previous blowup, or an imminent catastrophe without having a look
at the valve train I don't think.

                                                                -Stretch

[John A]

I’d be concerned about an automatic rapid unscheduled engine disassembly until I found where it came from. Was it making noise?

[guido guzzi]

I'm not an expert on the V50, but it looks like a piece of camshaft to me.

It looks too big to be something from the top end that could make it all the way down
to the sump.

The polished part looks like a wear item, and is roughly the right shape and size for part of
the camshaft. It doesn't look like part of a lifter.

No way to tell if it's from a previous blowup, or an imminent catastrophe without having a look
at the valve train I don't think.

                                                                -Stretch

^ This. Lifters are not shiny on the sides...
Oh and I would definitely take it apart and have look see.

[Jimbola]

Thanks for all the replies! a friend and I spent some time looking at the broken part and comparing it with anything that could drop into the sump, we excluded parts of the heads. Our conclusion is that it was part of a cam follower- lifter for you guys so stripped heads and barrels and with mirror and torch (not welding ) flashlight that is! checked all followers and pleased to report all present and correct Our conclusion is that it was from a previous episode as it was obvious the engine had been apart not long ago as very little carbon build up on heads and pistons added to which, some monkey has reassembled it without washers under two of the outer head nuts and copious amounts of gasket sealer.

The bike was running fine but I decided to remove the sump and clean the gauze strainer prior to an oil change.

Safe Guzziing guys.

[Frenchfrog]

Wise thing and glad nothing was found

[Bulldog9]

Thanks for all the replies! a friend and I spent some time looking at the broken part and comparing it with anything that could drop into the sump, we excluded parts of the heads. Our conclusion is that it was part of a cam follower- lifter for you guys so stripped heads and barrels and with mirror and torch (not welding ) flashlight that is! checked all followers and pleased to report all present and correct Our conclusion is that it was from a previous episode as it was obvious the engine had been apart not long ago as very little carbon build up on heads and pistons added to which, some monkey has reassembled it without washers under two of the outer head nuts and copious amounts of gasket sealer.

The bike was running fine but I decided to remove the sump and clean the gauze strainer prior to an oil change.

Safe Guzziing guys.

Good news, but it is a bit troubling that whoever did the work to repair the broken lifter/follower did not drop the sump in the process. I'm assuming they did a new cam, but you know what they say about those who assume 

[SIR REAL ED]

Good news, but it is a bit troubling that whoever did the work to repair the broken lifter/follower did not drop the sump in the process. I'm assuming they did a new cam, but you know what they say about those who assume 

While they had the bike aprart, the oil pan was probably used as a catch all for bolts, washers, broken engine bits that were removed, etc.  Good news is it appears they did not have any extra bolts left over after the repair.

[Stretch]

Glad you found everything intact!   

Those Previous Owners     - ALWAYS good for a surprise or two!

                                            -Stretch