Surprise Found in oil pan - Name this bolt

[tkent02]

PO just put it there to freak you out.

More likely it's been in there since it left Japan.

[JamesWhut?]

More likely it's been in there since it left Japan.

I think the factory engine assembly line supplied as "kits" with just enough parts and fasteners to put one motor together with QC checks before they were buttoned up. While the Japanese are human, its unlikely an errant bolt was left in the motor. Much more likely that one fell down the "hell-hole" during service.

[halz426]

More likely it's been in there since it left Japan.

I'm starting to think the same thing. I'm still going to investigate it. Thanks

[halz426]

yet another example of why it's always good to clean out your oil pan

Agreed... I'm the example. lol. I would have never imagined it was in there, this is the start of my third season of riding this bike and it does not make any abnormal noise or rattling.

[GregT]

Have a look at your cam caps - if there's a bolt there without the 9 on the head, there's your answer...

[Brendan W]

More likely it's been in there since it left Japan.

Reckon so.

[eil]

My 850 had an SAE bolt (i.e. wrong threads) jammed into the one of the breather cover holes. Presumably the PO (or his ****e mechanic) had lost the original and just shoved in whatever he had laying around. Well, I found the original within minutes of starting to work on the engine, it was sitting in a little recess behind the #3 spark plug.

[Skowinski]

This thread reminds me of a Yamaha FZ750 I had years ago. I found what was clearly part of a ball bearing cage on the drain plug magnet one day, so up on the work bench it went. Pulled the engine completely apart down to the crankshaft and inspected every bearing and part inside the engine. Nothing, nothing wrong anywhere. Scratched my head and put it back together and kept riding it.

[hampshirehog]

I did a first service on an Enfield last year. You pull a plate on the sump to clean a gauze filter and sitting up in there quite happily was a rag the size of a dinner plate.

[JamesWhut?]

That was there to catch all the metal shavings during "final machining" (aka: break in).