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Found during oil change

XLNDRVR

XLNDRVR

Forum Apprentice
Found this today when draining my oil catch pan after changing the oil in my ‘80 GS1100E. I’m assuming it came out of the engine. I don’t recognize it, does anyone else? It’s a perfect half sphere, is hollow, is made of steel, is about 9mm in diameter, and appears to be undamaged.

Thanks!
 

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HHuuummmm, not remembering anything like that, but been a long time since had one of those eng. apart. interesting
 
Looks like it may be an oil galley plug. Not sure though. Good thing the bike didn't eat it. I would take the bottom oil pan off, and look for any hole down there that looks like might be missing something. :)
 
Interesting and somewhat scary at the same time. Wonder if it's something that ended up in there from the factory floor.
 
if it is an oil galley plug you would have low oil pressure somewhere with it all taking the shortcut..... That wouldn't be good!
 
For me it would be more to wonder about than worry about. I'd have sure thought somebody around here would have seen one before if it were a Suzuki part, especially if it was a important Suzuki part.
 
Looks like the top of a acorn nut. They would come off the nut if you tightened them too much. Don't know how it got inside the engine though. And, I seem to recall that those were aluminum,could be wrong about that.
 
zuluwiz said:
Looks like the top of a acorn nut. They would come off the nut if you tightened them too much. Don't know how it got inside the engine though. And, I seem to recall that those were aluminum,could be wrong about that.
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I think you may have it. There are two of these cap nuts inside the head right next to the cam chain tunnel . # 11 on the fiche. Part number 09159-10026. https://www.partshark.com/oemparts/a.../cylinder-head

You would be able to see if yours are intact by removing the valve cover. Much less work than removing the oil pan.

ZTivRf5l.jpg


the dome of this nut ​looks suspiciously like the OPs picture

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I’d expect an oil plug to be shaped like a freeze plug, with flat sides. This chunk of metal is not shaped like that. That gives me a little hope that it isn’t oil-related, but what do I know?
 
SOLVED: Acorn nut idea was spot on and got me thinking where else they are used. At least I don’t have to worry about this being an internal issue. Which of these is not like the others? Thanks for your input!
 

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Wow! What a relief. You can't get any more external than that.

Imagine if you had disassembled the engine before realizing it was a filter nut? :eek::eek::eek:
 
I used to keep those on hand when changing oil filters, would pop at least one every time. It's amazing the stuff you get used to doing and don't even think about.

(edit)Checking back with the Original Post, I see that the piece wasn't found inside the engine, which is a relief. I really need to slow down and read it all. Anyway, that's an easy fix, nothing internal. I'm thinking the reason those tops come off is that the thin metal washer that is supposed to be under the nut gets lost and the person doing the changing (that would be me) doesn't notice and puts the nut back on without it, then overtightens. Easy mistake, get in a hurry to finish, then wonder why oil seeps past the threads.
 
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zuluwiz said:
I used to keep those on hand when changing oil filters, would pop at least one every time. It's amazing the stuff you get used to doing and don't even think about.

(edit)Checking back with the Original Post, I see that the piece wasn't found inside the engine, which is a relief. I really need to slow down and read it all. Anyway, that's an easy fix, nothing internal. I'm thinking the reason those tops come off is that the thin metal washer that is supposed to be under the nut gets lost and the person doing the changing (that would be me) doesn't notice and puts the nut back on without it, then overtightens. Easy mistake, get in a hurry to finish, then wonder why oil seeps past the threads.
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Don't feel bad, I had a perplexing oil leak that turned out to be a missing copper oil plug gasket that I lost the last time I changed it. Cheapo me goes and gets a nylon one at the hardware store that lasted til about 500 miles shy of the next change.
 
So it fell into the oil pan during an oil change. Wow, what a relief!! Goes to show you have to be meticulous about oil changes and look for the smallest things. I can imagine now you're going to have an Eagle eye! :)
 
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I's like zulu, I thought it came out of your "oil" pan, reread and realized came out of "catch" pan.... Glad it got sorted out.
 
rphillips said:
I's like zulu, I thought it came out of your "oil" pan, reread and realized came out of "catch" pan.... Glad it got sorted out.
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Yes, found it when draining the catch pan into an oil recycling jug. Got concerned and posted before looking the engine over. I hadn’t realized there was anything out of the ordinary when re-installing the filter cover. When I figured it out, I felt silly for raising the question.
 
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