Where'd the Woodruff Key Go? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gmog220d · #1 06-07-2015, 08:18 AM

Thanks Stretch. Nice pics of the guts of the timing device. Looks pretty similar to the mechanism in a centrifugal advance distributor.

Got another of the device simply flipped over so I can see what it looks like on the side that faces the rear of the vehicle? Just curious to see what that space looks like with my eyes, since I've only "seen" it with the wire probe thus far.

Picked up the camera but didn't have time to mess with it yesterday.

Thanks again, Stretch. I appreciate your time/replies.

Stretch · #2 06-07-2015, 08:53 AM

Oh bugger that's the wrong side isn't it? !

I'm away on a short trip at the moment and won't be back to my HDD back ups for the other pictures until later on in the week.

The closest I can get is this one =>

Stretch · #3 06-07-2015, 08:54 AM

gmog220d · #4 06-07-2015, 09:41 AM

Awesome - Thanks, Stretch. Those pics show exactly what I wanted to see.

Again, thanks for your replies/efforts.

gmog220d · #5 06-21-2015, 09:37 AM

Well, it's been a busy couple weeks. I never found the lost woodruff key, not with the wand camera in the engine, not on the floor after a good sweep up, not anywhere in the engine bay. So I put it all back together and cranked it up this week, and . . . it runs fine. No weird noises, no "CRUNCH", just happy diesel sounds.

Thanks to all who offered ideas and suggestions.

Stretch · #6 06-21-2015, 10:20 AM

Stick a magnet on the underside of the oil pan and see if that catches it?

gmog220d · #7 06-21-2015, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Stick a magnet on the underside of the oil pan and see if that catches it?

If you mean running a magnet up into the space towards the rear of the engine in the in the upper oil pan, under the crank, yes I did and there was nothing. I also ran the camera on a wand into that space and saw nothing.

I'm pretty sure at this point that it didn't end up in the engine.

Stretch · #8 06-22-2015, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmog220d

If you mean running a magnet up into the space towards the rear of the engine in the in the upper oil pan, under the crank, yes I did and there was nothing. I also ran the camera on a wand into that space and saw nothing.

I'm pretty sure at this point that it didn't end up in the engine.

I was actually thinking about just leaving a magnet on the oil pan and then checking that area at the next oil change

Simpler=Better · #9 06-22-2015, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

I was actually thinking about just leaving a magnet on the oil pan and then checking that area at the next oil change

Let's take it one step further-get a magnetic drain plug. If it's in the pan, you will get it on the next oil change.

gmog220d · #10 06-22-2015, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

Let's take it one step further-get a magnetic drain plug. If it's in the pan, you will get it on the next oil change.

I'll do the next best thing: I'll place my magnet just inside the drain hole. It'll be easy to peak in there with the plug out next oil change. If it ends up in the oil pan stuck to the magnet I'll remove the outer magnet and use my new, smaller magnet on a stick to drag it out the hole.

I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.

gmog220d · #11 06-22-2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

I was actually thinking about just leaving a magnet on the oil pan and then checking that area at the next oil change

I like that idea. I've got a perfect piece for the job, a decent sized chunk of rare earth magnet.

I was looking at the drain hole, and it is indeed large enough for the key to pass through. While looking for the lost key I wondered if it had fallen into the oil pan and ended up coming out with the oil. I strained the oil from the dump pan and looked in there but didn't find it.

Whiskeydan · #12 06-21-2015, 01:44 PM

Did you check the bottom of your shoes? I once spent the better part of a day looking for a dropped small part. Gave up feeling defeated, went in inside and sat down with my foot on my knee and there it was... stuck in the shoe tread.

gmog220d · #13 06-21-2015, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiskeydan

Did you check the bottom of your shoes? I once spent the better part of a day looking for a dropped small part. Gave up feeling defeated, went in inside and sat down with my foot on my knee and there it was... stuck in the shoe tread.

That's a good one! The tread on my shop shoes is pretty shallow - it never got caught in there. I'd have felt it, too.

Thanks!