need tiny spring for m180 timing chain tensioner

[Neubie]

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of a head gasket replacement for a m180 out of a '69 230. Everything going back together cept when I tried to get the timing chain tensioner back on, I lost the smaller spring down into the block. not the long spring that comes in from the side of the engine, but the small spring that goes in back of the tensioner arm and keeps the timing chain aligned front to back with the sprocket. Its maybe 3/4-1" long and 3/8-1/2" in diameter,

My only hope is someone with a parts engine? That or I start scouring Hope Depot for a sutible substitute...

Any help would be great!

Marc

[300SDog]

Have you tried fishing into the engine block with a magnetic retriever? Chances are it didnt bounce when it landed on oily surface.

[Mustang_man298]

I would also think trying to get it back out would be a better idea, you never know where exactly it landed, might be down there just sitting in waiting, start 'er up and it jumps down into the chain, gets gnashed up into a sprocket and bang! I myself would never fire an engine with a known piece of loose metal floating in it.

[Neubie]

I agree, the thought of it running around down there wasnt appealing, but the idea of fishing it out seems hopeless. I guess the optomist in me figured it would make its way down to the oil pan quickly enough.

Ill give it a go this weekend and see if I can't pull off a miracle before trying to order one up.

thanks!

Marc

[cth350]

You really don't want the spring to come back up attached to the chain under engine power, as that could throw off the chain by a few teeth or worse.

Armed with a small flashlight, you can look all the way down that hole if the room is relatively dark. If you can see it, you can recover it given patience and a long reach tool.

Once it falls below the level of the chain and crank, you're safe (but w/o a spring).

-CTH

[Mustang_man298]

Originally Posted by cth350

Armed with a small flashlight, you can look all the way down that hole if the room is relatively dark. If you can see it, you can recover it given patience and a long reach tool.

Once it falls below the level of the chain and crank, you're safe (but w/o a spring).

-CTH

Ahh, but if it has fallen out of sight below there, chances are he can drain the oil (probably already has if hes doing the head) and then dump a bottle of oil down the front of the engine in the timing area, washing the area down good, then pull the steel pan and maybe get lucky that it washed down by the sump, and he'll have a spring again.

[Neubie]

Well, I managed to get even luckier! Turns out the spring had just snuck under the tensioner and out of sight. Assuming the worst, I gave up before looking too far. Good thing too, cause with the head on, There wasn't much visibility. Everything is back on and together, no extra parts, no missing parts. She still needs to be timed and oil changed, but its running!

As always and most importantly, Thanks to all of you who offered suggestions and help. It really does make it possible for someone like me with limited mechanical knowledge, to feel better about taking something like this on. $400 in gaskets and machining is way better than a $1500 shop bill anyday.

Im sure there will be something else soon....

Marc