HELP PLEASE! I'm stuck in the wilderness with a dead fxj80

[2KCruiser]

Ah hah!
Makes sense now.
Attention all PM nutcases, you can take the timing chain off the list now. Might just want to replace it with check for rattling bolts inside your oilpan.

 

[george_tlc]

Any damage to the bottom gear? After all if the timing chain broke due to the bolt wedging, a gear tooth may be a little 'sad'.

Glad to see you found that actual cause of the chain breaking. I would have thought any loose bolt would end up at the back/bottom of the sump versus at the front area of the engine waiting to 'bounce' up. Must have been a big bounce/bump...

Now the question of course, where did the bolt come from?

Thanks for reporting back, please continue to do so.

cheers,
george.

 

[bugsnbikes]

probably a loose cupholder bolt....

oh- btw- probably a ton easier/cheaper to locate a low-miler engine from A boneyard than rebuilding at twice/thrice the price. *especially if doing the Dukes of hazard stuff regularly*- monies saved will buy some confederate flag vinyl wraps for yer cruiser!

there was a 108k miler on sf craigs / oakland area last week for $2k

 

[bryanb]

Any damage to the bottom gear? After all if the timing chain broke due to the bolt wedging, a gear tooth may be a little 'sad'.

Glad to see you found that actual cause of the chain breaking. I would have thought any loose bolt would end up at the back/bottom of the sump versus at the front area of the engine waiting to 'bounce' up. Must have been a big bounce/bump...

Now the question of course, where did the bolt come from?

Thanks for reporting back, please continue to do so.

cheers,
george.

 

[bryanb]

probably a loose cupholder bolt....

oh- btw- probably a ton easier/cheaper to locate a low-miler engine from A boneyard than rebuilding at twice/thrice the price. *especially if doing the Dukes of hazard stuff regularly*- monies saved will buy some confederate flag vinyl wraps for yer cruiser!

there was a 108k miler on sf craigs / oakland area last week for $2k

Too late...

 

[grizzlygibbs]

Ouch.

 

[excessive]

amazing thread

 

[george_tlc]

Got to be at least glad it's not an interference engine.... though that bolt created quite a bit of interference on its own

Finding the source of that bolt will be interesting.

cheers,
george.

 

[80t0ylc]

.............Finding the source of that bolt will be interesting.

cheers,
george.

Agreed.....and what a time & place to happen!

 

[TZ62]

I'm not sure I'm more impressed with the depth of detailed knowledge or the willingness to drop everything and go help. Awesome. I've been in that catastrophic failure position before, but I was only 7 km from home. MUD continues to amaze me.

 

[alia176]

So, are we thinking that the bolt flew up and got caught in the chain when the OP hit the whooopdidoo at speed?

My old '97 ran with a broken sprocket tooth on the lower sprocket for years. It ran well.

 

[n00g7]

They look like ->

and are right at the battery like I posted above.

MEASURE, don't just check visually...

cheers,
george.

Tag for replacing mine.

 

[DForbes]

Just finished reading this entire thread and had a few thoughts; 1. It's amazing how cool and helpful people are on here. I can tell you the site has been VERY helpful to me lately. 2. It's funny how we often miss the forest through the trees...twice the crankshaft and camshaft position sensor codes were mentioned (yes I did see someone's comments that there isn't a camshaft sensor, but I don't know myself); and yet no one made the connection that those codes probably meant that the crankshaft and camshaft were out of position...which would happen if...the timing chain was broken. 3. But clearly the chains almost NEVER break, which is probably why no one suggested it. 4. I'm in the middle of replacing my valve cover gasket (done), spark plug rings/seals (done), radiator, hoses, heater valve, idle pulley, belts, thermostat, etc., and having admired how clean and pretty the inside of my 154K 1996 is, and how the timing chain is RIGHT THERE...I bet you someone at some point dropped a valve cover (or other) bolt right down inside that timing chain housing, and there it stayed quietly minding its own business until the big whoopdeedoo.