TR6 Did one of you guys lose this?

[Gliderman8]

#3 cylinder has been giving low compression numbers in the TR6 that I recently started to rebuild. Using compressed air in the spark plug hole the best guess it was a bad valve. Today I removed the head and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this 3/8" lock washer laying on top of the piston. Are any of you missing one?
For the life of me I have no idea how it could have gotten there. I will of course inspect the cylinder walls and the piston, but I think I am lucky from a quick look-see.
If it's yours, just let me know and you can pick it up.

 

[trrdster2000]

Elliot, Boy did that sucker bounce, all the way to Pa., wonder what happened to the other one. Really ugly looking block. Had to have a blow head gasket.

Wayne

 

[Gliderman8]

I'll get it cleaned up and expect to replace the head.
Come get your washer Wayne.

 

[trrdster2000]

Thanks, if it was only that easy. Wish I could come and help, been a while since I did a TR6. Cleanliness is next to Godliness when working on a motor.

Wayne
Keep us informed.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Cleanliness is next to Godliness when working on a motor.

For some Triumphs I've worked on over the years, cleanliness is next to...impossible.

 

[Gliderman8]

I'd sure like to know how the heck the lock washer got in there in the first place.
Not to worry, I am anal with cleaning things up to reinstall.

 

[HerronScott]

Elliot,

Was this engine running, as I would have expected that to make a racket bouncing around in there?

Scott

 

[dklawson]

I expected to see a lot of peen marks on top of the piston. If when you found it the washer wasn't bonded to the piston by oil/gas/carbon residue... maybe it fell in as you were lifting the head off.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I expected to see a lot of peen marks on top of the piston... maybe it fell in as you were lifting the head off.

I agree, would expect some FOD -- not even sure a 3/8 lockwasher will fit through a spark plug hole (the usual way for introducing hardware bits into the cylinders).

BTW -- that is one funky looking block.

 

[Gliderman8]

Scott- the car sat for 9 years. I just got it running and it started making this clanking noise. I shut it down immediately.

Doug- no way that washer fell in when I took the head off. It appears it's been there some time. The noise and the low compression was the reason I removed the head in the first place.

 

[Gliderman8]

Update: I flipped the head over, reinstalled the plug in cylinder #3 and covered the valves with diesel fuel. After a few mins, the fuel started leaking out of the intake port. I would say that is the cause of the low compression in cylinder #3.