This is my lucky day. I bought my 1976 XJS in September 2017 as a teaching tool so I could learn how this V12 works by taking it apart. Then I considered just getting it running and leaving the block together.

Today I used my new borecam to check on the condition of the pistons and cylinders and look for dropped valves. What I found was a little washer in one of the cylinders that helps me make my decision. The engine is coming apart. Yeah!

It is a good day.

 

BTW: This is not the 1975 XJS mentioned in my other post.

 

You can get that out through the intake valve with a long magnet. I did the same as one dropped in there...

 

That sounds way too easy.

 

That washer is off the intake manifold. They have that sunburst style ridges. I’d leave it :P. Imagine how many XJSs have one of those in a cylinder?

 

It was exactly the same style washer. Turn the engine by hand untill the intake valve is fully open, push a flexishaft magnetic stick in and click. You have it.

 

Finally got the silly washer out. All I needed was the right tool. Didn't even need the bore cam.

 

Yeah, that is what I used...

 

Have you ever seen a $30,000 washer? I keep one on my work key ring as a reminder. Standard M6, ended up costing 30k.

 

Wow! I guess something aerospace/aviation?

 

Let's just say it was left in a machine with zero tollerance, chrome cylinders with ceramic jackets on them. It went through 4 cylinders putting holes in the ceramic jackets, and leaving an impression in the chrome cylinders. Jackets are 5k a piece plus the repair to the cylinders and two engineers for two days. My offsider never told me he put a bolt back without a washer on it.

With this type of machinery nothing moves until everything is accounted for. Ultimately it was my fault because I'm in charge of the machine, believe me.....the offsider now knows the importance of a missing washer. If I had known it was awol we would have been there with cameras and magnets until it was found. I spent 10 hours with my foreman looking for a 15mm long M4 bolt when I was an apprentice. (one of those things you never forget)

 

Ouch! Could have been worse, like the $30.000.000 satellite that fell over because someone forgot to bolt it down to the platform...

 

Certainly could have been. It only got 4 of the 20 cylinders. If it got all of them I might have been unemployed.

 

Are the two guys gloating because they weren't involved or wondering where to get a job?

 

I think that is a feature. See, the V12 is so quite they put a washer in one of the cylinders at the factory so you could hear that the engine is running.

 

I still wonder whether the washer would eventually fly out through an exhaust valve.

 

Yes they will sometimes pop out through the exhaust. I have pulled the spark plug out of that cylinder and shot several out the plug hole. It's very seldom that you can't get one out. That is depending on the size. The magnet trick is nice if the intake port/ shape will allow you to get in there. Spent many an hour retrieving a dropped screw or washer.


Jack

 

Something like that washer would mkre likely end up crushed into the aluminium of thr cylinder head surface.

 

Circa 1961, I was "rebuilding" a derelict 1940 ford Pickup. I got it cheap, and engine and transmission. The PO salvaged the 'good" stuff!!!!


A local "breaker" gave me a scrap bound circa "53: Mercury long block. desirable, but it had a "knock".


I striped it down.


1. Yup, one bore was beat up. The piston that is. The culprit. The cap on a spark plug. At one time, they screwed on!! New piston and rings for the rest + inserts and that part was well.


The other ailment for another day. It was "fixe".


More scrounging for missing parts, and I put it in the old truck. It ran really well.....


But, the brass plug cap was not retrievable by a magnet!!!!!


Carl