Spyder drain plug surprise :(

[Bob Dahringer]

Posting for a friend, (Just Joan). She had her Spyder in for routine maintenance and lookee what showed up hanging onto the engine oil drain plug.

To me it looks like a set screw. I have no other info besides this picture.
Anybody familiar enough with Rotax insides as to venture a guess as to where this might've come from? Outta the trans maybe? Its a 5 speed manual.

[donroger1]

That will sure make you nervous!!!!!

[Hemibee]

At least it hung up on the drain plug instead of making it's way thru the engine, at least I hope it didn't pass thru the engine.

[focus frenzy]

what year model?

I looked at diagrams for a 09 spider and it shows it to use a dry sump oil system, if that was in the oil tank I would not worry because it wouldn't have passed through the scavenge pump so it likely was in there already.

if it came from a secondary crank case drain, the one set screw I found was the one that sets the oil pump pressure relief point.

if it was running and shifting fine when she took it in I would be worried about a possible scam.

[Moose]

Bobby,

If you can take a look to see if there is a tiny hole drilled thru the screw incase it was used as a lubrication orfice/jet, likely less then a 1/16" dia

Other things that come to mind are gallery plug, which might not be readily apparent on a parts diagram & good old dropped in during assembly

Other then that post up on the spyder specific boards

[MSl77384]

Is it still under warranty? If it is; I'd be having a serious discussion with the regional service representative.

[Bob Dahringer]

Originally Posted by Moose

......... good old dropped in during assembly

Im starting to wonder that myself, looking at the threads, theyre pristine with no signs of it ever having been installed.....and to me that looks all in the world like 1/4"-20 threads, shouldnt be seeing that in a metric product, or as Leon suggested, maybe theres some flim-flammery afoot.

The machine is under warranty until April 2013 and is back on the road, fingers crossed that theres no problems from this point forward.
I suggested to Joan that this is something that needs to be documented just in case.

[hizzo3]

If its under warranty, I would have the dealer write up what they found, sign it. Then contact spyder, warranty dept, let them know what was found. Tell them you suspect something funky and see what they say. Tell them you are concerned for the safety of yourself and using their product. They will more than likely investigate since quite a few shops run warranty frauds, and corporate HQ's love pulling their name from a dealer that does that stuff. Plus then you will have a piece of mind that all is good either way.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[tshelfer]

It doesn't sound like a scam - at least, not from what was told here. The typical scam is for the shop owner/manager to immediately hit you with the full court press: we need to tear this oil pan off and see what's going on. It also often comes with a handful of metal filings tossed into the oil pan to suggest something that's taking some damage. This scam typically gets pulled on travelers because they don't have any easy options.

If the guy just handed you the part and said something like "you might want to get this checked out," I'd worry about the part, not the shop.

[kurt]

Too early for a scam. The vehicle is under warranty which hardly pays enough to go to these lengths to initiate. If I were betting I'd say it is the set screw to an arbor on some tool used for assembly.

[rcantrell52]

Bob,
Post a note and this picture on www.spyderlovers.com and you will get an answer.
Reese

[CleatusJ]

When he said hanging on, I figured he meant on the out side.

[chaissos]

I figured inside. The magnets are pretty protected on the outside, so they pick metal bits from the oil, and not crap from all over the ground.

[Bob Dahringer]

Originally Posted by kurt

......... If I were betting I'd say it is the set screw to an arbor on some tool used for assembly.

We may have a winner.

From Joan, the owner; "Shop talked to BRP. Apparently part not from engine and its not the first case of this happening. I guess I'll keep it under 100 from now on."

[chaissos]

Originally Posted by Bob Dahringer

I guess I'll keep it under 100 from now on."

Why? You finally shook the crap out of it, now it's good to go!