Riding through Ennis yesterday looking for bluebonnets, the old SL350 gave up the ghost. Immediate shut down like turning a switch. Luckily a church parking lot was within rolling range on the two lane, no shoulder road I was riding at the time. We were 50 miles into the ride but luckily were a) with a trailer and b) real close to it. Initially we had talked about riding all the way down to Ennis.
In the parking lot it only took a couple kicks to realize the problem was catastrophic. No compression at all.
We trailered back home and all I did last night was order a gasket kit to get it on it's way.
This morning I started tearing into it early on Good Friday. I was 100% ready to pull the engine and I stepped back and eyeballed it and could see that the top plate covering the cam could be removed without taking the engine out and breaking my back.
And close inspection revealed the bolts holding the cam chain gear to the cam were sheared/missing. With a flashlight and reading glasses I found both bolts. Then I cussed the mechanic who did this and must not have used locktite AND new bolts. These bolts are the holy Grail of SL350/CB350s and that idiot re-used his old bolts instead of the two OEM new bolts he was hoarding. By now you much know I am that idiot previous mechanic but I swear I put locktite on them. Must have been oily or something and please, any suggestions appreciated on attaching them to torque specs and not having this catastrophic error.
I am betting I can do this without removing the engine. I did find and remove the two bolts and washed all the few shards down to the lower case to get picked up by the filter. There was a little pitting on one spot of the cam but I don't think it is related.
In the parking lot it only took a couple kicks to realize the problem was catastrophic. No compression at all.
We trailered back home and all I did last night was order a gasket kit to get it on it's way.
This morning I started tearing into it early on Good Friday. I was 100% ready to pull the engine and I stepped back and eyeballed it and could see that the top plate covering the cam could be removed without taking the engine out and breaking my back.
And close inspection revealed the bolts holding the cam chain gear to the cam were sheared/missing. With a flashlight and reading glasses I found both bolts. Then I cussed the mechanic who did this and must not have used locktite AND new bolts. These bolts are the holy Grail of SL350/CB350s and that idiot re-used his old bolts instead of the two OEM new bolts he was hoarding. By now you much know I am that idiot previous mechanic but I swear I put locktite on them. Must have been oily or something and please, any suggestions appreciated on attaching them to torque specs and not having this catastrophic error.
I am betting I can do this without removing the engine. I did find and remove the two bolts and washed all the few shards down to the lower case to get picked up by the filter. There was a little pitting on one spot of the cam but I don't think it is related.