Help me identify what was on my drain plug

Yawny_nappleseed

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I was about an hour from leaving on a trip from Portland>San Diego>Phoenix>Colorado. Started the oil change, and . Found a piece of metal almost the size of half a pez attached to the magnetic drain pplug. What could it be?

2012 s10 48,000 miles

Thanks in advance for helping this first timer out.
 

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EricV

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@~TABASCO~ - Recognize this half a part?

At first I thought it was a key from a shaft, but then I looked at the second pic and see that it's hollow and looks like half of a part.
 

~TABASCO~

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Did you pull it from the front plug, or rear plug? Dry sump will head is in a better direction.

Is this the same part in both pictures? First picture looks like a keeper. The second then does not. Kind of looks like a valve retainer. I don’t think it’s one of those. Can you post a few more photos maybe sitting on a white piece of paper? I’m normally really good at this game. Let me keep going through the engine in my head. It will probably come to me.
Does this part look like it’s been pinched in half and then under stress, curves?
 

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@~TABASCO~ - Recognize this half a part?

At first I thought it was a key from a shaft, but then I looked at the second pic and see that it's hollow and looks like half of a part.


Agree. Asking for closer, more clear photos if possible. I’m still looking and thinking.
 

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My wild ass guess would be the head of the cam chain tensioner has broken, (if that's possible).


That might be a good guess.... I have a few here at the shop, Ill go take a quick look.
 

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It was on the front drain plug. Could it be something in the transmission or clutch basket?


Thanks... Ive been pouring over my engine drawings and looking. I had two or three good places to go look first, but that ended up not exactly the part or half a part you have.


Is anyone doing a valve job with the cams pulled out ? Im wondering if this is a press fit cap on one of the ends of the cams?


The tech drawing is the exhaust cam for the Tenere... the other is just a yamaha cam with a clear shot of the plugs... Ive not seen you part (even if your is broken) in the Tenere engine before. The cam plug is just a guess at this second, Ill keep looking.
 

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~TABASCO~

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The PO appears to have installed an aftermarket cam tensioner(pardon the red tape, he put that there for easy location?) Maybe one of you can verify.


Yes, that is aftermarket and "looks" to be a Graves unit (a nice parts). Doesn't appear to have to do with your broken part.
 

Yawny_nappleseed

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What gets me is that the bike has been running pretty damn well. Perhaps that piece could have been in the case from when the PO had to replace the original CCT?? Ive put >7000 miles on it. This my 2nd oil change. 1st oil change/final drive lube went off with without a hitch. I felt the oil smelled a littlw more of gas than i would normally expect. With VFR800FI apart I've been pushing the S10 harder than i might normally.
 
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