Mysterios metal in oil sump

[CHRISEEBOY]

[agrimax]

There is a bearing inside the engine oil pump idler drive gear,which would be behind the front timing cover. I don't know what type of bearing as I can't seem to find a close up picture of it...just a part number and diagram. 916/03300. Pt no.7 below.

[Slooby]

Now that is worth checking on

[agrimax]

A gear on the crank drives an idler(the one with a bearing in it),which then drives the pump gear.

[CHRISEEBOY]

Can a bearing continue to function without its cage?

It looks like a lot of work to get to that part, plus Im assuming it would have to be pressed out/back in. If its been like that for years and worked normally, maybe I should just leave it alone for now?

[agrimax]

Think I would like to know where it came from tbh,if it was mine. A call to Charnleys and maybe send a picture to a mobile or email would confirm. I'd be surprised if they didn't know.
https://www.charnleys.com/

[Jeremy Rowland]

Can a bearing continue to function without its cage?

It looks like a lot of work to get to that part, plus Im assuming it would have to be pressed out/back in. If its been like that for years and worked normally, maybe I should just leave it alone for now?

They would not put a cage on a bearing if it could function without one; this is worth checking out just to confirm one way or another.

Jeremy

[gecko.cx]

Can a bearing continue to function without its cage?

What ever it should be supporting - isn't.

I had a bearing fail on one side of an idler gear. I was still driving and hadn't noticed a problem.
When I drained the oil for a routing change, 28 half-gear teeth came out with the oil.
I'd caught it earlier enough and the two gears it meshed with were reusable.
If I'd ignored it a bit longer, both gears as well as the case would have been destroyed.

It's your call.

[CHRISEEBOY]

Ive emailed charnleys, will let you know what they say. Thanks everyone.

[CHRISEEBOY]

*UPDATE*

The experts at Charnleys tell me that the only thing it can be is the power steering idler bearing (number 21 on the diagram).

Fortunately I can get to this with the sump off, and sure enough there is a lot of play in the gear. My new questions are as follows:

1. It looks like its possible to get this bearing out through the sump. Am I right or is the only way to it through the front of the engine with the timing case off?

2. Once out, will the bearing need to be pressed out/in?






The bearing is that smooth part in front of the idler gear and it looks like if I can undo those two bolts it should come off?