JD40 Sprocket Retaining Tool

[panamacarrera]

This is one of those red faced posts where I have to admit to my cock up and test the patience of those more experienced than I to hopefully get me out of the dwang.

Removing my camshaft today the sprocket and JD40 sprocket retention tool have disappeared down into the engine. Now it's there I think I can see how the tool should have been used - I should have slid the spigot on the sprocket into the groove on the support in front of the camshaft sprocket before I removed all the bolts that hold it onto the camshaft.

Is there any way I can retrieve the sprocket and rest it back onto the support?

Thanks for reading, please don't judge me too harshly!!...

Nigel

[42south]

Yikes
how about one of those telescopic antenna like devices with a strong magnet on the bottom, some are stronger than others.
Then when you have lifted it a hooked wire may be able to be used.
Good luck

[panamacarrera]

Thanks for the reply Mark

The magnet suggestion is good but I can still reach the sprocket by hand, perhaps "disappeared" is too dramatic a word and "dropped" would be a better.

The sprocket teeth are still engaged with the timing chain and I had marked the sprocket and camshaft for alignment so I don't think timing will be compromised if I can get the sprocket back up but to lift it I am pulling against the tension in the timing chain and I can't lift the sprocket high enough to engage with the support.

The sprocket retaining tool JD.40 doesn't come with instructions and the Jaguar workshop manual isn't very clear, my learning from this is to ask questions on the forum before I start work not when it goes wrong.

Thanks again.

Nigel

[Bob.]

Hi Nigel,
No personal experience of doing this job - YET - but was the timing chain tensioner slackened off before unbolting the sprocket? If not could it have extended, effectively "shortening" the chain once the sprocket was no longer constrained by the camshaft.
Bob

[panamacarrera]

Hi Bob

I haven't touched the tensioner. I'm trying to fix a leak from the tappet carrier which only requires the camshaft to be removed. The photo you attached has helped because it shows how the sprocket retaining tool should be used, thank you.

I've been in the garage this afternoon. Using a screwdriver through one of the fixing holes in the sprocket as a lever against a piece of wood on the edge of the tappet carrier I can raise the sprocket and just get the spigot into the notch in the top of the support bracket but not enough to get the JD 40 tool to lock into the groove, I think that should be enough to allow me to reinstall the camshaft -fingers crossed.

Later in the week I'll be taking the R side tappet carrier off, with my experience so far I'll take a lot more care and some video too.

Thanks again.

Nigel

[panamacarrera]

Sorted!

I bought the timing chain tool JD42 on eBay and released the timing chain tensioner.

Sprocket now in its rest.

Onward toward the next learning.

Thanks all

Nigel

[PeterCrespin]

Onward toward the next learning.

...which hopefully isn't "why does the long-cooked tensioner blade become brittle andxsnap if you suddenly release the chain tension?"

[panamacarrera]

Something to look forward to, is this a common fault? Some thing that happened to you?

[Drewpy]

Hi there, Is it possible to borrow or loan or purchase JD 40 Sprocket retaining tool from any club members on here? I've so for not been able to find any for sale from the usual outlets. Thanks in advance!

[baganz.sven@web.de]

Hi,
I bought mine from Rob Beere worked perfect for me.
Sven

[Drewpy]

Great thanks Sven.

[jagwit]

Not having the JD40 tool or easy access to them here in Africa, I have used normal washers with a hole just larger than the spigot on the sprocket centre and thin enough to slide into the groove. As backup, I drilled a small hole through the washer's rim and attached thin wire to it with the other end tied to a nearby stud, just in case somehow the sprocket was knocked off it perch.