Bolt poked through timing cover. What is it for? Why did it do this?

[96GSXMN]

I have been working on my 1996 GSX to try and locate a knocking noise. While i was working on the car, i knoticed a hole punched through my timing cover from the inside out. The bolt is on a wheel that the timing belt moves. When i removed the timing cover the bolt looks like it is sticking out further then it should be. The pulley that is in question is on the back side of the engine, directly behind the crank shaft for the timing belt. Now the questions that I have with this newest discovery.
1.why did this pulley and bolt poke a hole through my timing cover?
2.What does this pulley do for the engine? Should I be worried.
3. How could I fix this?

If anyone does have a picture of a motor with the timing cover removed I would be able to point out which pulley it is that poked a hole in my timing cover.

 

[HIGHPSI4]

Please take a little more time and type a good sentence. Many people will not take the time to read something several times. After reading it several times it seems that the Idler pulley has cut through the timing cover. This can be from the pulley loose and/or ruined or the timing cover loose. I would replace the cover due to the fact loose material can get in there and cause the timing belt to skip teeth.

 

[96GSXMN]

Please take a little more time and type a good sentence. Many people will not take the time to read something several times. After reading it several times it seems that the Idler pulley has cut through the timing cover. This can be from the pulley loose and/or ruined or the timing cover loose. I would replace the cover due to the fact loose material can get in there and cause the timing belt to skip teeth.

Fixed, I am just a little excited about the latest discovery and I value all your views on what is wrong with my car. I applogize.

Thank you

 

[96GSXMN]

Im sorry but my problem with my car is not resolved. I still have the problem with the bolt. When I said fixed it was refering to the post about retyping my question. sorry for the confusion. Can help

 

[knochgoon24]

Let's do it this way. Which pulley #?

Also, is the bolt to long to screw back in, or what's the problem? And yeah, you should replace the timing belt cover.

 

[olmytsi]

Whatever bolt it is, you are lucky to find it while the car is sitting. That would kill your tbelt if you were driving which means bent valves and pissed off pistons.

 

[96GSXMN]

Let's do it this way. Which pulley #?

Also, is the bolt to long to screw back in, or what's the problem? And yeah, you should replace the timing belt cover.

Oh my thank you that helps a ton. Its pulley number five. That nut and bolt poked through and broke the chunk out of my timing cover. Is that a balance shaft?

 

[bvass]

It is the oil pump sprocket

 

[r1991_4g63t]

wouldnt that point to a broken BS? loose OP sprocket and stud?

 

[96GSXMN]

wouldnt that point to a broken BS? loose OP sprocket and stud?

Really, sweet, I was hoping the balance shaft were making the noise in the engine. I was going to maybe go order new balance shafts at the dealer. what else should I get? maybe a new oil pump?

 

[knochgoon24]

Really, sweet, I was hoping the balance shaft were making the noise in the engine. I was going to maybe go order new balance shafts at the dealer. what else should I get? maybe a new oil pump?

The bolt probably worked itself loose because someone didn't use locktite on it. Why would you get new balance shafts? Most people eliminate them because they don't really do much. SMT sells a kit. Not sure who else. Just search.

 

[96GSXMN]

The bolt probably worked itself loose because someone didn't use locktite on it. Why would you get new balance shafts? Most people eliminate them because they don't really do much. SMT sells a kit. Not sure who else. Just search.

The reasoning behind buying new balance shafts was this car is going to be my daily driver. I heard that deleting the balance shaft make the engine vibrate horribly. I just would like it for comfort. I mean hey if its not that bad of a vibration then I would be all over the eliminator kit, but if it vibrates the fillings out of my mouth then I would like to just install them back in.

 

[gofer]

balance shafts were an idea from mitsubishi... no other motor company (correct me if im wrong?) has balance shafts in their motors. so the "vibrating your teeth" feeling your talking about is a little exaggerated. if you've ever been in a car that doesn't have a mitsu motor in it then thats similar to the same vibration you'd feel if you did the the balance shaft elimination, which isn't even noticeable imo. to eliminate the balance shafts completely you'd need to pull the motor though, so if its not that big of a deal just fix whats broke.

 

[romeen]

It's not too uncommon for the nut to vibrate loose which is why it is a good idea to use blue loctite on it. But if the stud itself is sticking out beyond where it should be then you may have other problems. Probably a good idea to remove the front case and check the specs of the oil pump gears against the correct tolerances.

 

[talon187]

i would remove the balance shafts my bearing fell out and into the oil pan and caused alot of damage

 

[tkelly27]

No, mitsubishi invented it, then sold it to other companies. Every 4 cylinder I've worked with has had balance shafts. That's not to say that others don't come with them, but I've yet to see one.

It's actually safer to not have the balance shafts in there. One less belt to fail, one less bearing to fail. People have had their whole engine totally wiped out passing the remains of a BS bearing through it. How bad is it without it? I didn't even know I didn't have them until I went to change the timing belt. I only started noticing that there is a vibration now that I've taken out my power steering. I don't know why, but I can feel a little buzz in the steering wheel now at idle. I'm happy mine are out, and I plan on taking them out of my other cars. If you sit in stop and go traffic for a million hours a day you may want to keep them, but if you sit in stop and go traffic that long every day you've got bigger problems than a little vibration in your steering wheel.

You should see if there's someone local who could give you a ride in a car without shafts. I doubt you'll notice a difference.

 

[dontfeedphils]

I would just take the balance shafts out. This is what happened when my balance shaft belt decided to let go...

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[96GSXMN]

Ok I know this may sound like a stupid question but how many balance shafts are in my engine. I took the timing cover off and only saw the one pulley in the front of the engine. Is there another one near the top of the engine? Do I have to pull the engine to do the balance shafts or the delete? I know I am asking a ton of questions and I thank you all for being paitent with me because I am learning.

 

[knochgoon24]

2 Shafts. The front one is behind sprocket #1. The other is behind the "castle" shaped plug just above sprocket #5 (the oil pump sprocket).

 

[HIGHPSI4]

You can replace/remove the BShafts with the engine in the car. Leave the trans mount in, drop the cross braces and other 3 engine mounts. Drop the engine down to where the front BShaft will come out of the engine.