I was trying to find an oil filter screen on a chinese 110cc that I believe to be an e22 clone. I pulled the angled bolt and the cam tensioner rod and spring fell out but it didn't have a black plastic cap at one end.

Two questions - The steel rod has a ball check valve in one end. I know it goes bolt -> washer -> spring -> push rod. Does the tapered end of the spring go into the ball end or opposite the ball end of the push rod?

When the push rod fell out there was no black plastic cap like I'm seeing online. Do I have to go fishing in the engine to find it or are there some models without the plastic cap?


Ball end.

 

What is the other end of the pushrod like. The ball will be a one way valve, theory being oil gets past it, then when engine is running the pushrod cant be pushed back by the chain as the valve closes and the oil below it hydraulically locks. I am fairly sure the spring will go into the hollow end, otherwise no point in being tapered.

 

The rod is hollow except for the ball valve. The valve allows flow from the long end with the through-holes. It does not allow flow from the end previously pictured, the end closest to the valve. I do agree that the spring goes into the end without the valve. The tapered spring will fit into the ball end fine but it appears that it would contact the valve slightly and I don't see any wear marks.

I'd love to put the engine back together but I'm unsure if I'm missing that black cap. I'd hate to have to open up the engine for something so trivial. Thoughts?

This is all that fell out other than the spring -

missing black cap

 

So I looked all around for the black cap. I drained the oil pan, swept the floor. I can't find it anywhere. I put the rod back into the hole the way it came out and put the spring behind it. Most of the spring was sticking out when I put the nut on, I had to carefully compress it to get it all in there. I tightened it up and the engine runs OK but it making a lot more noise than before. I'm assuming it is the timing chain slapping. I'll post a video link once it uploads. Any help is greatly appreciated, I really don't want my son using the buggy until we aren't risking catastrophic engine failure.

Engine idling with excessive knocking -
https://photos.app.goo.gl/U4FXi9L6kvHbNczq5

 

One end of the pushrod should be blocked by a cap as it pushes against the chain tensioner, that is why I asked for a pic of the other end, and I'm fairly sure, will go the other way up as oil should get past into the area with spring, then not be able to get out, so the pushrod can't be pushed back down again. I suppose it is possible the Chinese maker deleted the plug and just had the end of the tube pushing the tensioner, but I'm sure there would then be wear marks on the tube end.

 

How do I go about correcting this? I'm assuming the safest bet is to crack the engine open so I can try to see what is going on in there. My best guess is that the plastic cap came off in the engine and is floating around or possibly turned sideways. Is it possible for the black cap to be retrieved if it is still in the engine? Also, the end of the push rod doesn't contact the timing chain directly, correct?

I haven't even looked at how to get this engine apart but if it is anything like other small engines I've messed with, it is going to require more than just pulling a cover off.

Here is the exact engine -
https://www.powersportsmax.com/produ...ducts_id/13934

Any idea where I can find a service manual for this thing?

 

Interesting thread, I shall be following this

 

So I flipped the engine up so I could look down the tensioner rod hole. I tried to get a pic but couldn't. I can see the black cap up in there. No idea how I would go about getting it out without cracking the engine open. I'll try though..

How do I get this engine apart? Can someone send me a manual please?

 

Honda sometimes put their manuals on line. That is a Honda clone engine so the manual for a circa 110cc Honda will be close. I googled one for a Honda 90 Quad. There are also lots of U tube videos of stripping the Honda Cub engines. Fairly sure the flywheel had to come off, so get the puller first.

 

Is there any way for the cap to get over to the oil fill or larger oil drain plug? Im thinking i could drain the oil and maybe tilt/jostle the engine to get the cap to move to a better location. Wondering if I can use a small tube attached to a shop vac to suck onto the cap and pull it out. I really hate to crack that engine open considering there is no oil filtration. I always worry about contaminants.