Help find missing ring

[RustyBeard]

Hey guys,
I decided to take some parts apart for paint and polish.
Long story short I took cover off the left side and a ring fell out.
I placed it where i thought it belonged ( thought is key word).
Once i tried to close the cover off it fell out again and I lost it, have no idea where it dropped but i've been searching for a while.
The ring i think belonged to the shaft (behind the gear) on the image below.


Can someone please confirm the placement of the ring ? Also can someone tell me the importance of that ring ?
Quick description of the ring: The inner diameter is the same size as the shaft of the gear. It was quite thin and the material was not aluminium nor steel.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

First, welcome
Second, you have to tell us what bike. Year and model. Please create a signature with that info in it. Then you'll never have to remember to type it when asking questions.

Every time I've taken the stator cover off, that washer wants to get lost. It is important. It keeps that idle gear engaged where it should be. You need it. It's easy to look up and buy parts from sites like partsoutlaw.com. The parts fiche for the Starter Clutch should show you that washer. On my bike, that washer goes outside of the idle gear.

 

[RustyBeard]

Hey Rich,
Thank you for the welcome.
Thanks for the tip and my apologies on not elaborating on the model.
It is GS850G 1979.

 

[Rijko]

Welcome.

On my GS1000, there's a washer like that on BOTH sides of that gear.
Unless you're sure it fell on the floor .. find it.
If it clings to your stator magnets or hides in a place only to reappear
while your engine runs and doing damage ... you would not be the first.

 

[Rijko]

It is GS850G 1979.

Your bike should have a washer too on both sides.

 

[Brendan W]

Yes, one each side.
One was missing when I opened up.
I found it or maybe a different one in the gap behind the bottom of the starter clutch, fishing with a magnet.
I don't know how long it had been like that but the starter sounded quieter after replacing it.

 

[RustyBeard]

Thank you all so much !
I found the exploded view and you all are right ! there are two, I've been riding with one for a while ....
Once again, thank you, what a great community !

 

[Grimly]

That packing / thrust washer usually falls down into the oil pan, where it might lay undisturbed and not do any harm for years.
Otoh, unless you know it's actually made it into the oil pan you can't be sure where it's got to.
I found one in my oil pan.
By the way, it's good preventative maintenance to remove the oil pan and clean it out, especially the oil pickup strainer, as it's probably never been off in forty years. It's amazing what cr8p accumulates there, and what nearly blocks off the strainer, too.