Pressure washing an engine, although a practice I thoroughly deprecate due to the likelihood of moisture ingress into connectors and other areas which will give long term problems, is unlikely to be the cause of this problem.

I have in the past looked into the problems of idler failures of this type, and in many cases the failure has been due to a lack of grease in the idlers from initial manufacture. I well remember obtaining about 20 new idlers from a well known bearing maker and weighing them on a precision chemical scale. There was a totally unacceptable failure (revealed by opening up the lightest wheels) but I would prefer not to name the manufacturer concerned.

In fact, if you take a new idler from the box, hold it on its axis, and shake it vigorously when warm, an idler with no grease will generally rattle. Perhaps this engine maker should look to his quality control.

A rolling bearing will run for a surprising length of time without lubricant - until an element starts to skid.

Try to get your hands on the failed component, verify the cause and use SOGA. Best of luck - you will need it. Failures of this type are not unknown on this engine.

659.

Edited by 659FBE on 22/01/2014 at 14:39