Need some assistance with someone who has had a Predator torn apart to rebuild. I purchased my new to me 2006 TLD model few weeks ago. Went for one ride in the mountains and have started to do some upgrades and full maintenance baseline on oil, coolant, brake fluid, battery.

I noticed when I drained the oil yesterday that there were some small chunks of something in the oil drain pan filter. I was about to have heart attack because it looked like aluminum and upon close inspection it turned out to be what looks like a grey O-ring that has been cut up into pieces.

Where would this O-ring be, I see it in the pictures of the Predator engine seal kits, but I don’t have a repair manual so can’t determine where it is from.

Next, is it going to hurt to run the motor with that seal missing inside, or could it have been off of a removable cap that happened to fall in engine, like the valve covers?

I think this thing has had hardly any ride time on it. No wear evident anywhere, grips, plastic, skids were all perfect condition. I think this may have been first oil change in the thing looking at all the fine metallic dust build up on drain plug but oil was very clean, it honestly seemed like the break-in oil.