No, you don't have to pull the sprocket. You already have the cover off, just a minute more of your time to add.

This was the TSB I posted already; it illustrates how to add it.
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/tsb/accord/x00-073e.pdf

I even know someone that didn't have the retainer on their 6th gen Accord 4 cylinder and he later had the infamous big oil leak. He had to get the car towed and showed me the pictures of the oil running down the flatbed tow truck while his car was being pulled up.

 

Right on. Thanks for posting again—that looks like a quick fix, and I'll try to pickup the retainer at the dealer tonight.

(I like how the TSB mentions .6 hours—36min—to do the job from start to finish.)

 

You may want to have the dealer parts guy/gal verify the correct retainer part number for your model year. I kind of remember someone telling me he was given a different part number.

 

Too late. I just got home from the dealer (Darrell Waltrip Honda, Franklin, TN), and I don't think he gave me the right part. I paid a total of $21.56 for the new crankshaft seal and this balance shaft retainer. I questioned him on the retainer since it doesn't look anything like the one in the TSB, and Mr. "Cam" Jones got a little huffy, said this was the only possible one, and rushed me out.

This would be a good time to rant about why I avoid dealerships like the damn plague...but I won't.

Will this part work, and why is it $6.95 before tax?!! Didn't even come in a bag, and there's no P/N for it on the ticket, either.

 

That may be the right part, it just may be installed slightly different. I remember on another Honda board someone telling me about the different part number years ago. Your engine is a F23, the earlier generation were F22.

Can you post the Honda part number?


Edit: I just realized you said there was no part number (p/n) on the ticket. I'll see if I can find anything; but, take a look by holding it next to the balancer shaft seal and it may make sense.

 

That retainer isn't right. It should look like this:



Dealer parts departments in my area love to rip-off do-it-yourselfers. I always go to Majestic's or Son's or Honda Parts Unlimited's website and print the price page before I go to the local dealer. A few months ago I bought a main seal - the same engine as your's - and the parts guy said I owed him $18-somthing. I pulled out my price sheet and told him that I thought the list price was $9.06. He says "Sure, I can give it to you at the price."

I've had this happen at two of the four dealers in my area. Sleazy.

 

That is a F23 engine. So, it is a different retainer than what the OP got. I've seen the other one on the internet though too. Hmm..on the other retainer.

 

It may work, as I found similar style to that on the internet, see attached pics. It may be a revised part.

 

Well, maybe I was a little hasty, then. I'll take a look at it tomorrow morning and see how it fits. Looking at Roader's photo, I guess those two bolts right over the balance shaft might fit the holes on this thing.

$6.95 is about $6 too much for this part, though, by the feel of it.

 

If it fits then it's a better design. The one in the pic - and the one on my F23 - interferes a bit with the lower cover in that the lower cover doesn't sit flat over the installed retainer.