spring out of a ratchet ?

 

It does look like a detent spring.

 

Take a look at your socket tools. I suspect one of your extensions or ratchet is missing it's little ball and spring that lock the socket on.

 

It's the spring that keeps the detent pin from releasing the canibler rod from the wobbling shaft. Man, don't you people know anything?

 

Ratchet or switch. Either way it sure didn’t come out of the motor or trans, so you’re good.

 

Possibly from the rear floor boards that holds tension on the ball for the detent to hold the floor board upright

 

that's what I was thinking...if I'm helping you with something mechanical I'm either adding some pieces or taking some away...just to keep you on your toes

 

With friends like you ....

 

A retired partner of mine has a hobby with metal detectors. He'll go the beach and deserts to look for stuff just to past the time and get out of the house. One time he found a diamond ring that was worth about 10k. I had planned to go with him to the desert that we had visited in the past. Well, the week prior I went ahead and planted a metal/bronze object the resembled something from Ancient Egypt ( lol ). We arrived and it took the better half of the day to push him towards the spot in which I had buried the Damn thing. I had spoken to his family about the entire spoof. He found it and boy was he excited on his find. It took everything from me not to burst out in tears from laughter. He had spent about a week with it going to museums and trying to find the value of the hunk of metal that he found, classic. This was payback from those fake lotto tickets that one can get as a prank, well I was pranked from him. My point being to all of this, was someone with you when you had removed the engine, if so, there is a possibility that it was planted. Just saying is all. Seriously though, good luck to you my friend.

 

Pretty sure it's the spring off the tape player.