AAAAARRGGH!

[350matt]

Well if it ain't broke don't fix it adage certainly hold true in this case, while trying to check my cam timing I've managed to drop one the little aluminium spacers down the inlet port inot cylinder 8.......

Any ideas?

Alternativly is it possible to remove the cylinder head with it in the car?

Or is it an engine out job....

Matt'feeling very sheepish' feasey

[Julian64]

wasn't the butterfly closed?

[350matt]

Its a 4.2 so when I was removing the inlet the littel ally spacer that goes between the manifld and the cam cover merrily danced its way down into the port.

Is it possible to remove the head whilst in the the car?

Matt

[simonsparrow]

has it actually dropped into the cylinder? You might amuse yourself for a while with a thin stick with something sticky on the end (chewing gum?) and see if you can fish it out. I haven't actually seen this spacer, is the spark plug hole any use for access?

[Julian64]

things I used in the past would be a magnet on a long stick (not much good if you are sure its alumin, or the little basket grab on a long spring. Thing that has a trigger one end, is a metre long of flexible cable and a four grabbing fingers at the other end

[mackempete]

Julian64 said:

things I used in the past would be a magnet on a long stick (not much good if you are sure its alumin, or the little basket grab on a long spring. Thing that has a trigger one end, is a metre long of flexible cable and a four grabbing fingers at the other end

I've got a smaller one of these on my desk. should reach about 5-6". If you think it will be any good I'll stick it in the post?

[jensena]

I feel for you !! I'm trying to think logically here to try and help........
I suppose there are 2 things that could have happened, its either been stopped by a closed closed inlet valve, or If the inlet valve happened to be fully open at the time, then it may have dropped into the cylinder itself.
I'd try something sticky like chewing gum on a coat hanger wire or something (attached as securely as you can!) and see if you can get it out, if that doesnt succeed then it may be in the cylinder in which case try it through the spark plug hole.

Then maybe again I'm talking nonsense, coat hangers and chewing gum, whatever mext - I think I'll go and get me coat !!

[headcase]

Ave you tried to Dyson it out! You could try to gaffer tape a long tube on the end of the attacment tube (handle) like fuel pipe or squirty pipe then send it in down the same hole the spacer dissapeared down, or try the spark plug hole, or take off the inlet manifold 2 see what you can see down the hole! Hope it helps

[350matt]

VICTORY!!
after vacuuming, blowing , huffing and puffing with with bits of sticky tape etc
I've managed to finangle the spacer out again by fiddling around with a pair of very thin flat wire hooks I made.

Those spacers will be glued on from now on!



Thanks to everyone for their suggestions

Matt

[Mr.Cerbera]

Now that is truly amazing coz whenever I've tried something like this I've always found that the combination of magnets-on-sticks, picasso-like wire loops, Valerie-Singleton-award sticky-tape constructions et al, ALL end up at the bottom of the cylinder(s).

Congratulations !

Edited by Mr.Cerbera on Monday 18th September 23:37

[cossiemetro]

WELL DONE MATT

[chuggaboom]

So where did it come to rest ?

[caduceus]

For future reference, buy one of those telescopic pen magnets. They are worth their weight in platinum.

I've got two, they're so bloody good. Saved my bacon a few times.

[BCA]

caduceus said:

For future reference, buy one of those telescopic pen magnets. They are worth their weight in platinum.

I've got two, they're so bloody good. Saved my bacon a few times.

a bit useless for aluminium though eh?

[ireland]

I have no idea what the piece looks like or where the piece is gone but this might work

a piece of tube sealed on to the end of a vacuum cleaner????

Might sound stupid ....... might work