HELP!

[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 into 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....

It on a 4.2 cerby by the way

Matt'feeling very sheepish' feasey

[BadgerBenji]

Is it still in the manifold, or is definitely in the cylinder, can you not see it resting on a valve?

[350matt]

Its definitly in the cylinder as the engine no longer turns over (by hand I should say)


Matt

Edited by 350matt on Monday 18th September 14:18

[chassis 33]

Daft idea...have you tried a vaccum cleaner sucking up the inlet pipe or the plug bore?
It's such a daft idea it might just work!!!

Regards
Iain

[Seasider]

350matt said:

Its definitly in the cylinder as the engine no longer turns over (by hand I should say)


Matt

So it's wedged somewhere ??

[busa_rush]

If it went in the inlet port it can come out that way, can you remove a cam and the valve and use a bit of pasticiene on the end of a stick with the piston near tdc ?

[annodomini2]

busa_rush said:

If it went in the inlet port it can come out that way, can you remove a cam and the valve and use a bit of pasticiene on the end of a stick with the piston near tdc ?

Or can you get at it through the spark plug hole?

[BadgerBenji]

busa_rush said:

If it went in the inlet port it can come out that way, can you remove a cam and the valve

You cannot remove valves without removing a cylinder head.

Spark plug is your only way in that is straightforwardish, its all sounding like you need to pop the head off, to save many hours potentially dropping yet more things in there.

[leorest]

BadgerBenji said:

..to save many hours potentially dropping yet more things in there.

Hits nail squarely on head. I started to think of increasingly elaborate things to do with compressed air, vacuum cleaners bits of string and Blue-tack but gave up 'cause I thought they all risked ending up down the same 'ole

[dingg]

you may be able to hire a boroscope from somewhere and get in through the spark plug hole - could be fiddly but should be do-able - good luck

[cre]

Unfortunately you cannot take the head off in situ!
Is it the spacer that fits between the intakes and the rocker cover?
Thats the usual one.
Cant really give you much advice, I can only tell you that your not the first person to do it, and I am sure you wont be the last.

Jamie

[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

[eliot]

350matt said:

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

well done.

[steve_d]

I would not want to think about the £££s saved on that one.
Well done.
A good lesson to all who read this and the very reason drag racers put caps on the inlets as soon as the car rolls back into the pits.

Steve

[BadgerBenji]

I love the image of people putting vacuum cleaners under their bonnets with little attachments to get in through the spark plug hole. Im sorry but that tickles my funny bone.

[twin40s]

Can't believe nobody suggested the most obvious solution.

Simply turn the car upside down and shake till it drops out again!

[leorest]

twin40s said:

Can't believe nobody suggested the most obvious solution.
Simply turn the car upside down and shake till it drops out again!

For a minute there I thought you were going to say, "flick a switch and turn gravity off."

[Ffirg 005]

BadgerBenji said:

I love the image of people putting vacuum cleaners under their bonnets with little attachments to get in through the spark plug hole. Im sorry but that tickles my funny bone.

Reminds me of one of my stupidest teenage acts - trying to suck something or other out of my mini's fuel tank using Mum's vacuum cleaner which was one of the old style cylinder on the ground jobs. It was working fine for a few seconds until BOOM, it blew the rear end of the vacuum down the driveway and clear across the other side of the street. I can still see the 20ft flame... Amazingly, after reassembly with some extra bolts and glue it worked fine but mother didn't appreciate the scorch marks

Edited by Ffirg 005 on Friday 22 September 06:21

[annodomini2]

Ffirg 005 said:

BadgerBenji said:

I love the image of people putting vacuum cleaners under their bonnets with little attachments to get in through the spark plug hole. Im sorry but that tickles my funny bone.

Reminds me of one of my stupidest teenage acts - trying to suck something or other out of my mini's fuel tank using Mum's vacuum cleaner which was one of the old style cylinder on the ground jobs. It was working fine for a few seconds until BOOM, it blew the rear end of the vacuum down the driveway and clear across the other side of the street. I can still see the 20ft flame... Amazingly, after reassembly with some extra bolts and glue it worked fine but mother didn't appreciate the scorch marks

Edited by Ffirg 005 on Friday 22 September 06:21

LOL!!!

[leorest]

Ffirg 005 said:

BadgerBenji said:

I love the image of people putting vacuum cleaners under their bonnets with little attachments to get in through the spark plug hole. Im sorry but that tickles my funny bone.

Reminds me of one of my stupidest teenage acts - trying to suck something or other out of my mini's fuel tank using Mum's vacuum cleaner which was one of the old style cylinder on the ground jobs. It was working fine for a few seconds until BOOM, it blew the rear end of the vacuum down the driveway and clear across the other side of the street. I can still see the 20ft flame... Amazingly, after reassembly with some extra bolts and glue it worked fine but mother didn't appreciate the scorch marks

Edited by Ffirg 005 on Friday 22 September 06:21

LOL. They don't make'em like they used to.