| Author |
Message |
    
B Sidaway
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 02:40 pm: | 
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I have just dropped the screw tip off the end of a spark plug into cylinder 1 on my P60. I tried to retrieve is with a sticky tape on a screwdriver but I just pushed it somewhere. I cannot feel it by prodding around with a bit of wire. I am afraid it has gone down into a valve as I the engine jams when i try to turn it over by hand. What do I do now? Can I take the valve cover off on the side of the engine or do I have to try to pull the head off in the boat. I rebuilt the engine a few yrs ago and I had real problems with the original head bolts breaking off in the block so I am reluctant to tackle that task again. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 234
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 03:52 pm: |
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Did you try going in there with a small strong magnet? |
B Sidaway
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 04:48 pm: |
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I'm afraid those alloy tips are not magnetic. |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 235
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 05:21 pm: |
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If it went under a valve and is jammed, then can you see an open valve trough the spark plug hole and run a wire under and around the opening between the valve and the valve seat? |
B Sidaway
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 05:38 pm: |
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Tried that but I can't see it or feel it. Can't see all of both valves of course, just a bit of each. Is there enough room for it to fall below the valve seat? Thanks, Ben. |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 236
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 06:33 pm: |
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Thats all that I can think of. You might ask some professional mechanics. They develop a lot of tricks in their trade and might have done something like that themselves. Generally, they don't mind giving free advise in a case like that and, of course, they would deserve a fee if they come out to the boat. Best of luck. |
Lawrence T Wolfe
Senior Member
Username: larry_from_maryland
Post Number: 361
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 07:32 pm: |
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The valve lifters only lift one way the spring returns the valve so anything under a valve in a flat head engine will not stop the engine from turning. The piece must be on top of a valve. Try to get both valves closed (back up engine) And use an allen wrench or stiff wire to fish out the piece. You could allso try an air compressor and blow air with a bent tube it might blow it right out the hole. |
Lawrence T Wolfe
Senior Member
Username: larry_from_maryland
Post Number: 362
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 07:48 pm: |
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Just rememberd one more thing years ago a fellow asked my father about a simmilar problem(lost a snapring in a cylinder). They had done everything they could think of evan turning the engine upsidedown. I got the job of pulling the head and found nothing inside. |
B Sidaway
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 07:56 pm: |
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Is there enough room for the piece to fall down the shaft of the valve with the valve up or is it still going to be above the level of the block somewhere? I just can't seem to locate it fishing around with bits of wire. What I really need is one of those optical fibre cameras to poke into the head. My next trick will be to attach a piece of garden hose to my shop vac and stick over the spark plug hole and try to suck it out. |
Richard A. Day Jr.
Senior Member
Username: richardday
Post Number: 757
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 08:11 pm: |
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Did you use Neva Sieze when you put the head studs back in the engine when you pulled the head? If so the studs would come out now with no real problem. I don't see any benefit taking the valve cover plate off as there is no open passage between that area and the combustion chamber areas. |
B Sidaway
Visitor
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 11:32 pm: |
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So Dick are you saying there is no way the top of the plug can get out of the combustion chamber? Then if I persist with my poking, I should be able to find the piece and move it to beneath the plug hole. |
B Sidaway
Visitor
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 11:35 am: |
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Got it! Attached a garden hose to my shop vac with duct tape and put the end over the plug hole. Rotated the engine by hand and eventually it shot out. It had been flattened. Thanks for all the advice. |
Eddie Ross
Senior Member
Username: eddie
Post Number: 237
Registered: 04-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 10:17 pm: |
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Good deal !! And good thinking. Enjoy. |
