Oh Balls! Dropped shim into engine :0(

[jetblack]

just been doing valve clearanes and even though i blocked u pthe gaps one of the little buggers dropped and made it past. just heard it go "dink.. .dink... donk"


Poked around with a light and a mirror to see if i could spot it but no joy. Going to grab a magnetic pick up tool tomorrow...and pray i can find it.

Any advice from anyone as unfortunate would be gratefully received...

I assume i'll need a flexible pick up tool rather than a rigid one to get into all the little places?

[LITTLE=ONE]

good luck on you hunt

[connor73]

turn it upside down and give it a shake, it should come out then

[Delboy]

turn it upside down and give it a shake, it should come out then

[jetblack]

turn it upside down and give it a shake, it should come out then

helpful...

[Peter.H]

magnet on a stick!

My dad did this.

My youthful eyes spotted it. Don't give up hope yet!

Best o luck.

[amorti]

I have a tool which is extendable like a car radio antenna, and has a little pod on the end with a watch battery powered LED torch. The pod is also very strongly magnetic. Genius. Other than that you'll be taking the sump off?

[jetblack]

Yeah, im just looking at sump removal now. seems pretty straightfoward aslong as the exhaust isn't seized to the cylinders.

Plan of action then is to:
1 start with a magnetic pick up tool. if that doesn't work,
2. Drain the oil and check its not in there
3. if not then remove exhaust and sump and pray that i can find it.

Fingers crossed i find it early on!

[jetblack]

Update:
right, no joy with a magnetic pick up tool. i've jabbed it into every possible area it can reach (not much as the magnet on the end is a little too big to really get deep inside)

i've drained the oil and used the magnet to pick anything up that may have flowed out in the oil. nothing.

Am now planning to remove the exhaust and sump to see if i can spot it but before i do,are there any otter covers that i could remove that may give me more access?

would taking the clutch cover off help?

The shim dropped down the back the gap between cylinders 1 and 3 (closer to 3)if that makes any difference?

[jetblack]

update: clutch cover off, no sign of the shim.

Can i SLOWLY rotate the timing bolt to turn the engine innards to see if i can encourage the shim to drop into the sump or am i going to fubar something by doing this?


Note: shims from both the inlets and 1 exhaust valve(the dropped one on the left of the two) on cylinder 3 are not yet back in their rightful places (the 2 i still have are on my work bench as i've measured them and not put them back in yet) so not sure if this will mash the valve if i rotate the timing bolt?

Any help/advice on this one?