Dropped Washer in Block

[Novashards]

A washer slipped off one of the cylinder head bolts and dove down one of the oil galleys. I scoped the passage it fell down. I've linked the video. I have been unsuccessful at retrieval so far. I see that it has fallen below what I believe is the crankshaft.

Video
https://imgur.com/a/S1vyoTs

I have a 4wd model so oil pan removal is challenging. I think the washer is where this red dot is on the oil pan baffle under the crankshaft above the oil pan.

Any tips or tricks for removal? Is it far enough down to abandon safely?

 

[2TH4IST]

Try using a flexible magnet to retrieve the washer?

 

[TheDurk]

Try using a flexible magnet to retrieve the washer?

I pulled off a less challenging washer rescue with a fridge magnet superglued to weed whacker line. That video needs a Star Trek soundtrack. TNG I think.

 

[phattyduck]

Try using a flexible magnet to retrieve the washer?

Probably going to be difficult to get a steel washer out of an iron block with a magnet... I'm guessing its oil pan removal time - which also means front diff removal time. :shrug:

-Charlie

 

[spartacus]

May be try jerry rigging a magnet at the end of the camera with a magnet and retrieving the washer.

 

[Spiker Engineering]

They also make inspection cameras with grabbers or hooks at the end - if (big if) you can snake the camera into the block and see the washer, you might be able to hook/grab it.

 

[JohnMc]

If it was down in the pan I'd gamble and leave it. but on a windage tray, it's not going to sit there, it's going to get flipped around as the crank spins, and that could go poorly. Yeah, it's a PITA to pull the pan, you'll need to pull the front diff and that's not fun.

I did a miraculous grab once with one of those snakey grabber tools.

I was putting head studs on a turbo Volvo block. Got distracted by something and went to put a stud into a hole, and as I dropped it I realized it wasn't the head bolt hole, it was the very slightly larger oil return right next to it. It clinked, clanked, rattled all the way down into the oil pan, where it scooted around. Pretty much going to need to pull the motor out to pull the oil pan. But I tried some blind fishing with the grabber. Not in the hole it dropped down, Not in the next one back either. The one after that? I thought I felt something. Totally blind of course. Closed my eyes and felt carefully, I think I grabbed something. Carefully pulled up. Next challenges was I'd grabbed it laying horizontally, it needed to rotate to vertical to come up the hole. And the hole wasn't smooth, it had casting edges. But carefully, tiny bit by tiny bit, I got it up and out.

 

[Novashards]

Success!

I ordered a few different magnetic and grabber tools to try out.

I started with the larger magnet head of these two hoping it would fit around the crankshaft and have enough magnetic force to hang on to the washer.

Flexible Magnetic Pickup Tool Set, 2LB & 5LB, 26" Bendable Extension Magnetic Pickup
Amazon.com

I succeeded on the first try!

Video
https://imgur.com/a/zbLCYlD

Thanks for your help!

 

[Spiker Engineering]

Congrats!

 

[AuSeeker]

Congratulations, $9 well spent and hundreds of dollars saved :banana:, and you will be able to use them in the future, but hopefully not for retrieving parts dropped down inside an engine!!

 

[JBurt]

That's awesome! Glad you don't have to drop the diff and the pan.

 

[WayneM]

Even knowing you succeeded, when I saw the washer push 1/2" deeper, my gut reaction was "@#$%"!. Glad it worked!

 

[2TH4IST]

Yep those flexy magnets works wonderfully. As it's stiff enough to push through if it get snagged on a iron block.

 

[ArthurKotb]

I did a miraculous grab once with one of those snakey grabber tools.

The first one I ever bought was called "mechanical fingers" and when I had to buy replacements I always used that phrase and it never fails to find one or for someone to know what you're talking about. It's one of the most valuable tools in my toolbox. I'm always dropping something into somewhere it shouldn't be.