Plastic cap lost in Transfer case now what

[4runnerfiend]

Let the shaming begin! My mind must be somewhere else. Long story short red cap/cover from gear oil fell into full plug on my 1999 j shift transfer case. Not sure if it will just get ground up from the gears or if I need to figure out how to fish it out. Any help in appreciated. Feel free to bash

 

[Reidabook]

You could try removing the drain plug and flushing it out the bottom

 

[4runnerfiend]

I couldn’t even see it with the drain plug open. Might be able to flush it out with a bunch of fluid. Was hoping someone has had this happen to them before. Humm

 

[mtbtim]

I couldn’t even see it with the drain plug open. Might be able to flush it out with a bunch of fluid. Was hoping someone has had this happen to them before. Humm

Nope, you're uniquely stupid. Just kidding. Relax man.

The only thing I can think of is you could buy yourself on of those affordable borescopes, maybe something like this: https://amzn.to/2DwT9Zc and go in through the fill plug and see if you can spot it. If not, try going in through the drain plug. if you do spot it, you can use one of those claw pick up tools like this:https://amzn.to/2DBZjY0 to go fishing for it and with a little luck you'll retrieve the cap. If you want the best chance at getting it out, this is what I would do.

 

[pluton]

I'd ask a real transmission repair technician if they think it's a serious concern.
I suspect it isn't.
You're talking about that little HDPE cap from the gear oil bottle vs. hardened Japanese steel gears, sprockets and a chain.
Without expert advice, I'd let it grind up and then maybe change the gear oil at a slightly shorter interval for peace of mind.

 

[pavelvoivoda]

Just turn the transfer over and shake it... a did that when I dropped a 9mm in.

dont ask

 

[4runnerfiend]

I'd ask a real transmission repair technician if they think it's a serious concern.
I suspect it isn't.
You're talking about that little HDPE cap from the gear oil bottle vs. hardened Japanese steel gears, sprockets and a chain.
Without expert advice, I'd let it grind up and then maybe change the gear oil at a slightly shorter interval for peace of mind.

Good thought. Yeah I was thinking a little plastic bottle cap VS. Heavy duty gears... plastic just isn't going to win.. obviously it is ideal to not have it in there.

 

[4runnerfiend]

Just turn the transfer over and shake it... a did that when I dropped a 9mm in.

dont ask

haahahah!

 

[4runnerfiend]

Nope, you're uniquely stupid. Just kidding. Relax man.

The only thing I can think of is you could buy yourself on of those affordable borescopes, maybe something like this: Industrial Endoscope, YINAMA Digital Inspection Camera Unique 2.4 inch HD IPS Screen 8 LEDs Borescope IP67 Waterproof Snake Tube with 8G SD Card (16.4FT): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific and go in through the fill plug and see if you can spot it. If not, try going in through the drain plug. if you do spot it, you can use one of those claw pick up tools like this:Flexible Grabber Claw Pick Up Reacher Tool With 4 Claws Bendable Hose Pickup Reaching Assist Tool for Litter Pick, Home Sink, Drains, Toilet (35.4inch) - - Amazon.com to go fishing for it and with a little luck you'll retrieve the cap. If you want the best chance at getting it out, this is what I would do.

Thanks for the advise. I'm going to get some cheaper gear oil and try and flush it/ fish it out. hopefully, since it will probably float, it will flow out with the fluid. if not I'm just going to let the gears chew it up and spit it out.

Will update.

 

[alumarine]

Thanks for the advise. I'm going to get some cheaper gear oil and try and flush it/ fish it out. hopefully, since it will probably float, it will flow out with the fluid. if not I'm just going to let the gears chew it up and spit it out.

Will update.

Sounds like a good plan.
If it stays in there I'm sure the gears and chain won't even notice!

 

[mtbtim]

Thanks for the advise. I'm going to get some cheaper gear oil and try and flush it/ fish it out. hopefully, since it will probably float, it will flow out with the fluid. if not I'm just going to let the gears chew it up and spit it out.

Will update.

I don't know dude. You might very well regret deciding to leave it in there and let the gears chew it up. The transfer case isn't just a box with big gears turning. There's parts that need to slide freely like the shifter linkage inside the transfer case and I wouldn't want to bet any fragments of the plastic cap aren't going to wedge into a spot that will cause problems.

Honestly, if this happened to me and I couldn't fish it out, I'd do what [MENTION=111373]pavelvoivoda[/MENTION] said and pull the transfer case out and dump it on it's side to get that freaking cap out. Maybe I'm wrong and it's not a big issue but I wouldn't risk it. Pulling the transfer case is pretty easy. Disconnect the driveshafts, disconnect all the electrical connections, get the rear cross member out of your way, unbolt it from the trans and that baby is out.

 

[4runnerfiend]

I don't know dude. You might very well regret deciding to leave it in there and let the gears chew it up. The transfer case isn't just a box with big gears turning. There's parts that need to slide freely like the shifter linkage inside the transfer case and I wouldn't want to bet any fragments of the plastic cap aren't going to wedge into a spot that will cause problems.

Honestly, if this happened to me and I couldn't fish it out, I'd do what [MENTION=111373]pavelvoivoda[/MENTION] said and pull the transfer case out and dump it on it's side to get that freaking cap out. Maybe I'm wrong and it's not a big issue but I wouldn't risk it. Pulling the transfer case is pretty easy. Disconnect the driveshafts, disconnect all the electrical connections, get the rear cross member out of your way, unbolt it from the trans and that baby is out.

Humm....
:redbrick:

 

[Soneill]

Let the shaming begin! My mind must be somewhere else. Long story short red cap/cover from gear oil fell into full plug on my 1999 j shift transfer case. Not sure if it will just get ground up from the gears or if I need to figure out how to fish it out. Any help in appreciated. Feel free to bash

See if you cant use an air compressor to blow through the drain hole and see if it lifts up enough to grab it from the fill hole.

 

[Wedgy]

Try putting a shopvac over the drain plug but don't suck straight into the vacuum, go thru a 5 gallon bucket first. Could also step the hose down to a smaller size and put a bend in it to fish around the bottom, can also reverse it and blow in the top. Bet you won't do that again, good luck.

 

[rightyouareken]

This might be a great excuse to buy one of those borescope cameras, to see if you can find out where it went. Then you could use one of those flexible grabber jaw tools to get it out maybe.

 

[3bears]

It would bug me to have it in there, and aside from what tim said about little pieces jamming into sliding mechanisms etc...what about soft parts like seals

hopefully you can fish it out and if not, like said, drop your TC and rotate it around till it drops out hopefully..... or hopefully doing so does not jam it in place

as far as taking it to a shop and asking their opinion..some shops might just see $$$$$$$$$
" oh man...you got to pull it out and completely take apart..and while we are at it , might as well get new bearings chains and seals "

 

[APhelps]

It would bug me to have it in there, and aside from what tim said about little pieces jamming into sliding mechanisms etc...what about soft parts like seals

hopefully you can fish it out and if not, like said, drop your TC and rotate it around till it drops out hopefully..... or hopefully doing so does not jam it in place

as far as taking it to a shop and asking their opinion..some shops might just see $$$$$$$$$
" oh man...you got to pull it out and completely take apart..and while we are at it , might as well get new bearings chains and seals "

If you're going to pull it and take it apart, it would be foolish not to put new bearings and seals in it to say the least.

 

[APhelps]

Just out of my own curiosity, how did this happen anyways?

 

[4runnerfiend]

Just out of my own curiosity, how did this happen anyways?

Just doing a standard drain and fill. Wanted to see if the bottle would fit up in the space. Like I said my mind was somewhere else. Stuck the bottle in with out removing the cap, so the cap popped off when I took it out.:sadwave:

 

[APhelps]

Just doing a standard drain and fill. Wanted to see if the bottle would fit up in the space. Like I said my mind was somewhere else. Stuck the bottle in with out removing the cap, so the cap popped off when I took it out.:sadwave:

Makes sense.

For future reference a fluid pump goes a long way with gear oil. These are cheap and work halfway decently (mine doesn't screw on most bottles though :/)

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...585/performance-tool-fluid-pump/w1139/4613599