One step forward, two steps back

[Longgone]

After a fruitful day of getting some work done on the car, I pulled the distributor to change a worn drive bushing. As I lifted the distributor out, the retainer bolt and washer slipped from my hand and damn if the washer didn`t fall right down the distributor opening and I heard a faint clink as it fell into the engine. Now I`ve either got to pull the pan or front cover to remove it. Now....!@#$%^&*(.....!@#$%^&. Okay , I got it out of my system. It`s probably sitting atop the windage tray. Any easy way out of this?

 

[halfaed]

A little magnet wand? Good luck.

 

[Longgone]

Yeah I`ve tried the magnet but can`t get it past the cam,etc. I`m going to pull the timing cover I think instead of pulling the pan. I`d rather work on my feet,I hate working laying on my back!

 

[duster340]

that reacly sucks when things like that happens... good luck getting it out without too much work..

 

[Longgone]

Yeah ,you know I could probably sit there and toss washers at that distributor opening and never get a one of them in it, but when you`re trying to be careful, something like that happens. I`m almost considering leaving it in there.

 

[dartcuda]

I had something like that happen to me once. I was helping a friend on his Ford. Was trying to get the shaft fot the oil pump in place. I was using a small mag light to see better. Well the light fell doen in the hole. We sat there wondering how we where going to get it out. so we drained the oil, and the light came out with it. Got lucky there. You might try that before you go to allot of work for nothing.

 

[Longgone]

I`ll try that and hope my luck is as good as yours. It`ll probably get to the drain hole and then not come through. That`s my luck. I may try fishing it out with the magnetic wand through the drain hole ,but that thing wants to stick to everything.

 

[69signetv8]

That "really" sucks, I wish you luck in finding the washer. If you can't get at it or it's not in your pan already...perhaps "somehow" there's a way you could tray to wash it down with a few liters.....or (gallions) of oil. I'll cross my fingers for you Longgone. Just hate to think it's time for another early rebuild #-o

A tip "too late" to give...I use a large magnet around openings. :silent:

 

[Longgone]

Oh well ,tried draining the oil and no washer. Tried fishing with the magnetic wand through the oil drain hole and no washer.(an exercise in futility) I ended up pulling the front cover rather than the pan, and after about a minute of fishing I got that little!@#$%^& out of there. I think I`ll put it somewhere prominent to remind me not to ever do anything remotely close to that again!

 

[duster340]

nice to hear you got it out without dropping the pan!

 

[69signetv8]

Oh well ,tried draining the oil and no washer. Tried fishing with the magnetic wand through the oil drain hole and no washer.(an exercise in futility) I ended up pulling the front cover rather than the pan, and after about a minute of fishing I got that little!@#$%^& out of there. I think I`ll put it somewhere prominent to remind me not to ever do anything remotely close to that again!

:thumblef: Lets have a party :drinkers:

 

[Longgone]

My sentiments exactly!