Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

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N00dle
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Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#1 Unread post by N00dle »

I was doing a valve adjustment and dropped a screw inbetween my valves... oops... Where can it go? Can it be flushed out maybe?
I have pictures of where what happened, but I don't know how to upload them...

Please help!

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BRUMBEAR
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#2 Unread post by BRUMBEAR »

well if the valve is closed get a little magnet and you should be able to fish it out if it was open pull the spark plug and do the same DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OVER
there aint nothin like it

GS_in_CO
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#3 Unread post by GS_in_CO »

Magnet on a stick. VERY useful.
If it went into the cylinder I've also heard of using a vacuum pump and small tubing to capture the item and remove it.
Ron

Current: 1988 BMW R100GS (the 'numberplate' model)

Past: 1987 Yamaha XT350
1983 Honda CB900F
1980 Honda XL185S
1979 Suzuki GS425E

N00dle
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#4 Unread post by N00dle »

Magnets and vacuums! I like it. Thanks guys

GS_in_CO
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#5 Unread post by GS_in_CO »

if you have easy access to vacuum pump and hose I'd suggest doing that first.

While magnet-on-a-stick doesn't usually come apart, Murphy's law says that it would happen during this rescue. And there would be no way to get the magnet back out of the cylinder if it came loose other than removing the cylinder head.
Ron

Current: 1988 BMW R100GS (the 'numberplate' model)

Past: 1987 Yamaha XT350
1983 Honda CB900F
1980 Honda XL185S
1979 Suzuki GS425E

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BRUMBEAR
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#6 Unread post by BRUMBEAR »

I use this and it works
Image
there aint nothin like it

GS_in_CO
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#7 Unread post by GS_in_CO »

Thinking about this a little more - you were probably adjusting valves so unless the screw went down the spark plug hole the screw went somewhere on the cylinder head or down an oil return hole or down the cam chain opening. Vacuum probably wouldn't help except for down the plug hole because vacuum will just suck oil from many places.

I hope there wasn't a washer on the head of the screw????
Ron

Current: 1988 BMW R100GS (the 'numberplate' model)

Past: 1987 Yamaha XT350
1983 Honda CB900F
1980 Honda XL185S
1979 Suzuki GS425E

N00dle
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#8 Unread post by N00dle »

I got it! I used a flashlight and one of those extender claw tools and fished it out. Thanks for the suggestions. I bought one of those magnet pickup tools as well

GS_in_CO
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#9 Unread post by GS_in_CO »

Yay! Happy ending!
Ron

Current: 1988 BMW R100GS (the 'numberplate' model)

Past: 1987 Yamaha XT350
1983 Honda CB900F
1980 Honda XL185S
1979 Suzuki GS425E

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BRUMBEAR
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Re: Help! Dropped a screw into my engine!

#10 Unread post by BRUMBEAR »

awesome!!!!
there aint nothin like it

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