Help! Dropped screw in engine

Agent_Smith357 · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:31

Take the real rocker cover off not the plastic cover if thats what your thinking about.

Third Opinion · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:32

Sorry there was method in my madness. I was thinking of a engine removal and strip down cost. You would probably be cheaper getting a secondhand engine or something. If this was to be the case then its worth the risk if destroying that one.

Totally agree with the grabber item and hope you get it.

Dogbreath · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:35

Either magnetise a screwdriver, or get a telescopic "magnet on a stick" and pick it out. If you can feel it with a screwdriver and it's not wedged in place it will be 10 seconds work.

Tesla · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:35

Third Opinion said:
Sorry there was method in my madness. I was thinking of a engine removal and strip down cost. You would probably be cheaper getting a secondhand engine or something. If this was to be the case then its worth the risk if destroying that one.

Or it would be cheaper to not turn the engine over and remove the screw!

HamZilla · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:37

Thanks atbpx, and everyone else for suggestions.
I think I found the item on an electronics site rhyming with "goblin".
The only thing that goes down there is a long screwdriver so I can only use maybe a very strong rod shape magnet (from where I don't know) or try a doc ock tool.
I tried a piece of chewing gum on the end of the screwdriver but that gets coated in oil so loses its stickiness.

ZXSpectrum · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:39

Dogbreath said:
Either magnetise a screwdriver, or get a telescopic "magnet on a stick" and pick it out. If you can feel it with a screwdriver and it's not wedged in place it will be 10 seconds work.

Agree.. my mate did the same on his supra :eek:

just nip in a taxi to halfords in the morning and get one of the telescopic magnets. Will cost about a fiver but they are worth thier weight in gold and the magnet is dead strong...

kaiowas · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:41

Turn it upside down and shake it

Or get the tool that Lopez mentioned which is actually deisgned for picking up screws you can't reach.

Third Opinion · 4 Jun 2006 at 21:43

Tesla said:
Or it would be cheaper to not turn the engine over and remove the screw!

Thats what I said orginally?? I am only commenting about what I would do if the screw disappears down an oil way in the block or something and you can't get it out without a strip down.

timbob · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:03

On a slight aside...a friend dropped a screw into the oil filler hole once, and didn't notice. Cover back on, drive off...lots of smoke out the exhaust. Hmm, very strange. 500 miles later when he finally gets round to taking the head off to have a look, the screw had simply jammed into one of the valves, jamming it open, and wedged itself there. He simply picked it out with his fingers, put the head back on and that was that, no more smoking, and nothing broken!

Lucky escape I think!

Clarkey · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:07

i'd just whip the rocker cover off, fish it out, cover back on, job done in 10 minutes.

Tesla · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:08

Third Opinion said:
Thats what I said orginally??

You havn't said that at all, let alone originally.

Pajeh · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:09

tie a magnet or magnetic screw driver head onto some string and lower it in to grab it

Third Opinion · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:10

Yes I vote for the above. If you try one of those grbbing things and drop it things could get a lot more complicated. Rocker cover off so you can properly see it and remove it.

Dogbreath · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:11

timbob said:
On a slight aside...a friend dropped a screw into the oil filler hole once, and didn't notice. Cover back on, drive off...lots of smoke out the exhaust. Hmm, very strange. 500 miles later when he finally gets round to taking the head off to have a look, the screw had simply jammed into one of the valves, jamming it open, and wedged itself there. He simply picked it out with his fingers, put the head back on and that was that, no more smoking, and nothing broken!

Lucky escape I think!

Did he not notice that it was misfiring on one cylinder?

Third Opinion · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:12

Tesla said:
You havn't said that at all, let alone originally.

Totally agree with the grabber item and hope you get it.

Well thats what I said there

Tesla · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:22

Third Opinion said:
Well thats what I said there

So, in your 4th post in the thread you decide to agree with everyone else.

Your advice is wrong and frankly, stupid on this particular matter.

Third Opinion · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:25

Tesla said:
So, in your 4th post in the thread you decide to agree with everyone else.

Your advice is wrong and frankly, stupid on this particular matter.

I think your just trying to pick a fight pal. Unfortunately all to common in this forum lately.

My orginal post states you would probably shag the engine if you bothered to read it. Up to him now if he wants to do it

Tesla · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:29

Third Opinion said:
I think your just trying to pick a fight pal. Unfortunately all to common in this forum lately.

My orginal post states you would probably shag the engine if you bothered to read it. Up to him now if he wants to do it

Why would I want to pick a fight? I am trying to persuade the OP to avoid your advice like the plague.

I am not going to post anymore as everybody who reads this thread thought "what a stupid thing to do". I hope the OP now has picked up on this too.

Durzel · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:30

Telescopic aerial with magnetic head - job done.

Don't start the engine whatever you do, and don't move the car without the clutch in.

Steve · 4 Jun 2006 at 22:36

taking the rocker cover off and picking out with your hand is the easiest and free option?

only a few bolts holding it down and it doesn't secure any of the mechanical components down.

15min job easy.