goldilocks Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 I replaced the injector seal washers and o-rings, it all went very smoothly. While replacing the metal clips that secure the injector harness plug, the clip slipped out of my hand and fell down a hole into the engine - I attached a photo - I can just see part of the clip, and can't reach it to get it out. So my question is/are where does the hole go? how far would i need to dismantle the engine to get to it? will it cause damage to the engine if I can't get it out? Any help/advise greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazza Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Yep, been there, done that! You want to get hold a magnet either on a string or a telescopic rod. I wouldn't leave it in there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big.Mike Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Where are you in the world? I have some very strong magnets you can have if you're local... cheers, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldilocks Posted March 6, 2013 Author Share Posted March 6, 2013 I'm glad not to be the only one to have done this! Thanks for the kind offer Mike. Unless you live near Austria I won't be able to take you up on it unfortunately. The clip is wedged behind one of the bolts securing the cylinder head. I tried one of the other clips and found that is only very weakly attracted to a magnet, not enough to lift it with. If I can't get it out i'm guessing the head will have to come off, but thats way above my skill level, and now I can't even drive it to a garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briarston Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 I have a "grabber" device, on a flexible shaft of the Boden cable type. Pressing the button on the end opens out three slim metal fingers at the other end, release and they close up around the inaccessible item. Business end is about 1/4" dia. One of these may do the trick if magnets wont work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 One of these? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310576290651 Another might be to rig up a smaller hose to a vacuum cleaner to suck it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Got to be worth getting hold of one of those claw devices or a decent magnet to try before resigning yourself to stripping the top end down. Have you got an old hard drive you could rob for the magnets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I've got one of those screwdrivers that you can change the heads on. This has a telescopic magnet that you can pull out and would be useful for this sort of thing, but i would have thought anything like that would work. I would try the magnet before the extendy claw thing as i find my one takes a couple of tries to find the best way to 'grab' things sometimes and you dont want to drop the clip and force it further into the engine!! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldilocks Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 thanks for the suggestions folks. I don't know what metal the clip is made of, but its not attracted to a magnet! It's stuck about 4 inches down, and the shaft is too small to get the claw thing in. I'll try with a variety of hooks today, and if theres no joy I may get an endoscope as a last resort. I don't think the clip does any harm where it is, but I worry that with vibrations and oil getting pumped around that it could find its way into the oil pump or a moving part that could be damaged. Will keep trying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Where does the hole go, anyone? I assume you mean the square-ish one? I'd have thought most of these holes in heads just return to the crankcase and therefore sump, be surprised if it caused any issue in there, and could remove at a later oil change if you wanted by dropping the sump off. If you can get to it with something straight, what about a thin piece of steel with a tiny bend on the end to form a hook? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 A pair of forceps might reach it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 How about a wooden skewer with a split in the end? Have a practice first but if you can force the split over the clip it should hold it. The longer the split the better I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike4444244 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=150985701990&kw=150985701990 Maryland laparoscopic forceps... or try Tilleys Forceps much cheaper (I normally use these for getting various things put of toddlers ears/nose) http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=160978723213&kw=160978723213 Crocodile forceps http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=160946093959&index=1&nav=SEARCH&nid=13384804306 There's lots of surgical instruments that are useful for working on cars, I have a small stock of expired and used instruments! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave88sw Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 long hooked pick? if you can see it you ought to be able to hook it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Tiny spot of quick setting araldite on a bit of mig wire, go make a cup of tea and lift it out when you have drunk it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frax Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 You could also try a fishing tackle shop, they stock lots of long pliers for getting fish hooks out of the fishes throat. Even a very small fish hook if the pliers is to big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Take one of the loudspeakers out of the dash and use a steel rod or wire with the speaker core against its top end - speakers have strong magnetic fields and the field will be conducted down the rod or wire when kept in contact with the speaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielgwalter Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 try a fishing hook (size 12) covered in araldite. ... i did something very similar. i don't think the clip is magnetic btw D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 I'd expect the glue to become oil covered and useless, or to stick to something else on the way down. If the clip is non-feritic, I'd suggest a narrow tube adapted to fit a vacuum cleaner. A length of silicone windscreen hose, copper brake pipe or plastic fuel pipe through a tin can lid taped across the hose from a vacuum cleaner should work very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heath robinson Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Turn it upside down and shake it... My coat? Why would I be... Oh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 Turn it upside down and shake it... My coat? Why would I be... Oh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldilocks Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 Thanks for all the suggestions! I made a video with a borrowed endoscope: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yg4YcxWFKY&feature=youtu.be My faffing around has caused the clip to fall behind the cylinder head bolt you can see in the film. I'm going to refit the rocker cover and see what happens. Can anyone tell me where the clip might end up now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damanic Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 A vacuum cleaner some duct tape and a straw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=150985701990&kw=150985701990Maryland laparoscopic forceps... or try Tilleys Forceps much cheaper (I normally use these for getting various things put of toddlers ears/nose) http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=160978723213&kw=160978723213 Crocodile forceps http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=160946093959&index=1&nav=SEARCH&nid=13384804306 There's lots of surgical instruments that are useful for working on cars, I have a small stock of expired and used instruments! Mike They look like they would be pretty good at removing the bit of mig wire that has , apparently, fused itself to my sternum...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam001 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Just as a heads up...those metal clips do not have to be removed to remove the electrical connectors...you just push them towards the connector and they release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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