Auto blunder of the week!

[Ivan_B]

Well, I admin - I've done some pretty unintelligent garage stuff, before, but today was probably the absolute bottom record. That likely even beats catching the oil filter on fire...

I needed to turn the engine by hand, so I took out the plugs. Then I decided to use the starter (to check for oil pressure) so I disconnected the - wire from the ignition coil and (dropped the little split washer right into the #6 cylinder... Oooops... Cannot get it out because I don't see it. Chances are, it went straight into an open exhaust or intake valve 🙄

[TodFitch]

Pistons should be aluminum (non-magnetic) while the split lock washer should be steel (magnetic). You might be able to fish it out or verify it is not in the cylinder using one of those magnet on an extendable wand tools.

[Ivan_B]

Good idea, Tod, I tried that but was not successful thus far. I also loaned a borescope from the zone, but it is a bit too large to get into the cylinder and you cannot see anything with that little mirror adapter. I've got the cylinder to TDC, fishing in there with a small magnet but am not pulling anything out. I also undone the exhaust pipe below the manifold and was able to get up to the valve with the scope - nothing... Tried a vacuum cleaner, at various places, too. I am pretty sure that the intake was closed when this happened, the exhaust was open. So it's got to be in the exhaust... I'll just take the manifolds off, tomorrow, and check some more. It is better than removing the head, at this point 🥲

 

[Dan Hiebert]

And unless you miraculously find the washer on the garage floor, anything you do will be better than running the car with that washer hiding in there somewhere.  Maybe a small fridge magnet firmly attached to a wire so you can fish around better in the nooks and crannies?

[Dave72dt]

Have you tried pulling the plug for TDC and using the borescope through that.  With the piston down instead of up you might get a better look at the entire piston.

[Ivan_B]

Dave, I am afraid that the hole for TDC is way too small. The plug itself is 3/8, while underneath there is just a pinhole

[Dave72dt]

The hole is packed with carbon on the bottom.  It's bigger than a pinhole.

[Los_Control]

As a side note, removing the carbon in the plug hole was my bone head move. I just used a 16 penny nail and punched though.

When I started the truck it ran for about 30 seconds really rough as the carbon got stuck under the exhaust valve .... then it passed through and was fine .... I think.

 

The valves clearly are not seating perfectly from sitting 20+ years .... I'm hoping a nice long drive in the country will go a long ways .... possible I damaged the valve seat with the carbon .... time will tell.

 

If I could do it over again, I would put some grease on a sharp drill bit and drill the carbon out .... most particles would get stuck to the grease and any in the cylinder would be harmless.

 

I just find it strange that a loaner tool would not go through a spark plug hole .... Amazon has several from $12.99 & up depending on your phone ..... Here is one for $33 and needs no phone. ..... I do not have one yet, I expect to pick one up when the need arises.

 

 

DOH!!! what a idiot I am, the spark plugs on a flathead are over the valves not the cylinder ..... so close you wont see much .... the tdc pipe plug will probably be best access.

[Ivan_B]

That's right... Flathead is complicated like this. The TDC is too small for the average camera (I did check for the deposits inside, it is not exactly a pinhole, but something like 2/16). A professional scope (like the one you've seen at the doctor's office 😅) would do just fine, but the one they loan at the Zone is too large, it is really does not work well. I cannot believe they sell it for ~$170. This is clearly a $30-40 scope in Amazon. Poor quality image, poor illumination, etc.

[Ivan_B]

Okay, all it needed was a longer magnet with a DIY self-straightening WD-40 spray can rod. It was at the very far end of the cylinder 😱😅

 

[Dan Hiebert]

Nice sense of relief, I'd imagine.  Hopefully I'll remember the spray tube trick when (not "if") I need a similar capability...

[Ivan_B]

Just remember to keep all them holes shut, at all times, that's what I'll do 🤣

[Ulu]

There is a guy in the Nomad riders forum they call Red Tube, because he shot some WD-40 in his spark plug hole, and shot the red tube right into the cylinder. 
 

Of course the magnet trick was useless. I think he actually got it out with chewing gum.