disaster. feeler guage dropped into engine..

[Guest]

sorry to be multiposting..just had major disaster, feeler guage sprung out and curved perfectly down the side of the cam chain. highly embarrassed, but it has happened, and will need to sort it. can someone tell me how much I will need to dismantle to get into it please?ta.

[JTGS850GL]

Find a magnetic pickup tool. Basically a strong magnet on either a ridged metal shaft or a flexible metal shaft. Should be able to reach down the tunnel to snag it. Just make sure you don't try to turn the engine over.

[hampshirehog]

Have you tried grabbing it with one of those bendy claw things? The pound shops sell them - worth a go before you do anything else.

edit - one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/24-FLEXIBLE-SPRING-BENDY-LONG-REACH-THIN-CLAW-PICK-UP-TOOL-LIFTING-GRAB-GRABBER-/330963262318?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d0ef29b6e

[ad777]

cant see any sign of it to grab, will tack down a bendy magnet ,wot a pain,will teach me to be more careful! what will I have to do, if cant get it out with magnet ?

[SocialAnomaly99]

If you cant get it with a magnet you'll have to take the head and jugs off.

[Agemax]

persevere and keep dropping the magnet down there and moving it about. chances are it will find it eventually. i f not, i would drop the sump off and try getting it from underneath before you get drastic and start ripping the top end off

[hampshirehog]

Adrian beat me to it. Top end off is the last resort and I'd bet you won't need to if you persevere.

[Highway_Glider]

Not sure about this one (I am kinda assuming the engine is out of the bike)
but how about getting one or two buddies and turning the engine upside down?

[tkent02]

+1, and if that doesn't work, take the oil pan off, not the head.

[SocialAnomaly99]

What kind of bike is this? I know if I dropped something down the cam chain tunnel on my bikes, taking the oil pan off would be pointless as the oil pan only lays under the gearbox (and not the crank where the feeler gauge is likely laying).

[SocialAnomaly99]

Also, are your feeler gauges steel or stainless steel? You will not be able to grab them with a magnet if they're a austenitic stainless.

[1980GS1000E]

It might be magnetic. Try one of those neodymium magnets. I dropped a bolt into the cam chain tunnel on my 1100F and got out my trusty USB borescope camera and was able to find and retrieve it.

[JamesWhut?]

They make the feeler gauges magnetic for this specific reason.

All you can really do is keep fishing for it with a magnet on a stick. This is why it's called the "hell hole"... and why manuals always say to cover or stuff a BRIGHTLY COLOURED rag over the cam chain tunnel as the first thing to do after getting the valve cover off.

Best of luck.

[SocialAnomaly99]

Thats true. Hopefully what ever feeler gauges you have are made of a ferris metal so you get them with a magnet. A tiny camera is a good idea if you don't have eyes on it from above. Good luck!

[ad777]

GOT IT!!! Thanks guys, just back with a flexi magnet, and got it first time.really appreciate the support here,be lost otherwise. Off to get a rag,and continue with valves,thanks again!!!