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Need Help, Lost 1/4" Bit Extension in Dist Hole...

  • Thread starter Thread starter 66 Tiger
  • Start date Start date Sep 10, 2007
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66 Tiger

New Member
Jul 13, 2003
249
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Virginia
Sep 10, 2007
#1
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #1
WTF - As if my day couldn't get any worse, with my wife bitching at me in the back-ground because she's hungry - I dropped my 1/4" bit extension down the hole while rotating the pump shaft...

Am I correct in guessing that I now have to remove the oil-pan to retrieve this, or are there any GOOD tricks out there I can try?

Many thanks in advance...
 

BullittStangV8

Founding Member
Oct 5, 2002
1,104
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NJ
Sep 10, 2007
#2
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #2
magnet wand? It would be hard cus it would stick to everything...
 

BullittStangV8

Founding Member
Oct 5, 2002
1,104
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NJ
Sep 10, 2007
#3
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #3
or mechanics forcepts (SP)? I think thats what they are called.
 

FSTNG

New Member
Jun 11, 2007
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Tampa Bay, FL
Sep 10, 2007
#4
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #4
You can try a magnet but yeah, you're probably going to have to drop the pan.
 
1

10secgoal

Active Member
Dec 1, 2003
2,801
3
49
San Diego
Sep 10, 2007
#5
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #5
Get a big magnet and drain the oil. Leave the pull out and try to drag the extension to your drain hole. Once it's at the hole you can try to grab and pull her out. Easier said than done...but don't say it can't get worse...at least not out loud.
 

66 Tiger

New Member
Jul 13, 2003
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Virginia
Sep 10, 2007
#6
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #6
I tried the magnetic-wand down through the hole but didn't have much luck. I'll try sweeping it in the drain hole tomorow to see if that does anything... I'm sure I'll end up dropping the pan in the end.

I'm so pissed,LOL!
 
C

chromedog

New Member
Jan 13, 2006
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worlds center for speed
Sep 10, 2007
#7
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #7
i have an 8" 1/4 inch extension that locks the socket on... i use it, and only it,when i have to prime a pump. i do this because ive dropped a socket into the oil pump. i ended up dropping the pan to retrieve the socket
 

zookeeper

Founding Member
Aug 25, 2001
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Rogue River, Oregon
Sep 10, 2007
#8
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #8
This just isn't your week is it? Anyway, you're not the Lone Ranger here, I've dropped all manner of things into the pan as well. If it did in fact go all the way to the pan, try making a hook out of a clothes hanger and fishing it out. Be patient and work slowly and you may get it. You'll have to kinda hook one end and drag it, but I've gotten oil pump drive shafts out that way. BTW, on one occasion I also left an oil pump drive shaft in the pan with no ill effects at all.
 

65fastbackresto

Active Member
Apr 13, 2007
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AR
Sep 10, 2007
#9
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #9
Stupid question probably

I had an engine builder do my motor, should the oil pump drive already be in there or what?

I was thinking I could just drop the dist in and be done.
 

zookeeper

Founding Member
Aug 25, 2001
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Rogue River, Oregon
Sep 10, 2007
#10
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #10
It likely is already there, but you can look to make sure. With the distributer out, you can shine a light down there, if you see a hex-shape in the hole, it's already there. Most engine builders install the oil pump drive using a little push-on, one way clip that prevents the shaft from coming out with the distributer. It fits between the top of the pump and the little cavity cast into 289/302 blocks. The problem then is to get the shaft out, you need to take off the water pump and timing cover to get the clip off and remove the shaft. The good thing about them is they prevent you from becoming good at removing oil pump drive shafts from your oil pan...
 
D

D.Hearne

New Member
Sep 29, 2000
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south louisiana
Sep 10, 2007
#11
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #11
I'd leave the damned thing in the pan. It ain't worth retrieving. It ain't gonna hurt anything either, if it's in the bottom. If you're worried about it moving around, get a big speaker magnet and stick it on the pan bottom, the extension will stay put once the magnet catches it.
 

jeffnoel

Founding Member
Aug 31, 2002
1,638
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37
Clovis, CA
Sep 10, 2007
#12
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #12
I agree with D.Hearne it ain't gonna get sucked into the pickup.
 

blown65

Founding Member
Jul 7, 1999
1,938
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Queen Creek Arizona
Sep 10, 2007
#13
  • Sep 10, 2007
  • #13
Id be worried the thing might bounce up into a counter weight or something if you left it though. (would be my luck at least.)

Strong magnet and then drag it around the bottom of the pan. Then drag it towards the drain plug, with some work you should be able to get it out. (find someone with a scope also, might help you at least see where the pos is at)
 
D

D.Hearne

New Member
Sep 29, 2000
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south louisiana
Sep 11, 2007
#14
  • Sep 11, 2007
  • #14
Ain't gonna bounce in oil. If it does, you're in for a rough landing. Better have the seat belt on and your cell phone handy to call 911, cause you ain't never seen a wreck like you're fixin to have.
 

zookeeper

Founding Member
Aug 25, 2001
3,415
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109
Rogue River, Oregon
Sep 11, 2007
#15
  • Sep 11, 2007
  • #15
I agree, like I posted before, I dropped a oil pump drive in my pan and it was there for 5+ years before I re-did the motor with no problems whatsoever.
 

rhyno9

Founding Member
Oct 30, 2002
209
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0
Oswego Illinnoying
Sep 11, 2007
#16
  • Sep 11, 2007
  • #16
D.Hearne said:
Ain't gonna bounce in oil. If it does, you're in for a rough landing. Better have the seat belt on and your cell phone handy to call 911, cause you ain't never seen a wreck like you're fixin to have.
Click to expand...

rotflmao

I agree. With all the oil in there it's not going anywhere.
 

blown65

Founding Member
Jul 7, 1999
1,938
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39
Queen Creek Arizona
Sep 11, 2007
#17
  • Sep 11, 2007
  • #17
Probably true and agree. BUT my luck is usually on the bad side, if its going to happen, it happens to me. LOL I'd rather try and get it out and sleep better over it.
 

JDS68Stang

New Member
Sep 3, 2007
153
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New York State
Sep 11, 2007
#18
  • Sep 11, 2007
  • #18
I would try and locate a long (1"-1 1/2") slim rounded magnet, duct tape it good on the end of a simlilar sized small diameter steel rod, most especially around the magnet sides to cut down on it drawing to the sides as it's lowered. Then give it a shot.

If that didn't work I'd blame the wife and make her miserable,lol, then tell her to go get the part out.

When she comes in 10 minutes later smiling holding the 1/4" bit don't even ask her how she did it, she'll probably say I put my gum on a wood stick and pulled it right up, lol

All kiddin aside, good luck gettin that out, I wouldn't want that floatin around in my pan either.
 
6

68EFIvert

Member
Jan 13, 2007
639
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17
Camas, Washington
Sep 12, 2007
#19
  • Sep 12, 2007
  • #19
I'd pull the pan or put the car on a rotisserie and shake it. Sorry I couldn't resist.
 
T

tweet66

Founding Member
May 19, 2001
589
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Pennsauken, NJ
Sep 12, 2007
#20
  • Sep 12, 2007
  • #20
I've done this so many times, i don't care to rememeber. I pulled the pan every time 'cause I just didn't feel comfortable with a socket in there. Do yourself a favor find and old distributor and pull it apart and use the shaft to turn the pump shaft. Works well to prime an engine too.
 
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