part dropped down cam tunnel

[Steve R]

Well I have mucker up this time.
I was setting the tappets last job after the winter rebuild.
I was using one of those cheap tools for getting the shims out.
doing the number 3 inlet valve when the little bit of bent metal pinged out!
I can not find it so i can only assume its gone into the engine.
If it has gone down where the cam tunnel is then am I likely to find it by taking the sump off or am i going to end up taking the whole engine apart, does any one Know?

[DogsbolloxofZ1B]

If the tool was metallic then try getting one of those magnets on a bendy thing, poke it down the tunnel & see what you catch. The other trick is to place a mirror above the tunnel & see what you can see then use above or coat hook to retreive it. I've seen these tools on Ebay & judging by their size I don't think it would get past the centre idle pulley so probably can't be got at from the sump.

[chrisNI]

There's more than a fighting chance you'll find it in the sump if that's where it's gone.

[Steve R]

Thanks for help guys, I took the sump off and lying under it I could just see a corner of it on top of centre Bearing support. I used a magnet on a bit of bendy plastic from my daughters magnet building set thing and got it. Big Relief.
Hardly any sludge in the sump or on the gauze and all the gears etc you can see look like brand new, so I will order the shims and a new sump gasket from z power on monday and I might finally get it back on the road.

[Pigford]

Steve R, u lucky b*gg*er.... we all have nightmares about these things, and are sure to happen with regimental regularity. The amount of time we've all spent searching the garage floor for a lost/ejected item... Must admit tho', the lost thingy usually seems to turn up a few days later, when not looking for it, the other end of the garage!

[Steve R]

Pigford,
you are so right thats why I was so relieved to find it, worse case scenario , lose it strip the engine and still dont find it.