Help - spark plug fell into engine |
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Help - spark plug fell into engine |
pugface |
Feb 26 2017, 07:16 PM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 8-January 17 From: Boerne, TX Member No.: 20,735 Region Association: None |
Sigh - followup to my first post
I pulled all the plugs today to do a compression test. My first time to ever do a compression test, so hopefully it was done right. seemed OK at 100-110-110-105 However! When I pulled the plug on cylinder 4, it fell out of the socket, and underneath the tin. I can't even see it. I got a boroscope-type thingy from Harbor Freight - I found the plug, it is lodged in there pretty good. Is there a way to retrieve this? Anybody else do something like this? I am planning on _eventually_ pulling the engine to clean and go through hoses and wiring, but do I need to get that plug out ASAP, or can it stay there for a bit? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) * This is what always stops me from working on cars - bad luck. Of course, in other fields, I say "You make your own luck", so I don't really believe in luck, but man, do I have some bad luck with cars. Or just plain incompetence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Thanks pf |
Rand |
Feb 26 2017, 07:19 PM
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#2
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
When I saw your headline, I was ready for some crazy nonsense. There's a difference between IN the engine and down around it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
I'd kiss it goodbye and put a new plug in for now. It's not likely to hurt anything where it landed. You'll have a fun story when you find it later. |
ConeDodger |
Feb 26 2017, 07:21 PM
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#3
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Apex killer! Group: Members Posts: 23,543 Joined: 31-December 04 From: Tahoe Area Member No.: 3,380 Region Association: Northern California |
Kiss it goodbye and put a new plug in for now. It's not going to hurt anything where it landed. ^^^ Not going any where so... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) |
mepstein |
Feb 26 2017, 07:21 PM
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#4
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,142 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I've found a couple plugs in engines - other tools and parts as well. Normally it won't hurt anything. Try a magnetic pickup with a flexible shaft.
It's usually small nuts, bolts and screws, dropped down the intake, injector or spark plug hole, that trash the engine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) |
mramber |
Feb 26 2017, 07:23 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 87 Joined: 14-April 13 From: Minneapolis, MN Member No.: 15,768 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
I have disassembled 3 type 4 engines now. 2 of them had extra spark plugs under the tin. Let it be.
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iankarr |
Feb 26 2017, 07:25 PM
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#6
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The wrencher formerly known as Cuddy_K Group: Members Posts: 2,469 Joined: 22-May 15 From: Heber City, UT Member No.: 18,749 Region Association: Intermountain Region |
The floating plug should be totally fine in there till you pull the engine. A great tip I learned when putting plugs in the 914 is to use a short (3 inch) piece of fuel hose wedged over the top of the plug as a "handle" so you can easily thread it in...and gently remove it. And you should always thread it gently by hand anyway...
Don't get down on yourself. This isn't bad luck. Working with cars is all about learning. And sometimes mistakes are the best way to do that. People call it the idiot tax (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)...though that usually applies to making expensive mistakes. Consider yourself LUCKY this only cost you a spark plug! The brain trust here will help you learn and often entertain you. All you have to do is ask. And post photos. Keep wrenching! |
Larmo63 |
Feb 26 2017, 07:25 PM
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#7
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,264 Joined: 3-March 14 From: San Clemente, Ca Member No.: 17,068 Region Association: Southern California |
Try your best to get it out, but if you can't, go have a beer. Maybe more than one.
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Beach914 |
Feb 26 2017, 07:34 PM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 959 Joined: 28-March 10 From: Aliso Viejo Member No.: 11,519 Region Association: Southern California |
Heck, mines got two large vice grips holding bolts down in there somewhere.....I'll get to it when I stop having so much fun driving it.
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dangrouche |
Feb 26 2017, 08:14 PM
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#9
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dangrouche Group: Members Posts: 550 Joined: 1-May 04 From: San Francisco Bay Area Member No.: 2,012 Region Association: None |
if you know where it is located, you can buy one of those remote gripping tools, very similar in design to the harbor freight magnet at the end of flexible spring rod. other wise a very strong magnet at the end of a stick would be the simplest. good luck.
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walterolin |
Feb 26 2017, 08:20 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 685 Joined: 30-November 11 From: Louisville, Ky Member No.: 13,838 Region Association: South East States |
Did you use a regular socket or a spark plug socket with the rubber insert? The insert grabs the plug to keep it from falling.
And yes it will be fine until you rebuild - I found two left by the PO. |
rgalla9146 |
Feb 26 2017, 08:27 PM
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#11
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,538 Joined: 23-November 05 From: Paramus NJ Member No.: 5,176 Region Association: None |
1. It can be retrieved with a magnet on a flexible handle
2. get a new magnetic spark plug socket. 3. everyone has started with a first step, don't be discouraged. |
PlaysWithCars |
Feb 26 2017, 09:56 PM
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#12
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 521 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Southeast of Seattle Member No.: 1,323 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Been there. Done that. Magnet on an extendable shaft was able to get it out every time.
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pugface |
Feb 26 2017, 09:57 PM
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#13
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 15 Joined: 8-January 17 From: Boerne, TX Member No.: 20,735 Region Association: None |
Thanks guys!
That's a bit of a relief. It _was_ a spark plug socket, but the rubber bit fell off a while ago. I think it is time for a new one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) As far as 'making your own luck' - a confession. I dropped the #2 spark plug as well, but was able to fish it out. Instead of taking that as a warning, I took it to mean my tool was up to snuff - it was not! I hope to get to pulling the engine in 2018 - and will retrieve the plug then - but hopefully not before!! At the rate I'm going, the car will travel 0 miles by then - but even best case, it would only be a few hundred miles with the spark plug hanging out... Thanks pf |
TheCabinetmaker |
Feb 27 2017, 06:34 AM
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#14
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,299 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
Get a magnetic spark plug socket
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stugray |
Feb 27 2017, 08:59 AM
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#15
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,824 Joined: 17-September 09 From: Longmont, CO Member No.: 10,819 Region Association: None |
.... A great tip I learned when putting plugs in the 914 is to use a short (3 inch) piece of fuel hose wedged over the top of the plug as a "handle" so you can easily thread it in...and gently remove it. And you should always thread it gently by hand anyway... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Exactly! I have a short piece of fuel line in my "spark plug tool bin" with my other plug related tools. |
forrestkhaag |
Feb 27 2017, 10:33 AM
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#16
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 935 Joined: 21-April 14 From: Scottsdale, Arizona Member No.: 17,273 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I would add one thing to the sage advice above. In addition to the piece of fuel line to grip the plug, use a piece of a pencil or brass tube top fully straighten the fuel line "tool" to allow you to accurately and more precisely start the plug into the spark plug hole. A bent hose-tool makes this basic task much more sketchy as to cross threading.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
JoeDees |
Feb 27 2017, 03:39 PM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 515 Joined: 10-November 14 From: Northern Kentucky Member No.: 18,106 Region Association: None |
I guess this explains why I found one on my extra engine...
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Porschef |
Feb 28 2017, 05:46 AM
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#18
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How you doin' Group: Members Posts: 2,162 Joined: 7-September 10 From: LawnGuyland Member No.: 12,152 Region Association: North East States |
I'm sure the plug is fine there. The only concern I might have would be if something were to actually fall into the engine during the course of your rescue and recovery mission. So just get another one, install it carefully, and, as suggested, have a beer.
That always helps me... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) |
Frankvw |
Feb 28 2017, 07:05 AM
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#19
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working on my first 914 ! Group: Members Posts: 651 Joined: 13-April 16 From: Holland, the Netherlands Member No.: 19,896 Region Association: Europe |
everthing you want to learn about creating a socket for this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
https://youtu.be/f0BXbktniQA |
yellow75 |
Feb 28 2017, 07:42 AM
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#20
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Member Group: Members Posts: 88 Joined: 1-October 16 From: pittsburgh Member No.: 20,452 Region Association: None |
I use a piece of rubber hose slipped over the ceramic end of the plug to remove and replace them after they are loose.
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