The coolest thing ever!

[katsi]

You guys are going to LOVE this! So, I was taking out my spark plugs so I could turn the motor over to TDC when one of the plugs wouldn't quite come out so I reached in with my fingers and unscrewed it by hand and pulled it up and then the plug dropped back down. So, I instintively reached back in to grab it and herd this little "tink" sound. You know that little screw on cap to the spark plug? You know that little metal peice on the top of the plug? Well, it fell down into the little hole that the spark plug goes into ! Think it will blow out the exhaust??? - Yeah, me neither . How incredibally, F***ing cool is that Think it will get picked up by a magnet I doubt it too. This is so like my bug when I dropped an intake bolt down the head. Had to pull the head to get it out! FUN FUN FUN! I get to do all this extra fun stuff! F**K ME!!

[pope]

Just get one of those extending magnet pens that they sell in the auto parts stores . You'll get it pretty easy.

[So Cal Mark]

don't attempt to run or turn the engine, that cap will get imbedded in the head or piston. A magnet will pick up that cap, You just get to do some fishing

[katsi]

Cool, I get to go fishing I love fishing! It's so peacefull and tranquill Every guy wants to spend a saturday fishing

Thanks guys, I have to admit, I wanted to take the sledge to the thing at that point - calming down - calming way down - It's never going to come out

[katsi]

By the way, and I only ask this in advance as not to bother anyone further, what do I send down to get the borken part of the magnet? You know, that part that got tweaked trying to fish out somethin with a streight pole in a really crooked hole?

It's going to be like that song about the old lady who swallowed the fly! Pretty soon, i'm going to be shoving small amimals down that damn hole trying to get this dickfer out!

[adrians]

Don't you have a small pet mouse ? You can glue a magnet onto it's head and sent it down the spark plug hole.

[mbouse]

i keep a grandchild around for the small projects, like fishing sockets off the floor, that neatly roll to the center of the car. they are also useful for many projects under the dashboard - - being able to sit upright on the floor in front of the seat. but, for some reason, their productivity is lacking.

in my experience, the pet mice tend to shirk at those greasy grimy jobs in the engine bay; so for really small tasks, i've considered training Madagascar hissing cockroaches, but they have too short of an attention span. i just can't seem to find the right combination. time to ask Luigi:

[amsiegel]

Katsi

Love the positive attitude
May i suggest a second magent to get the first one out.

Actually not sure if this would work but try fitting a funnel or a tube(one to long to fall in the hole it's getting crowded down there) in the hole . Duct tape the other end of the funnel or tube to a shop vac hose and see what happens. If it works you will find the cap at the bottom of the shop vac.

I prefer throwing wrenches and screw drives into a foam target over beating the car with a hammer to relive stress caused by a car.

[So Cal Mark]

well, you could always turn the car over and shake it until the piece comes out, or use a vacuum

[mbouse]

i'm thinking The X-men... isn't one of the guys called Magneto Man, or some such nonsense? I see him on the reruns, maybe he is currently unemployed and needs something to do

[azygoustoyou]

If you need something more flexible. Home Depot or such stores sell the magnets that are flexible. You can cut them to the length you want. They come rolled up in the package. Maybe that would work. You have the same luck I have.

[mdrburchette]

I saw a magnet on a bendable shaft at Advance Auto. I may be buying one of these just to fish the sockets and such that fall in all the other crevices of the car.

[racydave]

First, check to see if the offending rogue part is ferrous.

[radiopilot]

Fishing with a magnet isn't going to get it... you need to go to the auto/tool store and buy this item:



It has jaws that spring open and catches nuts, washers, whatever...



It'll grab that sparkplug screw as it happened to me, good thing I already had the retriever thingy.

They might have it at dare I say 'Harbor Tools'.

Good luck.

Nick

[joelbert2k]

Those work well, but you have to be able to see the target.
Or get really lucky.

Joel