Now THAT is a good idea!!!
Reps sent.

 

Yep, I used a wire rifle barrel cleaner to stick in the flange.. Worked like a charm...

 

Thanks! I shouldn't take credit for the brush idea though as when you buy Internationals repair kit for the dipstick tube adaper leak, its instructions detail the use of an engine oil galley brush to keep the adapter from falling in the pan.

 

A clunk would suck. . . but thats what a magnet is for. I had a buddy drop a razor blade in the crank case of a turbo lycoming 540. . . to pull that engine would have been a MAJOR ordeal. It took two hours of fishing but we got it out
Timmy

 

I am quite certain a magnet would do you no good as the adapter is made of a non magnetic material.

 

Hmm. . . well f me i guess!
Timmy

 

Hey everyone, I was replacing the glow plugs on my '96 that i just bought and loosened the bracket for the dipstick tube from the valve covers. When i slightly moved the dipstick tube i heard a clunk... yes that very same clunk everyone fears when replacing the gasket on the dipstick flange. I guess the nut became loose at some point and with the movement of the dipstick it just dropped the flange into the pan. Any ideas of how to fish it out without pulling the motor if a magnet will not work? Thanks for any suggestions

 

Ok guys. So I never received a reply on my previous post but I decided to try to fish out the flange that dropped to the bottom of the pan. I purchased a Milwaukee video scope on craigslist, tapped a craftsman claw tool to it and gave myself plenty of time to search around. After about 4 hrs. of probing around and grabbing the flange at different positions, I was able to slide it up and through the whole in the baffle and up to its proper position on the side of the pan. Just wanted to let you all know, no matter how puckered you get when replacing the o-ring on the flange, if you happen to drop it, there is a way to fish it out. I would still worry though, it was a pain in the butt.

 

You certainly have perseverance to work that long at it. But I guess that you had no other choice, really. Good job on the innovation.

 

Nice work. That was the point of my earlier post. . . there is always a way to get it out. I would never pull a motor for that. Glad you got it out. Didja sweat a little?
Timmy

 

It took me about an hour just to finally see it. Then another 3 or so hours of lightly twisting it or nudging to to grab it just the right way to slide it out the baffle. Once I finally saw it i wasnt nervous anymore because i didnt care how long it would take... it was coming out without pulling the motor! But yes i was sweatin a good bit

 

Thanks for posting back...Nice patience...Glad you fished it out and fot the leak fixed...Very stupid design.

 

Impressive. Good job. I would have crapped my pants if that happened when I changed my oring..

 

Persistance pays off!

 

I just finshed mine up this morning. Went and picked up my son at school. When I got back I peered under my truck to see oil on the driveway. Everything went together nice and I thought I didn't over tighten the nut but now I'm wondering if I over did it and squished out the o-ring. Coming out at the bottom and not the dipstick tube. To my way of thinking there is only one thing that could go wrong and thats the big O-ring on the inside wqs distorted by over tightening and was pushed out thus creating a channel for the oil to leak out.
Any thoughts if you do't think thats what happened.
Glenn