Dropped Washer

[Fred Talmadge]

I dropped a washer down the timing cover. ^%$#! I'm betting it's
down in the pan but I'm not real sure either, and I'm feeling lucky
enough to leave it there, put the head back on and drive into the
sunset. So tell me am I lucky or stupid? Is pulling the engine my
only resource for recovering the washer?

Thanks, Fred 1965 S2

[Frank Howard]

Fred,

The washer could prove disastrous. How about a strong magnet on a long wire?
That's what I use.

Frank Howard
'71 S4 SE
Minnesota

[tvacc]

That could do damage if it got caught in the chain gears. Unlikly.
but it could. I could have to drain the sump...then I think it is
time to by a scope thing with the light on it. About $400 at most
places. I think they are called boroscopes.

If you want to buy it...I would buy it from you at 50% of its
cost...so it would only cost you $200...I have always wanted
one...but I (and I am sure you) never seem to want it enough..

Tony V

[Fred Talmadge]

Looks like I'll pull the motor, take the pan off and see see if I can get it
out.

Fred '65 S2

[s2lola]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fred,

You must pull the engine. You and I are sould mates on this one - I was
convinced that my head bolt washer was on the floor after spending hours and
hours fishing with magnets into the sump, etc, etc, etc....Although I never
found the washer on the floor........

What a surprise to me then, when the washer found its way later (as I was
driving into the sunset) between the intake cam gear and the chain. Total
of damage:

- Snapped the ends off both cams
- ruined chain and all 3 gears
- ruined tensioner
- cracked the front case of the head, ruined one cam cap
- untold thousands of dollars
- ended up in me undertaking a complete restoration (still underway 5 years
later) - one of those "oh, what the hell, if I've got to take the motor out
I might as well" kind of moments


I've kept the managled washer as a momento of my stupidity. Pls don't add
to the collection!

Cheers,
Bill Tebbutt

[elansprint71]

Fred,
If it was a steel washer, try a small magnet on the end of a flexible
copper wire (the sort used in domestic wiring) through the sump drain
hole and down via the timing chest- better to spend half an hour fishing
than to pull out the motor? Worth a go.

Good luck,

Pete.

[Elan45]

Before you do that, I'd go down the front of the motor with a "magnet on
a stick". A magnet on a string or wire won't work, because the block
will draw the magnet to it, so it has to be something that is rigid.
Don't spend all your effort just in the bottom of the pan, since the
washer might be lying on the crankshaft sprocket or something else
higher up. What have you got to lose?

Roger

[Fred Talmadge]

Thanks all for the info, we spent most of the day fishing thru the
cam cover, thru the pan and looking all over for the washer. Used
various magnets and all but no luck. I've got the head off, so it's
only a few more bolts and a cherry picker and out comes the engine.

I'll need to order some gaskets but I can check the bottom end, and
clutch out. Bill's right I don't need the agravation and expense of
a blown engine while enjoy a nice sourthern Texas fall/winter drive.

Fred

[BenL]

Is pulling the engine my only resource for recovering the washer?

I like the idea of getting a couple of buddies and picking up the
car, turn it over and shake it until the washer falls out.

An Elan can't be that heavy.
---Ben

[s2lola]

You'd be at risk of tipping all of the smoke out of the wiring harness if
you did that!

[lotuselan2]

Fred

I want to hear soon that you have the whole thing apart and you never found
the washer! Probably laying one the floor under a tire.



Ken

[grat]

Fred

I want to hear soon that you have the whole thing apart and you never found
the washer! Probably laying one the floor under a tire.

oh, man that's cold!

and SOO true! Fred is probably out rolling the car around now...

fj..

[frearther]

Ken, you're a sadist. But that makes sense, we can't ALL be
masochists, can we?????? Or maybe Lotus ownership infers that we are >:-}.

Art

[Lincoln62]

I agree with Roger. Though you won't know where the washer is you might
be able to draw it to the front of the motor by dragging a strong magnet
slowly over the sump from the rear to a point at the front (covering all
the surface in motions from rear to front). As you go past the washer
the magnet should pick it up and take it for the ride. Then pick it up
it through the timing case with stick mounter magnet. Worth a go before
pulling the motor.

Cheers
Peter
66S2

Roger Sieling wrote:

[poiuyt]

I bought a magnet on a stiff but flexible wire at Pep Boys (they had
in on the same rack as the magnets on a telescoping shaft). You can
bend it as necessary or keep it straight.

Only a couple of bucks and it may work.

Steve B