Date:         Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:24:20 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: dumb dumb blue paper shop towel in crankcase ..duh
Comments: To: TC <trclark@SHAW.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <008501c6d673$ed7b6d30$c901a8c0@w2ktopcat>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Dumb, dumb and dumber. Been there, done that.

I think you have gotten a lot of good suggestions. I have nothing to add
but that fact that this episode reminds me of the time I was on a step
ladder 16 feet in the air,  working on the exhaust system of an 18
cylinder aircraft engine, and succeeded in dropping a brass (note
non-ferrous) exhaust nut which landed just right to bounce an pop right
through the exhaust port through the open valve and down into the engine
only to land and sit on top of the piston. Being brass, a magnet would
not pull it out, so I spent several hours on that stupid ladder trying
to fish that nut out with a tiny mirror, goose-neck flashlight and
mechanical finger. Finally got it out after several ours of sweat,
frustration, and aggravation. I could just see myself having to pull
that cylinder to get that nut. That would have been no fun at all, and
grounded the airliner. Very costly.  Fortunately I was able to save the day.

Good Luck,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

TC wrote:
> Well I debated asking for collective wisdom on this &
> thought some people whould laugh as this bone headed manouver
> and few might have some creative ideas
>
> anyways the oil filler tube was leaking at the point where it mates to the
> crankcase
> so I got a new gasket & dumped the oil & removed the filler tube
> then took a small wad of that blue shop towel & blocked off the opening so
> that
> as i scraped the old gasket crud off it would not get in the case
> It was now getting dark I thought ill finish this in the am
> but no so I went to extract the towel but could not get a good crip so it
> got pushed
> in a bit & I think go in & get a pair of tweezer or sumthing like that but
> NO
> I mess around with oily fingers I succeed in getting it right out of grasp
> somewhere in the crank case ...
> smacked self in head a few times & go to bed
>
> OK so my thought now is add  engine flush/tranny fuid or some such & float
> that wad over to the oil
> drain hole & try to extract down that hole ...
>
> yah I know the right thing is prolly splt the case but any other hail marys
> ideas
>
>
>