Dropped a shim down a hole!!

[Lee]

Im in need of some advice. After rebuilding my engine, i thought it was worthwhile doing the valve clearances. Got about half way through and while i was replacing one shim it didn't go into its seat right and fell down the side, only for me to helplessly watch it disapear down a bloody hole :smt013 ! I should have noticed the three holes which i think are for the oil to drain back down to the sump. Do you think if i drained the oil and took the sump off i could find the shim or what should i do. I dont want to chance running the engine with that inside.

[zimm]

got a magnet on a stick ? get one and have a probe .. if not, sump off and go fishing ..

reminds me there's a circlip in the depths of my zx6r ..

[tk400]

+1

the magnet probe is the go.

it should be stuck at the head gasket , there is a flow restrictor in the gasket that probably would stop the shim falling through...hopefully...

[Lee]

Thanks guys. Now that you mention it, i remember the gasket has a cross like cut over the hole so hopefully it hasnt gone to far. The magnet on a stick sounds like a good bet so il give that a bash. If no joy, looks like the sumps coming off

[Jeppo]

only for me to helplessly watch it disapear down a bloody hole

Did you swear much?

[Lee]

Did you swear much?

Yep, there was a few choice words used at that moment. Its funny how its always the bikes fault lol.

[Jackson]

I also managed to do this when doing shims on my 400L! It didnt fall all the way through, probably a couple inches down - but far enough not to be able to see it and make me expand the dictionary a bit.

The oil channels are quite small, and i couldnt find a small enough magnet on a stick type thing to pass down the hole so I ended up using a speaker magnet with a bit of electrical wire attached. As the shims weigh next to nout you can get enough charge on the end of the wire to lift it out.

[cargo]

Lots on ebay

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__telescop ... 38Q2el1313


And your local tool shop, auto factor and maybe even the local pound shop will have them.

Standard fitment in my tool box

[Scott221]

Standard fitment in my tool box

+1!

Btw, my engine works!