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Posted by: pugface Feb 26 2017, 07:16 PM

Sigh - followup to my first post

I pulled all the plugs today to do a compression test. My first time to ever do a compression test, so hopefully it was done right. seemed OK at 100-110-110-105

However! When I pulled the plug on cylinder 4, it fell out of the socket, and underneath the tin. I can't even see it. I got a boroscope-type thingy from Harbor Freight - I found the plug, it is lodged in there pretty good. Is there a way to retrieve this? Anybody else do something like this?

I am planning on _eventually_ pulling the engine to clean and go through hoses and wiring, but do I need to get that plug out ASAP, or can it stay there for a bit?

* This is what always stops me from working on cars - bad luck. Of course, in other fields, I say "You make your own luck", so I don't really believe in luck, but man, do I have some bad luck with cars. Or just plain incompetence

Thanks
pf

Posted by: Rand Feb 26 2017, 07:19 PM

When I saw your headline, I was ready for some crazy nonsense. There's a difference between IN the engine and down around it.

I'd kiss it goodbye and put a new plug in for now. It's not likely to hurt anything where it landed. You'll have a fun story when you find it later.

Posted by: ConeDodger Feb 26 2017, 07:21 PM

QUOTE(Rand @ Feb 26 2017, 10:19 PM)

Posted by: mepstein Feb 26 2017, 07:21 PM

I've found a couple plugs in engines - other tools and parts as well. Normally it won't hurt anything. Try a magnetic pickup with a flexible shaft.

It's usually small nuts, bolts and screws, dropped down the intake, injector or spark plug hole, that trash the engine.

Posted by: mramber Feb 26 2017, 07:23 PM

I have disassembled 3 type 4 engines now. 2 of them had extra spark plugs under the tin. Let it be.

Posted by: cuddyk Feb 26 2017, 07:25 PM

The floating plug should be totally fine in there till you pull the engine. A great tip I learned when putting plugs in the 914 is to use a short (3 inch) piece of fuel hose wedged over the top of the plug as a "handle" so you can easily thread it in...and gently remove it. And you should always thread it gently by hand anyway...

Don't get down on yourself. This isn't bad luck. Working with cars is all about learning. And sometimes mistakes are the best way to do that. People call it the idiot tax ...though that usually applies to making expensive mistakes. Consider yourself LUCKY this only cost you a spark plug!

The brain trust here will help you learn and often entertain you. All you have to do is ask. And post photos.

Keep wrenching!

Posted by: Larmo63 Feb 26 2017, 07:25 PM

Try your best to get it out, but if you can't, go have a beer. Maybe more than one.

Posted by: Beach914 Feb 26 2017, 07:34 PM

Heck, mines got two large vice grips holding bolts down in there somewhere.....I'll get to it when I stop having so much fun driving it.

Posted by: dangrouche Feb 26 2017, 08:14 PM

if you know where it is located, you can buy one of those remote gripping tools, very similar in design to the harbor freight magnet at the end of flexible spring rod. other wise a very strong magnet at the end of a stick would be the simplest. good luck.

Posted by: walterolin Feb 26 2017, 08:20 PM

Did you use a regular socket or a spark plug socket with the rubber insert? The insert grabs the plug to keep it from falling.

And yes it will be fine until you rebuild - I found two left by the PO.

Posted by: rgalla9146 Feb 26 2017, 08:27 PM

1. It can be retrieved with a magnet on a flexible handle
2. get a new magnetic spark plug socket.
3. everyone has started with a first step, don't be discouraged.

Posted by: plays with cars Feb 26 2017, 09:56 PM

Been there. Done that. Magnet on an extendable shaft was able to get it out every time.

Posted by: pugface Feb 26 2017, 09:57 PM

Thanks guys!

That's a bit of a relief. It _was_ a spark plug socket, but the rubber bit fell off a while ago. I think it is time for a new one

As far as 'making your own luck' - a confession. I dropped the #2 spark plug as well, but was able to fish it out. Instead of taking that as a warning, I took it to mean my tool was up to snuff - it was not!

I hope to get to pulling the engine in 2018 - and will retrieve the plug then - but hopefully not before!! At the rate I'm going, the car will travel 0 miles by then - but even best case, it would only be a few hundred miles with the spark plug hanging out...


Thanks
pf

Posted by: The Cabinetmaker Feb 27 2017, 06:34 AM

Get a magnetic spark plug socket

Posted by: stugray Feb 27 2017, 08:59 AM

QUOTE(cuddyk @ Feb 26 2017, 06:25 PM)

Posted by: forrestkhaag Feb 27 2017, 10:33 AM

I would add one thing to the sage advice above. In addition to the piece of fuel line to grip the plug, use a piece of a pencil or brass tube top fully straighten the fuel line "tool" to allow you to accurately and more precisely start the plug into the spark plug hole. A bent hose-tool makes this basic task much more sketchy as to cross threading.

Posted by: JoeDees Feb 27 2017, 03:39 PM

I guess this explains why I found one on my extra engine...

Posted by: Porschef Feb 28 2017, 05:46 AM

I'm sure the plug is fine there. The only concern I might have would be if something were to actually fall into the engine during the course of your rescue and recovery mission. So just get another one, install it carefully, and, as suggested, have a beer.

That always helps me...

Posted by: Frankvw Feb 28 2017, 07:05 AM

everthing you want to learn about creating a socket for this
https://youtu.be/f0BXbktniQA

Posted by: yellow75 Feb 28 2017, 07:42 AM

I use a piece of rubber hose slipped over the ceramic end of the plug to remove and replace them after they are loose.

Posted by: Valy Feb 28 2017, 08:18 AM

It's OK but remember that, next time you replace the plugs, you need to replace five of them.

Posted by: bandjoey Feb 28 2017, 11:37 PM

QUOTE(Frankvw @ Feb 28 2017, 07:05 AM)

everthing you want to learn about creating a socket for this
https://youtu.be/f0BXbktniQA