Dropped it in Oil Fill Hole...OH NO

[scottybye]

While changing the oil on my 2002 GL1800 today I accidentally dropped a 6 inch piece of 3/8" plactic tubing down the oil filler hole. I will explain later how that happened. My question is do any body have any suggestions on how to get it out. So far I drained the oil again - in an attempt to see if it would come out. Tried blowing compressed air in the fill hile while the drain plug and filter were removed. No Luck! Suggestions please...

[Aussie81Interstate]

I don't have any suggestions, and sorry to hear of your dilemna.

Have you got access to a borescope camera - you may be able to place it in the oil fill hole and maybe see if the piece of tube has lodged somewhere accessible. But if you have pushed compressed air into the oil fill area- you may have pushed it further in to the motor..

Let us know how you get on.

Good luck.

[scottybye]

I do have a borescope and tried using it but the problem with it was as soon as the tip touched anything with oil on it the lens would get oil on it and the image was so blurry I couldn't see anything.

[Aussie81Interstate]

If you have dropped the oil out it should be a bit clearer?

[scottybye]

the oil was drained before the camera was put in there. But trying to manoeuvre the camera inside the engine is not as easy as it sounds. Once the lens touches something with oil residue it blurs the lens tip

[Mh434]

The only thing I could suggest is what I call my "grabby fingers" tool - the thing that looks like a long coil spring with a plunger on one end, and extending, fine spring-tempered wire fingers on the other. I've had success with "fishing blind" with these things...it might work for you. Also, using a bright flashlight & a mirror, to look down the oil fill hole, might at least help to find its general location.

Good luck!

[FlyBoy2121]

I scottybye

Here is what I suggest, if this thing is made of steel, try a magnet on an extention rod

FlyBoy2121

[FlyBoy2121]

Or you have this solution if it's plastic
FlyBoy2121

[scottybye]

The item which was dropped in was a plastic tube approx 3/8" diameter and 6-7 " in length.
It was actually the pick up tube for an oil extraction pump. I was using it to take out some oil because I overfilled the engine slightly when doing my oil change. I figured it was easier and cleaner than loosening the oil filter or drain plug to let some oil out.

[bvanemon]

If you don't have the spring grabber, I've used a dental pick to get to plastic things I've dropped in areas. Cheap and effective when I needed something longer and bendable I have sharpened the end of some fencing wire to pierce the tubing to pull it out. Fencing wire will bend and flex where a dental pick won't, if you have a vacuum pump with tubing maybe? Good luck

[topgun]

I figured it was easier and cleaner than loosening the oil filter or drain plug to let some oil out.

And now what do you think?
Sorry.
I have trouble believing it could have turned anywhere being that long. Should be standing up looking at you.
Could a wrap of scotch tape sticking out from borescope end help keep oil off tip?

[Steve F]

Well it appears that you're not alone. In another forum a member there had the almost exact same problem. It's a Loooong thread, and I didn't read it, but here's the link:
http://gl1800riders.com/forums/4-genera ... tions.html
Good luck fishing.

[MikeB]

It is an 1800. The oil drain plug is on the front of the engine. Can you see into the crankcase and see if the tube is laying on the bottom of the engine? You'll need a good light and possibly that bore scope to assist you in looking for it. Never having looked into the drain hole I don't know if it is a clear shot into the crank case but it might be.

[WingAdmin]

You could spray some brake cleaner down the fill hole - gently. This will thin out the oil and wash it down into the sump, so that you could get your borescope down in and visualize where the tube has gone.

[Davek80514]

Did you ever get the tube out? And if you did how did you do it?

[RoadCzar]

Have you considered trying to remove it with an industrial vacuum? Some oil will be sucked out as well. Try sealing the vacuum hose around the oil filler tube.

Good luck.

[Metal Mangler]

I had a simular situation. My son in law dropped the foil covering from an oil container while changing the oil he said he could still see it. He called me I told him not to do anything till I arrived. Now human nature over took him he tried to retrieve it only to make matters worse. When I arrived the foil was not in sight. I brought a small shop vac and attaching smaller hoses to it I was able to suck it out very carefully. It was attached to the small clear hose i used. It's worth a try. The bore scope your using does the lens move with your hand held viewing unit? I know this feature is only on the more expensive models. Maybe someone can get one for you at work. I am in the aviation field so I could check one out. But a lot of companies have them. Good luck keep us informed.

P.S. while writing this I noticed the post ahead of mine. What's the odds good luck notice the time of post

[lamasue]

I did the same in my 1500 its been 2 years in there no effects

[Sempai]

Hmm, I would think a 6" piece of anything dropped in said hole would be unlikely to go anywhere but straight down...admittedly, I have NOT ever looked into this hole on my bike. If you KNOW the I.D. of the offending tube, and it is somewhat pointing towards the hole, I would try using a slightly smaller rubber hose, try your luck getting it poked into the plastic tube...and if you can get it in, perhaps it'd have enough grip to pull it out.
If your lucky enough to have that plastic tube aiming right to the hole, use a long, skinny Phillips screwdriver inside the rubber hose,shove it down into the hose just inside the tube to expand the hose and tighten it to the inside of the tube.
Again, with my lack of knowledge of what's directly inside that hole, my next suggestion would be to straighten out a clothing hanger and go fishing, but I'd much rather be able to SEE the target before I'd try that.
Anyway, good luck with this expedition, and out of shear curiosity, when I get home, I'm going to have a look at mine and see if I can muster any other plans of attack.

[mcoral]

When you drained the oil the tube most likely moved with the flowing of the oil to the drain hole. I would check to see if it's in that area.

[ghump]

The oil goes thru the oil filler hole down to the pan, collection area, then to the filter and engine, so you're not going directly to the engine with that tube. If you remove the oil filler dip stick and the oil drain bolt, you should be able to blow air thru either hole and move that tube around and maybe find it. That tube probably can't do any damage, but that would drive me nuts and well, you never know. Blow air thru the dip stick filler hole and /or up thru the drain hole and with patience you should be able to move that tube around. Good luck!!

[Techdude2000]

The part of the engine it has dropped in is just in front of the crankshaft gear, and near the primary and secondary gears that run the transmission. It will be very easy for that tube to get caught in a gear if the engine is cranked. The tube should have dropped straight down or it could just be leaning against the inside of the block right under the hole. There's no way it will come out the front drain and there's no way to blow air from the front to make it do anything. If you can't locate it just below the fill hole, the engine will likely have to be pulled from the frame and the rear cover removed. The front part of the rear cover is where it's sitting. You should take your bore scope and point it straight down just inside of the hole and see if it's there. The tube should be laying in the area of the yellow arrow in this picture. The rear cover is removed and the fill hole is on it and not seen in this picture.

[mcoral]

I knew the gears came into play, thought that there would be 3/8 clearance below the gears where the oil sits. Thank you for the post.

[Techdude2000]

There is a small hole at the bottom for oil to pass through, but as long as you said this tube is, I don't think it can make the turn to go through it. I'm guessing this is the trike in your signature, if it was a two wheeler, you could lay it over on its right side and hopefully the tube would come back to the fill hole floating in the oil. Wish I had any better ideas.

[MikeB]

We have not heard from the original poster since June 2nd. I'd kind of like to know what progress he has made since then.