Hi there! Right, i've dropped a small nut down into the interior of my timing cover whilst changing a water pump on my Volvo. This normally means a huge strip down for a stupid mistake. But, I surmised that as the cover is plastic and open at the top, I have 12 - 15V DC easily available and a multitude of steel / iron tools I could wind a coil round an iron rod, then connect it accross the terminals of the cars battery. Thus forming an electromagnet to "tickle" the nut up the front of the plastic cover until I can recover it. What i'm worried about is that i'm basically making a dead short accross the terminals. Am I right in thinking that it's the length / thickness of the copper wire that will cause enough resistance to protect the battery? If so, how long is safe? ( Hmmm, this appears to be a "How long is a piece of string" question ) Is this a way to get out of a bind, or a way to wreck the battery? Les -- http://www.stuffmongers.com "Homo sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission natural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Edward O. Wilson Consilience, The Unity of Knowledge Remove frontal lobes to reply from a NG
Because there's more to the internet than hits alone, Les & Claire wrote: I don't get what the problem is. Is the K engine radically different to the other red blocks? Just remove the crank pulley and the bottom part of the timing cover. In fact I bet you could get a small nut out without taking the pulley off - just flex the plastic cover a little. -- Stewart Hargrave Never wear a hat that has more character than you - Utah Philips For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name
Many hundreds of turns would be necessary..... And experiments could be bloody dangerous!!!! Why not just securely glue a magnet onto a plastic or wooden rod????.... Or use a large magnet such as that from a speaker to magnatise a metal rod???
Right. Think of how much wire makes up the coil in a relay. Give this idea up. Or buy a magnet on a telescopic rod (like an antenna) and / or on a flexable shaft, available from tool supply places. Every toolbox should have these things. -- Mike F. Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont. NOTE: new address!! Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly. (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
just got one of those very devices...... Les -- http://www.stuffmongers.com "Homo sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission natural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Edward O. Wilson Consilience, The Unity of Knowledge Remove frontal lobes to reply from a NG
Well, loosened bottom cover as much as possible and even with magnetic probe can not find the nut. Could it have dropped into the sump? Is it open to the sump from the timing gear? I really don't want to leave it in there if I can help it. If i'm to find it i will have to remove bottom pulley. This means tools. I'm on a tight budget, what's the easiest, cheapest way to get the thing off? I see tales of special volvo tools, "jamming" cogs, etc. so, I buy a socket to fit.... what next? any tips for hassle free removal? What makes this worse is knowing IT'S ALL MY DAMN FAULT FOR RUSHING IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! AAaargh! Les -- http://www.stuffmongers.com "Homo sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission natural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Edward O. Wilson Consilience, The Unity of Knowledge Remove frontal lobes to reply from a NG
Why not just securely glue a magnet onto a plastic or wooden rod????.... Or Why not use just either the speaker itself? A telescopic magnet like you can buy in car accessory shops? A big magnet? David.
Or buy a magnet on a telescopic rod (like an antenna) and / or on a Quite, they're powerful too, will pick up a spanner.
Because there's more to the internet than hits alone, Les & Claire wrote: No. The sump doesn't connect through to the timing gear - there'd be oil everywhere, if it did. I think you're right. It *probably* wouldn't do anything, and just sit there until the timing belt is next changed. But it *might* get caught up in the belt and do damage. How about: Use double sided tape to fasten a smallish magnet (fridge magnet? - maybe not strong enough) to the timing belt. Turn the engine over by hand (so that the magnet avoids the tensioner), and back again; see if it picks up the nut. Or... Pour a strong mixture of sulphuric acid down the timing cover, and dissolve the nut...Err, no? Or... Buy the socket to fit the pulley. Consider it an investment, and change your own timing belt next time. In fact it wouldn't be such a bad idea to change the timing belt now (check tensioner, too), unless it's reletively new. But if your budget is seriously tight this may not be an option. -- Stewart Hargrave Never wear a hat that has more character than you - Utah Philips For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name
Stewart, This works very well, satisfying "click" as it picks up the nut. Also, if you lever the pump upwards using top of alternator mounting as a fulcrum ( I used rubber handle of small hammer )you can seal the top ring first time. Thus avoiding the stripdown and chaos I created for myself. Thanks for the help! ( Big sigh of relief! ) les -- http://www.stuffmongers.com "Homo sapiens, the first truly free species, is about to decommission natural selection, the force that made us.... Soon we must look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become." Edward O. Wilson Consilience, The Unity of Knowledge Remove frontal lobes to reply from a NG
You need to complete the supplying of your toolbox, Les . . . One of the handier pieces to have is the *strong* magnet mounted at the end of a piece of spring(?) about 3' long. This pairs nicely with the similar tool that has a plunger at the one end (like a hypodermic syringe) and three strips (2mm x 6cm) that will extend from the "business" end, each with a right-angle "hook" - great for picking up things that can be seen or, with enopugh "fishing" time, not seen but felt. bob noble Reno, NV, USA
