Dropped a nut...into the engine

[tcoop]

I was in the process of changing the valve ships out and removed the cams to do this. As I was putting it back together I dropped one of the cam chain holder nuts down the cam chain hole. I got a telescoping magnet and tried fishing it out with no luck. I then removed the exhaust and dropped the oil pan I found a washer but no nut. I'm hoping to not have to pull and split the case.
Does any one have any suggestions on how to find/get this out?

[DGXSER]

Could try pulling the oil filter cup as well. Not sure but it can't hurt to look there. It is right below that galley.

Otherwise, with the tranny pan removed, you could remove the timing cover and using a hex head socket turn the engine gently to see if that drops it out.

[Shacknasty]

Don't give up with the magnet. I'm afraid that might be yer only hope. Or ya could turn the bike upside down and flush it out with diesel or kerosine. I would spend hours with the magnet. You may be SOL...

[planedick]

Been there

Done that. With the pan off you can see in there from the left side pretty good and get the magnet in there. i was lucky I did that because in the process I found a broken bolt in the pan.

[Ken Talbot]

I have some experience with this scenario too. In my case, I had zero luck with the magnet. I removed the oil pan, slid my hand up inside the opening, pointed towards the front of the engine, and put my fingers right on the nut. Easy-peazy...

YMMV...

[tcoop]

I have take the Oil filter off, nothing in there but oil filter and oil. I tried pouring a quart of oil down the cam chain hole and so far nothing. I did think about turning the bike upside down but I have no practical way of doing that. I thought about using a water hose to flush it out then using WD40 afterwards but I don't know if that’s a good idea or not. I will try the magnet from underneath and see if that works. I have turned the engine over by hand and nothing is jammed up.

[Rasputin]

I agree to keep trying with the magnet or whatever clever way you can do. Possibly use a small hose or wire to probe around down there and see if you can move it to a more accessible place. Or you could try something like shoving a piece of fuel hose down the valley and the putting compressed air to it. That may cause the nut to move to where you can retrieve it. I have never tried it and it may also blow it where you do not want but just a thought I had. If you have to split the engine to get it out I would try that first.

[James England]

My local garage has a small camera on a thin probe. It connects to a laptop and is designed exactly for the problem you have.

Although it's too late now, I find it better to block holes with lint-free rags before disassembling anything.

I have a couple of crankcases here, split open. If you think a photo of the interior of one might help you, let me know and I'll post the pix. There are little shelves and protrusions where it might have stuck

[tcoop]

Thanks for the feed back guys. I wish I had a lift to make this easier to work on. I'll keep working on it with the magnet latter tonight, dang job keeps getting in the way of fixing the bike. I'll keep you posted when and how I find it.

Thanks again.

[DAVINCI]

For the future, a magnet on the socket helps keep things from falling into the engine. I've seen socket sets with magnets permanently installed, don't recall who sold 'em. Regardless, any small magnet stuck to the socket will help.

[tcoop]

Thanks Davinci. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I'm working with small nuts and washers like this.

[dezmitchell]

Have you tried using compressed air? Block off any openings you can and try to focus the air down where the nut would be and give er a shot ??

[tcoop]

That will be the last thing I will try before pulling the engine. It might blow it some ware I don't want it.

[natemoen]

Not a whole lot of places it can go other than down, and thats where you want it.

[fredintoon]

- - - - I did think about turning the bike upside down but I have no practical way of doing that. - - - I thought about using a water hose to flush it out then using WD40 afterwards but I don't know if that’s a good idea or not. - - -

Hi Ty,
it takes 3 friends and a box of beer to do an invert & shake on a 350 AJS so as the 7R weighs ~300 lbs it'd take 7 friends & 2 boxes for an XS11?
And no way should you ever put water in your engine.
I'm with Shacknasty, attempting a kerosene or diesel fuel flushout can do no harm and may even work.