Is there any way to fix my screw up?????

[pookie]

I was doing one of the simplist jobs, replacing my transmission fluid. In the past I have used a mini bottle pump with a small hose attached to the end of it. Well this time I screwed up, as I was pumping and putting fluid ino the transmission the tube fell off inside. I tried to get it out to no avail. Did I really screw up or is there a way to fis what I did? Attached is a pic of the tube, its about two inchs in length. Obviously I didn't start the car or mess with the tranny.

If I redrain the fluid and take the take the shift cover (Bently 340-13 pic on the bottom page) off will it allow me to get to the tube.

Any help would be greatly...greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[rcecale]

Yep, (Possibly)

I would think this is your best bet. Start here and see if you can fish it out. If not, I'm thinking you just may be heading for opening up your gear box.



I would very diligently for the fishing part to work.....

Randy

[Grady Clay]

You have done the right thing so far – you stopped.

Check that it didn’t drop outside the transmission – like in a drip pan.

There are two tools you need; first is a light on the end of a flexible wand and the other is an assortment of flexible “grabber” tools.

Yes, remove the shift pivot and let the oil drain there. The flow may get the tube closer. If you drain via the drain plug it may get farther away. You will eventually need a new shift pivot plate gasket.

If you can’t find it, borrow or buy a bore scope (~$200) so you can better look for it. This tool has all sorts of great uses in addition to looking at your valves and pistons.

Don’t rotate anything – engine or wheels.

Sorry for the distress. Please report what you do and find.

Best,
Grady

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Well, here's where all the experts tell me what a jerk I am, but if it were me and I simply couldn't no way no how get the tube out, I'd fire up the car, drive it 20 feet down the driveway and back up , then drain the transmission fluid and replace it. It's Neoprene. It'll get masticated by the gears in no time, no danger to the gears if they aren't under stress. If you don't give the stuff time to go pushing through whatever tiny lube channels there might be, you'll be safe draining the residue.

And even if a dozen people hypothesize about what might happen if you did that, I'd still try it...but that's what we do up here in the woods.

Stephan

[efhughes3]

Stephan: That was the first thought that crossed my mind. In fact, "flush" the tranny a second time after getting the big chunks out. Gear oil seems cheap enough.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

I doubt there'd be any big chunks left...

Stephan

[TimT]

I doubt there'd be any big chunks left...

word

[kenikh]

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
Well, here's where all the experts tell me what a jerk I am, but if it were me and I simply couldn't no way no how get the tube out, I'd fire up the car, drive it 20 feet down the driveway and back up , then drain the transmission fluid and replace it. It's Neoprene. It'll get masticated by the gears in no time, no danger to the gears if they aren't under stress. If you don't give the stuff time to go pushing through whatever tiny lube channels there might be, you'll be safe draining the residue.

And even if a dozen people hypothesize about what might happen if you did that, I'd still try it...but that's what we do up here in the woods.

Stephan

I did the same thing with my Ducati: I dropped a huge ball of masking tape (don't even ask how) into the crankcase. With that bike, I'd have had to split the case, so I said screw it, ran it for a few miles and changed the oil. The tape got chewed up and suspended in the oil and filter. I refilled the oil, ran it again and redrained; clean as a whistle. If I couldn't get it out without completely opening the tranny, I'd do exactly what I did to the Duck.

[pookie]

So two methods of thought on the same screw up. My question to the guys who suggest running the car, the transmission only has about 6-8 oz of fluid in it. I don't know if it is safe to run it with so little fluid in it. For the fish it out guys, I assume it would be better for me to drain from the shift cover, as opposed to the drain plug, that way if I have any luck at all it will be within reach, if I use the drain plug I run the risk of having it sink further in there where I can't reach it. Correct? Also as a note I don't know if the hose is neoprene or not. I think its plastic. It came off of a gas syphon pump. I was originally using that to put fluid in the transmission but it wasn't working to well, so I modified it, which resulted in my screw up.

Thanks for the help guys

[KCPSG]

I think I would try to fish it out 1st and if you cannot get it out or find it I would then go w/Stephan's method...The lube is cheap enough. And definitely cheaper than opening it up all the way to remove a 2" silicone hose.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

No, don't run it with minimal lube, put some more in. All the better to dilute what you chew the hose into, if nothing else. Really doesn't matter if it's plastic, Neoprene, rubber or whatever, as long as it's soft and chewy...

Stephan

[sixbanger]

OOOOORRRRR,
You could just keep flushing with some thinner fluid that would push it over to where you could got ahold of it or it flushes out.

I had the same type problem once when I thought it was a good IDEA to put a screwdriver into a sparkplug hole to find TDC on a VW square back And bump the key. It took me 4 hours to get it out. I never did that again.

GOOD LUCK

[gerry100]

My guess is that the tube is PVC. therefore soft and easily chewed up by your gears.

I'd like to hear from someone who takes these things apart if there are any passages to get blocked by the pieces you can't get out.

[RickM]

Watch, Pook will drive the car and find that his 915 never shifted better.

I'll order a bottle of Swepco and two of those 915 PVC miracle tubes please.

[Grady Clay]

Don’t feel bad; even the best mechanic occasionally drops something, has something break, or finds something that “has never happened before.” The art is being able to appropriately recover and solve the problem.

I’ll make a driving analogy.

The F1 field is full of skilled drivers, some more so than others. Every single one makes many mistakes per lap. The skill is in minimizing the number of mistakes, reducing the severity of the mistakes, AND in recovery techniques when you make mistakes.

The same is true for wrenching.

OK, back to the issue at hand.

“My question to the guys who suggest running the car, the transmission only has about 6-8 oz of fluid in it. I don't know if it is safe to run it with so little fluid in it.”

I agree. Don’t run it with that little lubricant. Drain what is in there via the shift pivot plate and take a look.


“For the fish it out guys, I assume it would be better for me to drain from the shift cover, as opposed to the drain plug, that way if I have any luck at all it will be within reach, if I use the drain plug I run the risk of having it sink further in there where I can't reach it. Correct?”

Yes.


“Also as a note I don't know if the hose is neoprene or not. I think it’s plastic. It came off of a gas siphon pump. I was originally using that to put fluid in the transmission but it wasn't working to well, so I modified it, which resulted in my screw up.”

It probably does matter what kind of material the hose is made of. Some may just get chewed up into fine pieces and most suspended in the oil. The risk there is that some may find their way into critical parts. The other situation may be that some material can melt under the contact pressure of gears and bearings, leaving a burned residue that can cause permanent damage.

As a first procedure you might take a flashlight and mirror and look in the filler hole. It might be within sight and retrievable back out the filler with the appropriate grabber.

Another possibility is that the hose is propped between the gears and the casting and hasn’t fallen to the bottom - but first things first.

I agree with the Flushing it out procedure. Multiple refilling to full and draining via the shift pivot plate might work. You can reuse the lube by filtering it through a coffee filter when hot.

OK, to review my suggestions:
1) Look in the filler with a flashlight and mirror.
2) Drain lube by removing the shift pivot plate, inspect for the hose.
3) Reinstall plate and fill with lube. Repeat 2).

If unsuccessful, on to Plan “B”.

JW, others, what do you think?

Best,
Grady

[soup dragon]

Just an idea ! if the above doent work what about compressed air through the filler hole -might blow it out ?

[pookie]

You cannot see it through the filler hole. You could, that is where it was when I watched it slip down into the tranny. I'm at work now, but I will try to remove the cover and see if I can find it when I get home. If anyone comes up with a better idea between now and 6:00 east coast time let me know.

Thanks

[Sunroof]

That brings up the old days when they put so-called "sawdust" in the trannies so that it would take up the warn spaces to keep her rigid! Was that a myth? An old wife's tale?

I am no authority on this subject, but when you consider how these trannies are built with such tight tolerances and strong gearing, what can a small piece of pliable plastic do to offset anything. Your transferring pretty high torque and power from the engine to the wheels through that tranny, so do you think that plastic would really cause any harm? My only concern is if pieces can get lodged in a seal, lubrication channel, spacer, washer, etc? Only a tranny specialist can answer that. My first reaction is to contact a dozen dealers/shops and get a concensus. You know when you crack these trannies open they look like they can pass as one hell of a meat grinder!

Best of luck

Bob
73.5T

[kenikh]

It worked best when used by crooked used car dealers to smooth out a worn Auto tranny.

[porschenut]

Minor point, but it's not neoprene. Neoprene is spongy rubber. It's what they make wet suits out of. What you have is just flexible plastic tubing.