Dropped hex wrench into pulley black hole. Should I worry?

LeeH · 03-13-2002, 09:26 PM

I was taking off my rear spoiler to put on a new rubber gasket when I dropped my hex wrench. It fell below the pulley. I tried to fish it out, dropped it and it seems to have disappeared. Should I just forget about it or might it someday get caught between the pulley and the engine case and cause a problem?

I tried running folded cardboard through the trough and didn't even hear it rattle.

SteveT · 03-13-2002, 09:41 PM

Lee,
Get a Flex magnet tool at the hardware or parts store(about 16" flex rod with a magnet on the end).......it will fish it right out. Or you could just not worry about it. I just took mine off and found all sorts of crap down there. Broken belts, washers nuts, leaves. But i'd still try to get it out. Steve

JDaniel · JDaniel's Garage

Reminds me of my own clumsyness the other day. I went to take my 911 out of storage (finally). While reconnecting the battery I dropped the wrench behind and under the damn thing. 10 minutes later I finally fished it out.
Then I managed to drop the fuse for the fuel pump down between the gas tank and front pan... it happened to be the only 25amp fuse I had.
20 minutes later I actually started the car. The 15 minute drive home was all I needed to sooth my shattered ego :-) I hope the rest of the year is "drop-free".

I'd try the magnet approach. I couldn't stand driving around waiting for the wrench to fall into the wrong place. Also... check the ground again

pwd72s · 03-13-2002, 10:55 PM

And if the magnet shouldn't work, try a tool I call a grabber, for lack of a better name. 4 spring steel claws that close of open depending on how you pull or push a plunger on the operational end. Both it and the extendable magnet should be available at any auto parts store, neither is expensive. A clerk should know what you're asking for.

critter · 03-14-2002, 01:16 AM

I have also heard them called "mechanical fingers"

roGERK · 03-14-2002, 04:47 AM

Hello Lee,

Sorry to hear of your problem - but I'd just echo the other comments that all sorts of crap gets stuck down there and doesn't seem to cause a problem - I found a rubber strap clip, several washers and a small screw when I did an engine drop last year - seems to be one of those places where things collect.

- roGER

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 03-14-2002, 05:08 AM

Yeah, but there's a big difference between some washers and a wrench. Conceivably you could hit a bump that would somehow bounce the wrench so that it jammed between the spinning pulley/belt and did some significant damage. In any case, no toolkit--especially a Porsche toolkit--should be without one of those extendable rods with a magnet end, which cost all of $4.95 or so. I almost never do a Porsche job that doesn't require mine, I'm that clumsy.

Stephan

03-14-2002, 05:57 AM

The hex wrench is in there somewhere. I've seen tools and parts end up in the most impossible places, where I couldn't have put them if I tried. Murphy's law says that it will cause a problem later on, be sure of that. Fishing around with a magnet is a good idea, and the mechanical fingers work well too, but of course you need to see the wrench first to use those. If the wrench is being very elusive, a flashlight and a small inspection mirror helps to look around for it. Most auto parts stores should sell the little mirrors.

Have you tried bouncing the car up and down by pushing on the bumper? I did that once and after a few bounces I heard the screw I was looking for fall out onto the garage floor. Never did figure out where that one was hiding, either!

Good luck!

cary · 09:29 AM

I'm with Stephan..........TOOOOOOO big to leave in there. I like every one else, I found nuts, bolts and junk down in there.

The wrench is too long to leave in there.

LeeH · 03-14-2002, 08:35 AM

I guess I'll be making a trip to Home Depot to buy a magnet-on-a-stick. I wish I had thought of that when I was there last night buying a new set of hex wrenches.

pwd72s · 03-14-2002, 10:44 AM

As long as you're buying the magnet on a stick, pick up the mechanical fingers on a wire, and the mirror on a stick as well. Sooner or later, you'll be glad you had 'em. I've seen some stores even sell them as a set.

Bigbartguy · 03-14-2002, 11:01 AM

I agree, buy every grabber, magnet and mirror that you can find. I've owned mine for less than a month and used the grabber, magnet & mirror multiple times.

Of course, I've also put a crowbar into my leg by pulling a nail last year, but that's another story.

Tim

LeeH · 03-14-2002, 07:31 PM

It's out! Following everyone's advice I got a great magnet-on-a-stick from an auto parts store. It's about two feet long and flexible. I stuck it under the pulley and immediately heard a "clink".

Seems like a bargain for $5. I wish I had had it a couple of weeks ago when I replaced the serpentine belt on my Trooper. Twice I dropped my socket on top of the skid plate.

I am a little dispappointed that I didn't get to use the mirror-on-a-stick I bought. Oh well. My 2 year old daughter thinks it's a great toy!

pwd72s · 03-14-2002, 07:39 PM

"I am a little dispappointed that I didn't get to use the mirror-on-a-stick I bought. Oh well. My 2 year old daughter thinks it's a great toy!"

And it later years, she can always use it for makeup application, right?

03-15-2002, 12:28 PM

No, she should be a dentist so she can buy Dad parts for the 911 after he retires.