Johnnypegs

Hey guy, I figured I’d see what you guys say before I end Up pulling my head off the motor. I am in the middle of an engine bay resto and was putting the engine back together and had small peices of tape stuck inside the spark plug holes for paint. And as I was removing the peices, one happened to fall inside the motor. I’ve tried vacuuming it out, using a small grabber tool to fish it out, and now I have Ran out of ideas. Anything else do you guys have in your bag of tricks? I’m trying to not remove the head, but I know It will have to be done if I cant Get it out any other way. Thanks in advance.

Tiger Joe

Umm how large a piece of tape are we talking about? Just a small piece or a 1/2” ball?

If its just a small piece just forget about it. Tape is flammable so it will be done in seconds

Rodnok1

It's paper based, won't last a few ignition cycles...

The13Bats

If not too big, might dirty up the plug no biggie

But getting all ADD OCD crazy on it, like i might do in some cases,
put the suck end of a shop vac on the exhaust port and turn it by hand to open exhaust valve maybe it would find its way out

forman

reduce the end of the shop vac tube with a piece of tubing from home depot and put it in the cylinder cup your hand over the vac and the tubing at the same time it will come out

Johnnypegs

It’s a small bundle at the most it’s a 1/2 inch ball. Blue painters tape. I just Don’t want to cause any damage to the engine.

Johnnypegs

forman

can you try to rotate the motor and bring it to the top of the cylinder then try to grab it ..it would bother me to but it is paper based ,, have you tried 2 way tape on the end of a dowel that might grab it

7T1vette

Yep. Rotate engine to TDC and then use the 'grabber'.

Johnnypegs

Mr D.

It's tape, will be burned and spit out the tailpipe on startup.

RJ1AZ

If the adhesive was exposed, the tape might be stuck to something and make vacuuming it out hard to do?

If you don't want to pull the head, something like this might be helpful.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Waterproo...&wl13=&veh=sem


BTW...I have that same serpentine setup sitting in a box in my garage. Just waiting for the right time to install it. Looks great!

Johnnypegs

Thanks! The camera is a great idea! I didnt Know they made them for smart phones! And an FYI if you end up powder coating your brackets like I did, expect to have to sand certain areas to make the bolt holes line up.

Dynra Rockets

Buy a pack of those extra long Qtips.

See 3

Had to order one of these, can't beat it at 10 buck$.......

Dynra Rockets

Looks like you have the engine on a stand so just rotate it so gravity pushes the tape ball to a spot you can see it with your naked eye through the spark plug hole. Gadgets are great but KISS principle might apply here.

derekderek

Take out plugs and spin it with the starter. It'll leave either by the plug hole or exhaust valve. The bores cope for 10 bucks I gotta get one. Might also double as a marital aid...