Straw in Cylinder
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 39
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From: Jacksonville, FL
Straw in Cylinder
My father and I are working on starting his 1973 Corvette after years of sitting. While spraying fogging oil into the cylinders, the damn straw from the aerosol can flew off and into the cylinder.
I got in there with a scope with a plastic hook and couldn't get it. We blew compressed air hoping the straw would get caught on the hook but, no luck. Any advice?
EDIT: Thanks for all the ideas! An important detail I left out: the engine is still in the car so, we can't easily get tweezers or anything else into the cylinder.
I got in there with a scope with a plastic hook and couldn't get it. We blew compressed air hoping the straw would get caught on the hook but, no luck. Any advice?
EDIT: Thanks for all the ideas! An important detail I left out: the engine is still in the car so, we can't easily get tweezers or anything else into the cylinder.
Last edited by anonimitie; Nov 2, 2018 at 02:25 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,350
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
How are you getting into the cylinder? Spark plug hole? if you can see it there's no reason why you cant get it out!!! Creativity!!
Use a high powered vacuum cleaner to suck it out. You'll need an open valve to promote air flow so many pop off a valve cover and make sure valve is open.
Or, use something sticky....
Use a high powered vacuum cleaner to suck it out. You'll need an open valve to promote air flow so many pop off a valve cover and make sure valve is open.
Or, use something sticky....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, FL
Yes, access through sparkplug hole. I was thinking about a shop vac plan and am looking into reducers to get down to sparkplug hole size. And thanks for mentioning the valve. I hadn't thought of that!
Last edited by anonimitie; Oct 29, 2018 at 10:31 AM. Reason: Forgot to thank them for the valve idea.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 124
From: Lubbock TX
Man, that's some rotten luck - trying to do things right and have a backfire.
Nothing sticky will stick to it since it's oily.
I think you're in the right track with the vacuum. If that doesn't work, try rolling the engine over and bending the straw, then hook it where it folds over and pull it out that way.
Or use something like a straightened paper clip to get into the tip of the straw, shove it in until it hits a bent spot ad holds it...
I've had long forceps that had jaws only on the end, kinda like old-school fishing hook removers. Probably have to hit a medical supply place to find one of those.
Get a high static charge on something so the plastic is attracted to it like styrofoam peanuts do...
Good luck, please post the solution, this sounds like some bizarre crap that may happen to me one day...
Nothing sticky will stick to it since it's oily.
I think you're in the right track with the vacuum. If that doesn't work, try rolling the engine over and bending the straw, then hook it where it folds over and pull it out that way.
Or use something like a straightened paper clip to get into the tip of the straw, shove it in until it hits a bent spot ad holds it...
I've had long forceps that had jaws only on the end, kinda like old-school fishing hook removers. Probably have to hit a medical supply place to find one of those.
Get a high static charge on something so the plastic is attracted to it like styrofoam peanuts do...
Good luck, please post the solution, this sounds like some bizarre crap that may happen to me one day...
Last edited by L88Plus; Oct 29, 2018 at 07:08 AM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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Spark plugs are out,.... rotate the crank with a breaker bar and fish out the straw when the cylinder pushes it up
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Oct 29, 2018 at 10:19 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
If the car has sat idle for many years, it would be best to remove the heads, anyway, so they can be checked out. Starting an engine with a valve that is frozen in open position is NOT something you want to experience. 
Also, you can then SEE how much corrosion is in the cylinders and remove most of it BEFORE you try turning the engine over.
If you must leave the heads assembled to the engine, there's always the "duct tape on a stick" trick...
Also, you can then SEE how much corrosion is in the cylinders and remove most of it BEFORE you try turning the engine over.If you must leave the heads assembled to the engine, there's always the "duct tape on a stick" trick...
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How about one of these?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 52
From: Springfield, TN
Go pick up a mini "hook & pick" set from Harbor Freight for $2, then use the hook to catch the end of the straw and pull it to the spark plug hole.
You might need to rotate engine and bring the piston upward, but I don't think I'd go up so far that the straw was wedged. I'd leave it down just far enough for end move freely.
At $2 for the set, their cheap enough that you could bend or modify them to reach, if necessary.
You might need to rotate engine and bring the piston upward, but I don't think I'd go up so far that the straw was wedged. I'd leave it down just far enough for end move freely.
At $2 for the set, their cheap enough that you could bend or modify them to reach, if necessary.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, FL
Those are my plan B. I ought to be able to those and my scope through the sparkplug port but, I have virtually no control of the grabber end once it's in the cylinder. I'll have to get lucky - and if I were lucky, I wouldn't be in this position!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: SW Florida.
Get a bigger straw. Get some double bubble. Chew it up. Jam a small piece well into the straw so you don't have to worry about leaving the bubble gum behind with the smaller straw. And try to catch the straw on the end and you may well get it that way. Worst case scenario, start the motor the straw is going to melt and burn up and get blown out the exhaust. It's plastic. It won't hurt anything it won't stay on the exhaust valve and keep the valve open and burn the valve.
Last edited by derekderek; Oct 29, 2018 at 12:33 PM.
100 percent
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, FL
There seems to be strong support for letting combustion take care of my problem. I'm going to at least try to vacuum it out and will let you all know how that goes. It's good to know that there's a good chance it will do no harm at all if I resort to turning it over.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,350
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From: Tampa, Florida
Do not start it. If it gets caught under a valve head your screwed. Even after it burns up that valve will never close properly.
Knitting hook and a bigger straw. Using your scope insert knitting hook into cylinder and snag it on straw. Cut bigger straw so it half length of knitting hook and place over knitting hook. Slide big straw towards tip of hook. It will apply pressure against small straw so it doesn't slip. Pull out.
Knitting hook and a bigger straw. Using your scope insert knitting hook into cylinder and snag it on straw. Cut bigger straw so it half length of knitting hook and place over knitting hook. Slide big straw towards tip of hook. It will apply pressure against small straw so it doesn't slip. Pull out.
