Aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh!!! Please tell me I haven't REALLY blown it. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300DPETE · #1 11-27-2005, 02:29 AM

1982 300D

So, I'm on the very last valve, replacing the stem seal and spring (yes I know the #3 is the last, but I had to go back to the #5 and do the intake). The kit, while prudently telling me to cover the timing chain with rags so as not to let any parts fall into the engine, did not mention that I might be able to have a bolt slip into a small hole that is under the last support of the camshaft (is that what that is?) near the firewall and right next to the intake valve of the #5 set of valves. Does this hole lead into the engine?

Please just shoot me. I really don't want to take apart my engine just to get a stupid bolt (the last one I had to put back) that fell down a hole that wasn't mentioned in the bloody kit.

What have I done, and is there any way other than taking of the top of the engine and doing the seals and springs all over again after it took me forever to do it in the first place?

For now, I'm leaving the rocker arms off until I hear from you guys (I as about to put them back on so I could adjust the valves and put the cover back on).

Pete.

t walgamuth · #2 11-27-2005, 08:27 AM

start by finding a wire to probe. maybe it dropped to the pan. if it doesnt find a magnet that will fit in the hole and put it down there.

good luck

tom w

Ra_ · #3 11-27-2005, 08:53 AM

Might be hard to get a magnet down the hole,
if the block is cast iron?

Maybe if you epoxied the magnet to the end of a wooden dowel,
you could then push it in as far as necessary?

I have some cylindrical rare earth magnets that are 6.3 & 9.5 mm in diameter.
I'll send you one, if either is the correct size?

vwnate1 · #4 11-27-2005, 10:25 AM

DON'T PANIC Pete !

Go to Harbor Freight or SEARS and look for a telescoping magnet , it looks like an antenna shaft with a small but _very_ powerfull rare earth magnet on the end of it ~ it is chrome and has a pocket clip to hook over the edge of your top box so it'll always be handy ~ I've had one for years , only used it once or twice but it was worth the entire $2.95 it costs . take your time and not to worry . you may have to ' worry ' the bolt out and if the magnet keeps glomping onto the side of the hole rather than go down far enough to reach the bolt , you can either use a thin dowel to push the head down or gently bend the mast once it's extended so it won't collapse -but- do this carefully as it's easy to kink and break it off . once you're bent it fully extended it's junk but will get this one job done .

300DPETE · #5 11-27-2005, 10:34 AM

Thanks, guys. It's the 14mm bolt that is the lower of the two bolts that go on top of the valve spring cap for adjstment. I do have a spare.

I guess my concern then, is that somehow (seeing how much much an engine vibrates), the bolt will bounce back into the valve area while the engine is running, and then make it's way over to the timing chain.

I had planned on putting in a new oil pan, so I guess i can see if it shows up there.

Could it do any damage to the oil pump? Is it a resonably straight shot to the pan? Does the return hole constrict at any point where a 14mm bolt could get stuck (meaning that in my world it will dislodge a couple of weeks down the road, bounce back into the valve area, and over to the timing chain).

Thanks,

Pete.

300DPETE · #6 11-27-2005, 10:52 AM

Where's a good place to get a magnet?

TheDon · #7 11-27-2005, 10:58 AM

have you tried radio shack... also check thinkgeek.com for some magnests.. heres the link
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/science/770f/

New2MB · #8 11-27-2005, 11:07 AM

I found a valve keeper in my oil pan that had been bouncing around in the engine and probably went through the same oil return passage that you have the bolt in.

I doubt a 14mm bolt will make it through the hole and to the pan, it'll probably just stay lodged or bounce up into the cam. Either way I would definately get it out of there. You should be able to find a small magnet on a stick just about anywhere: Murray's, Auto Zone, Wally Mart, Meijer.

Just make sure that the magnet is securely attached to the telescoping stick or whatever it's on the end of. I had to epoxy my magnet on to be safe, if that magnet gets stuck down in the head it won't be as easy as pulling the bolt out.

300DPETE · #9 11-27-2005, 11:45 AM

....so what if I can't get at it?

pray, cross fingers, and kiss butt good-bye?

If it does end up sezeing at some point, hopefully it will be in my driveway and not on the interstate.

I appreceate all the help here. Maybe I'll get lucky and manage to retreive it.

Pete.

P.S. I definitely recommend anyone doing a valve stem seal job to put a piece of tape or something over the oil return hole. They should put that information in the kit instructions too.

P.E.Haiges · #10 11-27-2005, 01:02 PM

300DPETE,

You probably mean about an 8mm bolt with a 14mm head.

Bolt won't hurt oil pump. There is a metal screen in the intake of the pump that the bolt can't get thru.

Your biggest worry is if the bolt falls down into the crankcase and it gets caught between a rod and the side of the engine block. This would force the bolt thru the side of the engine.

Therefore, you should try your best to get the bolt out. Magnets seem like the solution.

P E H

300DPETE · #11 11-27-2005, 01:28 PM

Yes, a 14mm head. It's the smaller (bottom) of the two bolts that sit a top the valve stem.

If I can't get it out, do I need to take the top of the engine off?

Pete.