5mm Allen Wrench End Stuck in Glow Plug Hole

[Bayonet16]

Okay, I switched-out my injectors today and was replacing the oil diverters using a 5 mm allen head on the end of a driver. Well you guessed it, the small allen head came out and went right down into the open glow plug hole. I tried fishing it out with a magnet, but the magnet is not strong enough -- it's probably lightly wedged in there.

So, should I hand crank the engine using a wrench, in hopes that the compression will blow it out? or do I need to remove the head -- ugh! Rather not do that.

[storkerlovr]

ok that makes more sense. i was wondering why in the hell would you drop that in there! i dont thing compression will blow it out. can you see it? thy to get a better magnet. other than that i dont know

[Isakson]

deffinetly get the biggest magnet you can get in the hole!

[taskforcefreddy]

Sometimes you can put another, more narrow, metal object onto your magnet and that will become magnetized as well. I've done that with a paperclip and a good magnet when cleaning out the shards of metal from an exhaust manifold after tapping it for a EGT probe.

[Isakson]

or you can do something by tapping the pole on a battery, but i cannot remember...its how you can magnetize a screwdriver

[Bayonet16]

Ah ha, got it. I used one of my wife's hardwood chopsticks and put a dab of crazy glue on it. Stuck it in the GP hole up against the allen head for 45 seconds and voila -- out comes the offending bit. I cringe to think of what that would have cost me if I couldn't remove it. Now just another 45 minutes of reinstalling pieces and parts and I should be cranking the life into new stage 1s -- that's happening tomorrow.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I really liked the ones that hinted at creating a magneto. I thought about that, but I couldn't think of how to power it. I thought about a framing nail, copper wire and a 9V battery, but the suggestion of using the truck's 12V battery was brilliant in its simplicity.

[vegasjeep]

Originally Posted by Bayonet16

Ah ha, got it. I used one of my wife's hardwood chopsticks and put a dab of crazy glue on it. Stuck it in the GP hole up against the allen head for 45 seconds and voila -- out comes the offending bit. I cringe to think of what that would have cost me if I couldn't remove it. Now just another 45 minutes of reinstalling pieces and parts and I should be cranking the life into new stage 1s -- that's happening tomorrow.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I really liked the ones that hinted at creating a magneto. I thought about that, but I couldn't think of how to power it. I thought about a framing nail, copper wire and a 9V battery, but the suggestion of using the truck's 12V battery was brilliant in its simplicity.

LoL And so much more manly...